The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-30 00:00:00

THE LATE ACCIDENT

ON TILE
NORTH KENT RAILWAY.

CORONER'S INQUIRY.-(THIS ])AY.)

This morning, C. J. Carttar, Esq., coroner tor
Wed Kent, commenced an inquiry at the Plough Tow',
opposite the Lewisham Station, touching the deaths of
the persons, whose bodies were lying in an adjoining
shed, their deethe resulting from the accident which occurred
on the North Kent Railway on Sunday evening last.
Mr. Smiles, reastuy, Mr. COWS Child, one of the
directors, and Mr. Robinson, solicitor of the Suuth-Emtern
Railway Company, were present during the inquiry; Mr.
Burgos, solicitor, appearing on behalf of the engine-driver
and Bremer', now in custody; and Mr. Solomon for the
husband of Men. Willcox, and Mrs. Howie, her deceased
sister.

The jury, seventeen in number, hating been sworn, and
Mr. Atkins, auctioneer, of Lewisham, chosen foreman,
the coroner briefly charged the jury as to the nature
of their duties, observing that from the assistance he had
at all timed received at the hands of the police nitigietrate
before whom two persons had been charged with an offence
connected with the accident, be was sure that the
duties of the coroners court and police court would
not be found to clash with each other, and that
no impediment would be experienced in having such
parties present if tecciettry. The jury's duty would be
simply to inquire into the eircumetansea connected with the
sad accident; and until their verdict was arrived at no one
person could be considered as culpable. He was sure that
duty would be faithfully and patiently performed, injustice
to the interests at stake—parties implicated, the railway tom-
pany, and the friends of the deceased and the public.

On the return of the jury from viewing the bodies,

William Grose, steel engraver, of Wallington-street, City-
read, identified the bodies of John Ballinger, aged 26, carpet-
bag toner, and his wife Elizabeth, aged 29, and child Edith,
aged 9 menthe.

Henry Turner, rook, of Kennington-lane, identified the
body of his brother, Horatio Turner, aged 16.
Eliza Anne Tuner, of 71, Snow-hill, identified the body
of her brother, Thomas William Turner, aged 27, hair-
dresser.

George Franklin, of 15, Greet Maze-pond, night porter
et St. Thomas'. }formica!, identified the body of hie eon,
Thome. Franklin, aged 21.
Thomas Willcox, of 8, New-street, Borough-road, coach-
broker, identified the bodies of has wife and ber Mater, aged
respectively 33 and 21 years.
William Nightingale, of Bream's-building., Chancery-
lane, identified the body of his son William Henry Nightin-
ple, aged 20.

Jamas Dalton, servant to Sir F. Madden, British Mu-
mum, identified the body of his brother, Thomas Dalton,
aged 26.

Thomas Drake, mason, of 79, St. John-street, Smith-
Sold, identified the Ludy of his father, Francis Drake,
aged 62.

Mr. Robinaon, from the law-office of the South-Eastern
Railway Company, applied fur an adjournment of the mite,
for the sttondaneo of Mr. Bodkin.

Mr. Burgon had no objection to the application being
granted, but hoped the witnesses would not in the interim be
oommuniested or tampered with.

The Coroner mid it was a eery proper application to make,
but it was neeeary that the inquiry ehould be made as
promptly as possible. Hie order would be that no tampering
with the witnesses ehould take place.
The inquiry was then adjourned until Friday, the coroner
issuing his warrant for the buried of the bodices.
The greatest possible excitement still exists in the neigh-
bonehead of the Plough Tavern, where the bodice lie, large

coneousee of people meacinbling se early u eight o'clock this
siontiag, anxious to obtain adinitlanoe into the inquest-room.
Wit have great pleasure in lusting that the whole of the
alma lying at St. Thorned, Hospital are getting on favour-
ably. Of the four I) ing at the Plough, we are sorry to say
that the uee of Hart ie despaired of.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO AN EXCURSION
TRAIN.

The annual holiday of the factory operatives in
Wigan was held on Saturday last, and excursion trips S
Liverpool end Blackpool, by railway, were arranged far. A
Urge number of the factory operatives, about 5,000 alto
(ether, availed themselves of the facilities thus affordk
fee a day's recreation, by far the larger proportion selecting
Liverpool as the scene of their day'a enjoyment. The de
was rensmkably fine, end those who went to Blackpool en.
periestord nothing to mar their pleasure. Unfortunately
however, the Liverpool etrunion closed with a painful suet
dent, by which a large number of persona were more or les
*med.

The first return train left Ltverpool about twenty-fir
minutes to seven o'clock. On teaching Kirby station, tb
train wss delayed in order to collect the tickets, as is usual 1
the aim of excursion trains. While thus waiting a luggag
train front Livetpool was seen approaching. The usual sigua
was given, and in addition, the passengers, who had beam,
aware of the danger, did 41 they could to warn the drive
of the luggage train by shouting, waving of handkerchird
ire., but still the train approached, and seeing the damp
imminent, meny jumped out, and so camped. !mute
diadely afterwards the sollition took place" and a soon.
of contusion ensued which may be better imagined that
described. As soon se puesible attar the collision, step
were taken to ascertain the number of 111101M111 an.
to afford them all practicable 'did. The number of person
injured was found to exceed seemly. Those whose in
juries appeared most serious were taken to • public-hour
in Kirby, and there every pussibis aid was temporaril
supplied. Those who were uninjured, or injured bi
little, were brought on to Wigan by the same train, and
the carriages were much shattered, they proceeded at a vei
slow rate, and reached the Wigan station about Lalf-pa
eight. The intelligence was rapidly circulated, and the
eltement became inteneo. Thin being the first return teal
only a comparatively amen number of the excurrioniets pr
ceeded by it, and the utmost suntety was manifested
relatives and friends of those who reutsined absent. 'T
excitement continued up to a late hour, when thelsst of the
turn trains arrived, and a vast crowd assembled and remain
for hours minede the .ration in the Wall e. Surgical
was rendered to all the sufferers who had arrived, a
a special train conveyed all the surgeons in the to
to the 'CMG of the accident. Some of the a
fewer. who had been left at Kirby were brought home
later trains, and others were kept there until Sunday nut
tog. Fortunately no deaths have yet 'mined, although
or two of the sufferers are regarded se in a very proverb
condition. Of one little hope is entertained. The dri
of the luggage train was taken into custody and brought
to Wigan, where he still remains. Should no death t
place in the course of to-day, he will be handed over to
county police.
During Sunday, most of the sufferers were visited by
Bleckmore and others, and pecuniary assistance was
dlarel thews by the comy.
It is stated that at thpae Kirby Station the only per
!Tomei to collect the tickets from about 1,400
too train, were a man and boy ; and that the work of cell
tag had proceeded about twenty minutes, and was not
over, when the collision occurred.—Yoncheater Guardia
this day.