The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-06-08 00:00:00

INQUEST.

An inquest was held, on Saturday afternoon, at
the Bunzb of Grapes public-house, in Vine-street,
on the body of Charles Laughman, Esq. who was
run r.v,r by a vntlemar.'s earriago, on Thursdayii;ght, Cie 4th s.f June, Anrisori Y Gets, Esq. Co-
toner.

' The first witness sworn was Mt. Joseph Payne,
belnnging to the Offi:e of Ordnance, Tower, who
,tat qt. that on Thursday Meta, the 4th of June, he
was walking in Piccadilly, en comp my with another
gentleman ; they wets offthe foot-path. and going
towards Coventry-street; he perceived berind Bond-
street, at nearly ten yards from him, a gentleman's
C.Ari e, drawn by two hnrsey coming towards him,
the off-horse appeared to him rather restive, and the
coachman was driving fast. but not faster than he
generally noticed carriages to go along the streets ;
t: c coachman had a white coat on, and hr believ•td
there was another person sitting en the box with the
coachman. and witness believed they wore hats ;
they were turning out of Piceadi dy into B:nd-street;
the restiveness of the horse still ettraetod witness's
attention, so as to turn back, and in an instant the
coach turned to the right towards Bond-stteet; there
was another cpachstandiug at the east corner of Bond-
street, and a second coach coming down that street,
towards Piccadilly; the gentleman's carriage enter-
ed Bond street, aow.uds the left side, • and be per-
ceived the carriage nearly turn ever; at that instant
witness observed the deceased in the street, close to
the wheel of the carriage, but could not say whether
he was fiat on the ground or rising, but perceived
the gentleman naive violently, as :f occasioned by
the force of the wheel. Tae carriAer went off as
fast as possible, tip Bond-street. Witness crossed
over, and perceived the gentleman, supported by
two persons, and heard some person Ask hirn where
he heed I when he faintly articulated " Piccadilly."
They proceeded to take him to the neariat surge. •a ;
there being nn coaches on the stand. the unfortu-
nate gentleman, with the assistance of those that
held him, walked as far as Burlingtre. : Souse, which
is near twelve yards, when he se • ; to the ground ;
they then earn: d him to Mr. r;:-.;,age's, contedioner
and fruiterer. at the opp• side, in Piccadilly,
beteg the nearest shop was open. Medical
assistance was s nt fot , and arrived a quarter of an
hour after the gentleman had be-u taken into the
shop; he was blooded in the arms but very httle
blood issued, lie was taken up stairs, and un-
dressed; he fetched a groan on going np stairs.
Witness was informed by some person present, that
threw of the left ribs were fradured. %Voiles, lift
the house at near eleven o'clock; thegentleman was
then dead.

Witness was questioned by a Gentleman of f •
Jury, as to Ins opinion in regard to the condua .
the coachman. lie said, he thought h;:n hieoiy
blameable for driving so fast on sur..l a right,
the streets were so crowded. Witness coo'iri not
recoile6 the colour of toe carriage. nor of the
horses, the accident being so momentary.
Mr. John Turner, of No. 30. Red Line-street,
Holborn, the ger.tleman who was in company wit,
the first witness, being s urn, corroborated the
former evidence, and only clifed from his friend's
ieinian with respea to the rate the coachman was
driving at ; the louses were nearly on a gallop, ane
of a dark colour, but he did not notice the colour of
the carriage.
Mr. John /tin* of No. S, George-court. Pic-
cadilly, baker. being sworn, stated. that last 'Thurs-
day night, the 4th of June, about ten o'clock, he
was standing in Piccadilly, the east corner of
Bond-street. and was noticing the great numbers
of people, and the general bustle of the evening ;
there was a coeds standing at the east corner of
Bond street ; he perceived a gentleman's carriage,
drawn by two horses, and nearly 100 yards from
him. coming from towards Coventry-street; it was
a yellow-bodied chariot, with three lights in the
front ; the horses were dark, but he could not say,
whether dare-brown, or black. The coachman had
on a white coat, and there was no person on the
box with him. Witness believed there was some
person or persons in the carriage; there were no
coaches on the stand in Piccadilly. and the coach-
man was not on his right si le. The horses
did not appear to him to be restive, but perte&ly
manageable; the coa-h turned into Bond-
street, very fast, and 'lse perceived the carriage
rise nearly one foot from the gronnd. on one
solo and was nearly overturned. which most have
proceeded Borst the wheels of the carriage going
over tl e Gentleman's body; the horses gallopped
off up Bond-street ; he ran over, and Hook hold of
the Gentleman's right arm, and, with assistance,
brought him on the pavement. when he left him in
care of those who supported him, to go and look for
his hat and cane. Ilse Gentleman was crossing
front one side of Piccadilly to the other. Before he
helped him up, he was lying on his face, with his
head toward* Coventry-street, and readily in the
crossing. Witness imputed great blame to the
coachman, for being on the wiong side, which pre-
vented him from seeing the co ich that W•4l comirg
from Bond street. towards Piccadilly, and obliged
him to turn the corner so sharp. or else be must
have come in contact with the other coach.
The evidence being closed, on regard to the cause
of the accident. Mr. R. Atkinsonospetilecery, of Jet-
mynotreet, was sworn, in order to ascertain the
cause of the Gentleman's death.—He stated, that on
Thursday, the 4th of June, he was sent for at half.
past ten at night, and came to Mr. Grange's, ether,
he examined the Gentleman. He did not perceive,
at tire, any inorks of violence ; be blooded hint in
the rigio atm, hut he did not bleed, owing to the cir-
culation being so languid; he ordered him to be
taken up stairs and sindres.ed, and on examination.
found tour or five of the left ribs were frac-
tured. and a great dtptession on the right side ; he
expired, while he was examining bins, before elven
o'clock. He had not the least doubt that the acct-
dent was the cause of his death. not immediately
from the ribs being fraauted. but from other is.
ward injury. occasioned by the weiaggi {he cot.
riage.
th,e Jury, after a quarter of an hour's delibera-
tion, returned a Venetia Mao.,/osof ,ise against the
coachman, at present uoknoirru, and a lee 01 (Me
berleag on the curia:i.e.
After which, the Coes:met bound over the Gen-
tlemen of she duty. and eye Witneees. is 401. each,
tO (IV-1 0- - •

if apr tebended, shall be tried, tee also gave order,
ro %It. 11;griell, the Parish Berane, to take the pro.
per means to trace him not.
Inc examination of Witnesses Listed three h(nirs,
and there were several Gent:ern-it present, friends
of the deceased, amongst whom was Coboiel
Green, a distant relative. 'nit deceased was forty.
five years of age, and concerned in a Mercat.tilv•
house, in Jamaica, to wl:ieh place heiritendesi to re.
tufo in the c .nrse of a He was to hive
kft town to morrow for Scvtland, on a visit to his
friends. Ilis loss is very flinch losented.