The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-29 00:00:00

CORONERS COURT

Yesterday the Deputy Coronerheld the following inquests :
On the body of Richard Johnson, aged 19, who was drowned
in the river on Wednesday night, under• the circumstances
stated in our paper of yesterday. Verdict, accidental death.
(In the above case we have been correctly informed that a
gentleman, who does not wish his name to be inserted, acted
most humanely, by attending to and rubbing the deceased for
nt arty an hour. He also used other means to restore anima_
tion, but his exertions, unfortunately, were not successful,
although he states, without attaching Warne to any one, that
if he had been promptly seconded in his humane and kind
exertions, suspended animation might have been metered.)
On the body of Thomas O'Brien, aged 19, who died in conse-
quence of injuries received by falling into the hold of the ship
Tiptree. Verdict, accidental death. -

On the body of Jane Crozier, who died in consequence of
injuries received by a fall in a public house in Athol-street,
as already described in our paper. Verdict, accidental death.
THE LATE FIRE IN SHAW'S ALI.EIC.--0O the opening
of an inquest held before Mr. Statham, the deputy coroner,
yesterday, he addressed the jury before they were sworn in
the following terms :—" Gentlemen,—Before
on the cases now to be enquired into by you, I wish to, sa, _
few words on the subject of the fire which lately occurred in
Shaw's Alley, in which six unfortunate persons were burned
to death, upon whom I held inquests on Thursd.ty last. In
the report of those cases, as given in the NORTHERN TIMES
of Friday, the 22nd inst, I am reported to have said that
in respect of fire escapes, Liverpool had not the
means of saving life that ought to be in it, they were far
behind London in this respect.' I had not read this report
of those cases until my attention was drawn to it, by Mr.
lsof'Gowan, by direction of the watch committee, who were
desirous of investigating the subject fully, and requested me to
attend a meeting of their body, in order that I might see what
means and appliances were in use for rescuing persons in case
of fire, and to give me the opportunity of nracing any sugges-
tion that might occur to me for improving the arrangements,
it being their wish to render the fire-brigade as efficient as
possible in every respect. I will first notice that lam satisfied
that the words attributed to me are much stronger than any
that I made use of ; but the impression that I had was very
much modified, if not entirely removed in the course of the

you are sworn

examination of the witnesses in those cases, after I had heard
that there were fire escapes attached to each fire police station,
of which fact I was, till then, entirely ignorant, and that they
were always taken out with the engines on an alarm of fire
heitig giver. I attended the committee yesterday, when the
file escape was produced, and I am bound to say that, having
seen it, and also seen the adaptation of it this morning at the
fire police station, in Temple court, under the direction of Mr.
Hewitt, it appears to me to be as handy and convenient an
instrument, or apparatus, for the purpose as can well be devised,
and I should say much more so than the London fire escapes,
being much less ttnwieldly, and most conveniently
packed in the body of the engine, .with a_ set of ladders
which may be jointed together and will reach a
great height. I promised the committee that I would make
these observations on the first opportunity that occurred, in
the hope that it might have the effect of allaying any bad
impression that might have arisen in the public mind, that
their interests off occasions of this sort
,were not properly
`eared for, and which, 1 trust, will he done. As regards the
immediate cases then under discussion, the committee agree
with me in the opinion I then stated, that if a fire escape had
been at hand when the fire was first discovered, the ignition of
the whole building Was so rapid, that it is= extremely doubtful
whether any of the unfortunate persons who were burned to
death could have been saved; but, in the main, I am satisfied that
fire escapes will be always at hand for all practicable purposes."
Yesterday morning the above was handed to our reporter (by
Mr Blake, the beadle)—the gentleman who reported the case
alluded to— with a request that it should be published in our
paper. He, on reading it, derelined to publish it, on the
ground that it was a oontradiction of his correct report of
what the learned deputy-coroner said on the day of the inquest.
Our reporter asserted that the words published in our paper
were the words used by the deputy-coroner, and that he (the
reporter) would not allow them to be retracted, so as to make
Iris report appear incorrect. On'this, Mr. Crews, the clerk of
the court, stated, in presence of three persons t, that the deputy-
coroner admitted, and stated to him, that the words used in
the report were perfectly correct, and that the aboie Was only
intended 'as an explanation, not as a contradiction, of the
rerfort, as the,deputy-coroner, at the time he used the observa-
tions, was not aware of the facts.

FORESTERS' ANNIVERSARY AT BIRKENITEAD.—The Rob
Roy Court, No. 2,095, in the ancient Order of Foresters,
held their usual anniversary at Host Wingfield's, St. George
Inn. Grange-lane, Birkenhead, on Tuesday evening last,
when upwards of forty members and friends sat down to a
most sumptuous repast, comprising all the delicacies of
the season, and which was brought to table in that excel-
lent style for which Mr. Wingfield% establishment has been
so long celebrated. The table was most beautifully drcora`ed
with Horns, and other emblems of the order, interspersed
with a profusion of choice flowers, the tout ensemble bol:dg
most magnificent. Grace having been said, and .-te cloth
withdrawn, P. Prov. 0, R Doswell was Oen:(i to the chair,
and P. S. Francis Goodwin, to fill the vice-chair. On the
health of " Her Majesty the Queen" being given, the com-
pany rose and sang the national anthem in good style.
Afterwards " Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal
Family" was proposed and drank with great enthusiasm.
The next toast was " Court Rob Roy," proposed by the vice
chairman. Mr. Doswell responded, and gave a cheering
account of the progress of Forestry in all parts of the world.
As to their own court, it had more than doubled the
number of its members since their last anniversary.
The friends of the order were also on the increase, and these
facts were sufficient to prove that there was something
substantially good in the constitution of their ancient order.
He would not take up their time farther, than to thank
them most cordially, and would beg leave to propose
"Prosperity to Court 705," coupling with it the name of
Brother Whitmey." (Loud and long continued cheers.)
Mr. Whitmey, in n brief manner, but in very appropriate
terms, returned thanks. " The Odd Fellows, and all
other Benefit Societies," was next given from the chair.
Mr. Woodcroft, Prov. G.M., responded, and thanked the
company most sincerely for the kind manner in
which they had received the toast, and could
assure them that when he communica•ed the
facts to his brother members, they would all feel
proud of the kind notice with which they had been
favoured ; and, he trusted, that they would always be found
worthy o the same. (Cheers.) "Our Visiting Friends"
was the next toast, and which was received with much
applause. Several gentlemen respeotively returned thanks.
The Vice Chairman then gave " The Worthy Host and his
Family," which was drank amidst vociferous cheers. Mr.
Wingfield, in a few happy and appropriate remarks,
acknowledged the compliment. He felt proud of the
meeting that evening, and would spare no effort to
secure their future favours. The health of the Chairman,
brother Doswell, was next proposed by brother C. F.
Clarke. Mr. Doswell, in reply, thanked the brethren for
the kind feeling expressed towards him, and assured them
that he had the welfare and prosperity
af their ancient and
beloved order much at heart, hehad strenuously endeavnyed
to promote the well-being of Court Rob 'Roy, and was proud
to say, that the efforts made
. by
had bean eminently sueoessfrtl, himse'll- and co-workers
Ilemsrills The health of Dr. Down.,
ing, surgeon of the court, was next given, and received
with great applawm