The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-03 00:00:00

THE BUILDERS STRIKE.

In addition to the names of those firms given in
oar columns yesterday as having enforced the hour system,
we have to add the following:—Hesse. Wilson, Suffolk.
street, Borough ; Brown and Robinson, Worship-street,
Finsbury • Bird, Hammersmith ; Smith, Pimli o ; Rigby,
Bayswate; ; Gammon, Belvedere-toad ; and Dove, haling-
ton. In the whole of the firms which have thus adopted the
new arrangements, the brickla era, as previously under-
stood. have, with but few is robes. to weidtisesher
the system. It is stated that from onriffero—thet of
Higgs, in Palace-road, Lambeth—upwards of sixty left yes-
terday. At Mr. Myers' works— where a long conference
Wok place between the head of the firm and the men on
Monday—more than two-thirds of the bricklayers left ; and
the other lithe have lost the services of the men in the same
proportion. The following is an extract from an
address issued yesterday by the bricklayers' amt.
faiths* :—' We are now at the critical point in our 'trunk.,
when we must either beat the masters or be beaten by
them. The employers., with some exceptions, have deter-
mined le make parrient by the bone the rule of the trade.
You can well understand the evil it will bring upon es,
therefore every man must do his duty, or we shall be
ermined. Do JJour duty firmly, and another fortnight will
see us ul." A genera/ meeting of their trade is to
be held on Friday evening next. A deputation from the
masons' committee yesterday had an interview with Mr.
Lee, a large and influential employer, the result of which
was said to be that he expressed himself favourable to the
ecoapromise offered, and it is expected that the men will
room work this week. Other large firms have been
waited upon, mid favourable results for the men are ex.
potted.
The London masons' society consists of about 1,000
' members, and out of shim number 200 are employed on the
terms of the compromise, 120 un the hour system at Messrs.
Kelk and Lucas, and nearly 700 are on strike; but from
this latter number must be deducted about 300 who have
left to work in the provinces. The bricklayers have about
1,800 members, of whom 130 are at work under the compro-
miss, about 150 at Mears. Kelk and Lucas's on the hour
system, about 700 are on strike ; the rest employed on the
old terms. Meetings of the carpenters have been held in
the various shops where the hours stem is enforced ; and
having handed in to their employer. their acceptance of the
system under protect, have agreed to a voluntary levy of Is.
per head per week in support of the bricklayers and
masons. The struggle is therefore confined to these two
branches. . . .. .
. . .

From • oomo.unication made yesterday to the brick-
layers' committee by the Institute of British Architects, it
appears that an arbitration is still declined by the marten.

SUICIDE OP A CITY MERCHANT ON KAMP-

STIAD.HBATH.

An inquest was held yesterday, before Mr. Brent,
deputy-coroner for West Middlesex, at the Royal Oak,
Temple Fortune, Hempstead-heath, upon the body of the
late Mr. Petit George, as extensive tea broker, of Ferichturch-
street.
Mr. Woollett. of Chelsea, identified the body of deceased.
He last saw him alive on Saturday morning last speaking to
• gratleman in Fanchurch-street. Shortly afterwards he re.
oared a telegraphic u.taisage from his nephew, which induced
him so go to Hampstead, and make search for Mr. Gerego
all over the Heath, as well as to give information
to Inspector Webb, of the Heatbstreet Station. Wit-
ness continued the search till ten at night, and re-
sumed it again next morning, but without succor.
In the afternoon word was brought to him that the body of
a gentleman bad been found, and on his going up in a cab he
identified it as that of Mr. George.
In answer to the jury witness said he bad noticed • differ-
ence in the manner of Mr. George for some time past. He
knew of no cause for his committing the rub act.
Charles Lucas, 142 8, deposed to finding the body of de-
ceased under a hedge in a field, at Golder'sgreen. He was
lying on his left side with his throat cut and the field for
WON distance was saturated with blood. The body had
evidently not been ton:hed, as the gold watch and other pro.
pony was found on deceased's person.
Dr. Brown, of Heath-street, Hampstead, proved being
called to us the body of deceased. He found him on his
left side, as though asleep, with a razor by hie aide, covered
in blood. Hie right hand WWI across his breast. The wind.
pipe and principal arteries were @operated, and death had
resulted from excessive hemorrhage.
Charles George stated that he was nephew to deceased
and clerk in his employ. He saw him at about 11 o'clock
lest Saturday, at the office. He left at that time, and
about two • cabman brought a note, which he found to con-
tain the following:
" Dear Charlee,—My body will be found on Hempstead-
heath. Dearest, take an of your aunt, she has never been
aware of my uutowanl affairs. " Yore UNCLE."
Ix reply to questions from the jury, be said he bad seen
• great change lately in his uncle. He had latterly become
very none* and unable to attend to busimos. On Satur-
day morning he seemed very absent and wandering.
Another clerk in deceased s office corroborated the last
vitae's, and added that on Saturday morning he placed
two cheques before witness, one for 4UUt. and one for 10114.,
and asked him to add them up. After he had done it, de-
ceased asked him if it was true that tour and one make Ave.
Dr. Johnson, of Futon-place South, said be bad known
deceased for about fourteen years, and had noticed • great
change in his manner lately • and at the very time the
above letter wasreceived himself and lbs. George were in
coosaltatioa as to what course would be bed to adopt with
regard to his future.
After the Coroner had summed up,
The. jury
_returned a verdict, " Tins demand destroyed
himself whilst labouring under a fit of temporary insanity."