The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

Salmi 'salt Military.

THE PALLING OP A HOUSE IN HOLBORN.

ADMIRALTY AUGUST 20. APPOINTMENTS.
Surgeon P. MeArse, to the Ganges (additional), in lieu of
an Amistaat Surgeon. Assistant Surgeon W. J. Inman*,
to the Dart. Naval Cadets (nominated)—A. W. Pym, B.
A. hluirhead, G. G. May, E. B. Gifford. Chief Engineers
G. Rook. to the Asia, for service in the Edgar ; G. G.
Eardin, to the Asia, for service in the Prince of Wales.

Yesterday afternoon Dr. Lankester opened an
inquiry at the Holborn workhouse into the circumstances
attending the deaths of Guirepps Casertalli and Elizabeth
Davis, who were killed on Thursday last by the falling of
a house in Ely-court, Holborn.
Mr. E. W. James, eolicitor,•• Ely-place, and Mr. L H.
Isaacs, architect, Grars-inn, reprensted Mean. Ledger
and Clarke, the lessees. Mr. L. Lewis, solicitor, appeared
on behalf of the friends of the woman Davis and Mr.

CHATHAM, Amor, 20.

WITHDRAWAL Or THE DEPOT BILTI'ALIONS PROM
lanahh.—ln accordance with the decision of the govern-
ment to withdraw the whole of the depot battalions of
infantry troops from Ireland, the depot companies of the
2nd battalion of the 17th Regiment and the 106th Bom-
bay Light Infantry arrived at this garrison late last night
from Mullingar, having been conveyed from Dublin in the
chartered steamer Lady Wodehouse.
This morning M►jor-General A. B. Stransham, Inspec-
tor-General of Royal Marines, resumed his inspection of
this division of Royal Marines Light Infantry by a grand
review and field-day of the whole of the officers and men
on the great lines.

Buxton, solicitor: was professionally engaged by Signor
Gitiseppe Guansizolli, the employer of the deceased Cam%

-
William Andrews was the first witness examined. He
mid he had resided at No. 6, Ely-court, but at present he
lived in No. 5, in the same court. He was the brother- in-
law of Elizabeth Davis, who was 54 years of age. Mrs.
Davis had resided in No. 6, Ely-court, and used to support
herselLby domestic service. The house, No. 6, Ely-court,
fell about seven o'clock on Thursday morning.
Giuseppe Guanairolli, of No. 106, Hatton-garden, was
produced for the purpose of identifying the body of Caaar

ielli. . _
The witness Andrews wu re-examined, and stated that
he saw no rucks or rotten beams in No. 6, Ely-oourt. He

went to bed on Monday night at eleven O'clock.- His son
slept in the same room on the first floor. Mrs. Davis slept
in the back room of the same floor. He had been sleeping
three years in the room, and never imagined the house
would have fallen down. He never knew that the walls
were shored up in any way. When the house fell he
heard a little noise, and nothing more. The walls fell in
and out after the ceiling had come down, and witness " put
himself together" and prepared for death. He subse-
quently got out of bed, but be could not get his clothes
and was obliged to wait until the police came and t:l4ped
him to get them. He rented the room of Messrs. er
and Clarke, and paid 3s. 9d. a week rent. He could not
give any definite opinion as to the cause of the falling of
the house.
The witness in reply to Mr. Lewis said he had 'seen Mr.
Ledger after the accident and had told him it was a bad
job. He had not asked Mr. Ledger for anything. Helms
not aware that No. 5, Ely-court, was unsound. He knew
that No. 6 wee an old house, but he did not know it bad
been propped.
Signor Guandrolli was again produced. He said his
attention had been often called to the house. He told Mr.
Clarke, one of the lessees, about 15 months ago, that he
thought the house was most likely to fall down, and that
somebody would be killed. He thought the house would
fall because there was a rotten beam between the house in
question and Mr. Benjamin's house next door. This
"strut" or beam fell down. There were cracks in the walls,
the gutter wee bad, and there was an overflow which came
into his (witness's) premises. The gutters were repaired
16 months ago after he had spoken to the district sur-
veyor. He had always thought the house would come
down some day or other, and although he expressed his
opinion on the subject in the presence of the surveyor's
clerk, nothing was done. When the hovee fell he heard a
fearful crash, and on going to his door he was nearly Buffo-
csted by the dust.
By Mr. Lewis—He called the attention of Meagre.
Ledger and Clarke to the house on several occasions, but
they appeared to take no notice of what he said to them.
Other persons in the neighbourhood also spoke about the
unsafe condition of the house. He believed that if a very
small expenditure had been made in repairing the house
the accident would not have occurred. There were several
cracks in the walls. He had known the house thirty-five years,
and had not seen M. expended in its repair during that
time. The inhabitants of the court were very poor, and
could not afford to spend five shillings in repairs of any
kind. The landlord did not seem to Dare about anything
but his rent.
By Mr. James—He did not think it was his business
to point out to Messrs. Ledger and Clarke the cracks in
the walls, but he had called their attention to the dan-
gerous condition of the walla three years ago and sixteen
months ago.
John Clarkson said he was clerk to Mr. Porter, the dis-
trict surveyor of Holborn and East Strand. On the sth
of May, 1863, he had an interview with Signor Guanzirolli.
That gentleman said to him, " I do not want to do any-
thing unneighbourly ; but what do on think of these
premises ?" meaning the house No. 6, Ely-court. Witness
examined the walls, and told him he did not think it was a
case that should be reported to the commissioner of po-
lice. He bad visited the ruins of the premium, and was of
opinion that the wall of the first floor had fallen.
By Mr. Lewis—He had no intimation from Messes.
Ledger and Clarke in reference to the state of the house.
He should not have had any hesitation in sleeping in
No. 6 three years ago. He did not think the other houses
were likely to fall, and he had not heard they were coming
down.
By Mr. James—A house might fall from some latent
Cause.
John George Sheehy deposed he lived at present at
119, Cromer-street. He had lived at No. 6, Ely-court.
He had felt a kind of shaking in the upper floors a week
or ten days previous to the accident. He had lived eight
months in the house, but bad heard nothing in reference
to its state.
Martha Small, who said she had lived at No.
6, Ely-
court, stated she had no home at present. She was in the
house when it fell, and thought it came in from the side.
Henry William Fox volunteered to give evidence. He
said his wife took a room in November last at No. 6, Ely-
court, and after they bad been there a couple of weeks
they beard a crackling noise between the wainscot and the
wall. There was a hole in the floor through which his wife
fell, and was permanently disabled. Mrs. Davis fell
through the same bole, and she previously said to his wife
in his presence that if they did not get out of the house
they would be all buried alive. The hole had been repaired,
but not properly.
Robert May, louilder, of No. 24, Holyford-row,
was produced by Mr. Jenne, and deposed to having:loll
an old gutter from and put a new gutter in No. 6, Ely-
court. He said be saw nothing unsafe in the condition of
the walls or roof of the house.
By Mr. Lewis—He would not swear that there were not
two cracks in the walls.
Benjamin Bryant, Inspector of the S division of police,
deposed to having gone to the scene of the accident about
8 o'clock on the morning on which it occurred. It was
said that moans had been heard, and from that time up to
4 o'clock 20 men were employed in removing the ruins of
the house.
The Rev. Dr. Worthington here observed that it
appeared to him that the woman Davis could have been
taken out alive. When be went to the scene of the accident
he found only four men occupied in removing the rubbish,
and they had only a very inconsiderable quantity stowed
away. The woman remained among the ruins from seven
until two. The men were working with the greatest pos-
sible slowness, and he had to give them money for drink
to stimulate their exertion.. He was of opinion that if
sufficient energy had been used from seven until three, the
woman would have been removed alive.
Inspector Bryant said the work in which the men were
engaged was very dangerous, and they could not have got
on otherwise than slowly, as they had no room.
Dr. Worthington said five or six efficient labourers
could have done the work properly.
Signor Guanairolli said the men employed by the police
were unfit.
Dr. Worthington did not blame Inspector Bryant, who,
he believed, had acted admirably on the occasion, but be
thought life should have been risked for life in a bolder
manner than appeared to have been the case at the
accident.
The coroner said that if the jury thought any further
evidence was necessary he would adjourn the inquiry, and
they could in the meantime examine the premises them-
selves to see if any one was to blame for the falling of the
house. There was no possibility of their returning a ver-
dict of manslaughter, but they could ascertain whether
Messrs. Ledger and Clarke had been guilty of neglect.
The jury, through their foreman, expressed a wish to
retire ; and after a short deliberation they returned with
their verdict, which was to the effect that the deaths of the
deceased persons arose from accidental causes. The jury
added that " there was a want of proper attention on tte
part of the landlords of the house No. 6, Ely-court,
Messrs. Ledger and Clarke, in not replacing a beam or
strut which had fallen down sixteen months ago, and
which had evidently supported the walls of the said
house."
The proceedings then terminated.

A public meeting, convened by the Rev. J. W.
Laughlin, rector of St. Pater's, Saffron-hill, and Mr.
Alfred Barough and Mr. H. W. Cottrell, churchwardens,
was held last evening, in the Infants' Schoolroom,
beneath St. Peter's Church, to take into consideration the
best means to aid the sufferers by the falling of the house,
No. 6, Ely-court, Holborn. A large number of the
parishioners and others attended, and subscriptions
amounting to over 121. were received. The following are
the families who have suffered by the accident:-small,
(porter), wife and daughter ; everything injured, and some
things totally destroyed, estimated loss 101. G. W.
' Sheehy, much bruised, having a wife and niece to support,
the former being at present in hospital. His proPerty,
the estimated loss of which is 4/. 10a., was totally de.
Aro ed. Mrs. Edwards, very much injured. She has six
children, who are at present in the workhouse. Her esti-
mated loss is 71. A carpenter named Andrew, and his son,
lost property of the value of 141. 10a. Banner, a nailer,
having • wife and four children, escaped unhurt, but their
property, estimated at 121., was totall7 destroyed. The
total estimated loss of the poor people is 481.

HIOHLLNDERS' LETSZIL POSTING.—Queer scenes
are to be seen at the Post-office at Wick, especially on
Saturday evenings, when hundreds of letters are posted by
the Highland fishermen. When the penny postage we.
first established, our then worthy postmaster Mr. Craig,
had many a hard night's work among the AL/Wanders,
who illustrated their prigging character by en vouring
to beat down the postage to • halfpenny, alleging that
the letter was a little one, and that the Highland
postmaster never charged more than • halfpenny.
From the out stations beyond the daily delivery they
would come and while one would ask if there was •
letter for him, he would answer to the interrogatory
as to his name, " Och, yell see it' on the bask of
the letter," and on the name being at last communicated,
and theinformation ven that there wu no letter for him,
11 Donald often putthe poser, "Do you think she will be
I the morn ? "—Nadas Ina"

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING,' AUGUS're'.22; 1866.

MIDDIAESEX 8F&'ION&

(Before Mr. Berjeant Dowling.)
George Neigiums,l6s, livery stable-keeper, was indicted
for obtaining by false pretences from Comet Wilfred
Brougham (nephew of Lord Brougham) the sum of 201.,
with intent to defraud.
Mr. M. Williams (instructed by Mr. W. H. B. Pain, of
Mary!shone) prosecuted ; the prisoner was undefended.
The prosecutor, Cornet Brougham, belong, to the 17th
Lancers, and the regiment is stationed at Aldershot. Hav-
ing seen an advertisement announcing that a horse with
very excellent qualities, sound, easy going, and quiet to
ride or drive, wee to be sold at Harley-street-mews, be
proceeded there with a view, if it suited him, of making
a purchase. He was shown the horse by a groom, and
afterwards the prisoner appeared and represented
that he was a relative of Mr. • Newman, the
jobmaster of Regent-street, and that he was the
owner of the Ilene. The prisoner was loud in
pulse of the horse, and on an agreement being made for its
purchase, be gave the prosecutor a written warranty, stat-
ing that the horse was quiet to ride or drive, and that if
it should turn out otherwise he (the prisoner), at the end
of a month, would return the money, should the horse be
returned uninjured. Upon this assurance being given in
writing, the prosecutor agreed to purchase the horse for
401., giving a cheque for 201. on Cox's Bank, and a bill
at a month for the remainder. According to the statement
of Mr. M. Williams, the prosecuting counsel, the horse
turned out to be a most extraordinary animal, for it proved
something like two mules which were shown in London
some time ago, and 500 guineas were offered to anyone
who could ride them. The horse was sent home to tl-e
prosecutor's house, and the next morning he thought he
would ride him over to the camp at Aldershot, but that
was a more difficult task than he anticipated.
It was more than half an hour before he could
be got out of the stable, and when that was done he
reared up, fought, kicked, and roared like a bull, so that
all idea of riding him was soon abandoned. A servant was
then directed to lead him to Aldershot, and when he got
there he was taken to the riding-school, and what is called
• " rough rides " was put on his back, but he would not go
more than ten yards, when he stubbornly refused to move.
A man was sent behind him with a pitchfork to try to
move him, but it was of no use, for he began fighting and
rearing up, and he could only be got about ten yards
round the circle. It was afterwards ascertained that this
horse had been before sold to a gentleman named Mites
with a similar warranty. This person returned the horse
as vicious, but failed to get any return of the money that
be had paid for him. The prosecutor offered to return the
horse, but did not, and, like the former victim, was unable
to get beck the 201. he had paid, but took criminal pro-
oudings against the prisoner.
The case had gone on for some time, when Mr. Barjeanl
Dowling said he did not think that the false pretence was
made out, and under his direction the jury returned a
verdict of Not Guilty.
, The prisoner was ordered to be detained, for the P
, of another indictment being preferred against him, aiusrl:111:
officer of the sheriff of Middlesex was also in attendance,
for the purpose of arresting him as scenes he is discharged.

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