The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-01 00:00:00

INQUEST ON COUNT SCIIULENBOURG.

Yesterday afternoon, at half.past two o'clock, a most respect-
able Jury amembled at the One Tun Inn, Chandos.atreet, Covent-
garden, before T. If :cos, Esq. Deputy Coroner, to inquire into
the ca3se a the death of the above-named distinguished Hanove-
rian. On the Jury being sworn they repaired to the Count's apart-
ments to view the btdy. On that return the following trice
was entered into :
. .

Mr..lantes IVilres, wine-merchant, of Bishopsgate.street With-
out, stated, that he, about three weeks Pint*, at about four o'clock
in the afternoon, was passing through Char.dos-street, when he
perceived a flentkihan's carriage coining in the direction from
St. 31a-tia's.lsne, and nearly at the same moment the deceased at.
tempt, d, and indeed was crossing the road, and was knocked down
by stthcr the pole or horses, which went over I • ,as did the lint
wheel's. Wiutess called out, and the coachman immediately
pulled up ; there were some lailies in the coach ; on the witness see-
tug him down, the hind wheels were very near his head ; he was
instantly rele.sed, and was found to be insensible ; he was carried
into the shop of Dr. Morris • the witness is of opinion not the
slightest blame is attached to ;he coachman.
Juror—Did you desire him to drive on ?
Witness-31=1y to release the body ; the man seemed inclined
ai to rem in ; he appeared shocked at the accident ; on giving his
1 =aces addnss he was suffered to proceed.
Mr. R. Pilkington, of Chandra-street, pork-butcher, d.-posed,',
'
' that at the same time and date described by the last witness he per-
cetved a gentkman's carriage driving along Chanclos-street, and at
the same time the coachman's head was turned round to the right,
and lie was making souse remarks to the footman ; the witness
noticed this at the tittle, judging it most improper conduct ; within
a very short space of time afterwards, hearing an outcry in the
street, he ran out, and saw the carriage was stopped, and the de.
ceased lying on the ground senseless ; he was instantly re-
moved.

Juror—Pray. did you hear the obsenation the coachman made ?
Witnera--I did not, Sir.
Coroner—How far might the carriage have gone bcfore the acci-
dent. from the time of your first noticing it ?
Witness—An extremely abort distance. I may say only five

.- -
Coroner—Did the deceased recover in your presenTe so as to
make any observation
Witness—No, Sir. On his being taken into Dr. Morris's, the
Doctor was notch affected, and said. `• Dear me, the Count! he
has only left my het .c five minutes." I had often observed the
deceased, but . never knew his name before
. . . .

A Juror thought that all evidence of what he was and what was
said was unnecessary, as they were only assembled to inquire into
Neut.

The Coroner said, that such questions generally led to material
facts, and from such circumstances being inquired into the most
important facts were frequently elicited.
A ticatleman said, that it might be necessary for him to explain
the cause, as lie had learned, of the coachman's turning round. He
was driving to an eminent jeweller's, AI r.Ralter (uho had removed
front his house near Charing-cross to the torner of the Adclphi),
and on his turning into Chandosntreet, the footman called out to
say he was going wrung, not knowing of the removal, wb:n he
turned his head to say he was going in the right direction.
Mr. Richard Kepi) deecribcd the accident in the same terms as
the other witnesses, declaring not the slightest blame could be at.
tached to the coachman. He thought the Count must have been
knocked down by the near hone.
John Field, Esq. of 49, Devonshire-street, Queen-square, saw
the accident, and also declared no blame was at all imputable to
the coachman.

Evidence was here adduced as to the owner of the coach and
horses, it appearing to belong to a Gentleman named Garrand.
Mr. Thomas Alorris, surgeon, of Chandossstreet, said he had
known the deceased Count for some years; he war above 30 years
of age, and enjoyed very good health for his time of life ; on IGth
March he was brought to the witness's house, covered with mud ;
he, on examination, was found to have been wounded on the right
temple; he was cleansed, arid the wound dressed; other surgeons
were summoned ; he lingered until Tuesday, at twelve o'clock in
the day, when he expired ; he had never recovered his senses,
having t einained in a kind of stupor since the accident ; the wit-
ness attended him must unceasingly, and every possible attention
was paid him; his death was causal by the accident, which pro-
duced a concussion on the brain.

Leigh Thomas, Esq. surgeon, of Leicenterssquare, was then
called, and Raid his opinion differed somewhat trim that of Mr.
Morris, as the Count had been labouring under deafness, and had
a seton in his neck, and several times had been cupped for a
determis ation of blood to the head : these might have produced
death ; and indeed this accitlent, accelerated by these circumstances,
would have hastened his death, when in other cases a recovery
might he possible.
Mr. Sfelton, a juror, said, that this he thought was nct for the
considtration of the jury ; it certainly almost daily appears that it
takes more to kill some men than others ; the only qutatio u for
them to consider was, whether the accident caused his death or
not.

Mr. TI am is.." Unquestionably, Sir, the accident caused his death ;
but th me are cases, when speaking speculatively, in which the
same a-rident might not have produced the same elf ect."
A Juror now asked if the coachman was in attendance.

The Coroner observed, that he other thought he could not be
exaniii,cd in the present stage of the proceedings.
The Juror then asked for the footman.
The gentleman who had previously spoken said he had directed
him to beta attendance.
On inquiry, however, this turned out not to be the case, and
some rumours were stated imputing the Count's death to un-
fairness.

Mr. Salter, the jeweller, said, from what he had heard and seen,
he was convinced the Count had unfortunately been accidentally
killed ; every attention had been paid the Count that humanity
and gentlemanly feeling could dictate, and money was directed to
be drawn from the Bankers for his use; but it was unnecessary,
as the Count's finances were those of a gentleman of fortune. The
first surgical advice was summoned. Sir Astley Cooper, and other
eminent surgeotis, were in attendance ; but he hoped the Jury, for
the satisiacUon of themselves, would make the fullest inquiry, as
it was desired by all parties.
A Juror thought it very strange that the footman had not
made his appearance.
The Gentleman again said he had ordered him to attend, and to
remove every impression that it might be supposed he had pre-
vented him, he should take care that the man should appear when,
and as often as the Jury pleased.
The Jurors generally expressed their conviction that this was
the fact, and were about cooling to a derision, when Mr. Skelton
said he should like to have the Coroner's opinion on the evi-
dence.

The Cononea said it certainly did not impute any felonious
act to the coachman ; it only, at the utmost, attached carelessness
to him ; therefore he was ef opinion they could only make the
case one of acc,tlent ; hut as the death of a human being was
caused by a coach and horses, they became forfeited to the King :
and he really thought, as the affair was an unfortunate casualty,
they could not justly forfeit the property of a private individual,
but might place such a deodand upon them as would meet the case
fairly.
tlr. Skelton said, all he wished was to check, if possible, such
careless driving; and he could not give his opinion as a man un-
less he had the footman in attendance, fur examination. Ills an.
sence looked very disrespectful to the Jury, and he really thought
they could not discharge their duty fairly to the public and the
friends of the lientictuan deceased, by deciding at present, with-
out further inquiry.
Atter scone further conversation, the Inquest was adjourned until
this afternoon, at three o'clock.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

On Tuesday niilttWrariieatwaa.-.WWlVtlie Lion and Lamb
public-house, Lewisham, before J. C Esq. Comfier for
Kent, on view of the bodies of Henry and Thomas Large (two
brother.), who were burnt while confined in the cage at Lewisham
on Tuesday morning.
The Jury proceeded to view the bodies, which lay in the stables
of the lion and Lamb, and presented the most horrid spectacle that
can be possibly imagined; scarcely an inch of flesh was on the
bones but was scorched in a cinder. A shilling, sixpence, half-
penny, and farthing, which had been found in the cage, were also
exhibited, which, while in the pockets of one of the deceased, were
burnt quite black. Various reports had been spread relative to the
cage being set on fire, which created a great sensation in the neigh-
bourhood. The jury-room was crowded with pawns of respect-
' ability.
- -

Mr. Can'tran observed to the Jury, that one of the deceased
had been commrted by Mr. Constable, the Magistrate, to the cage,
for throwing vitriol on two gowns, the property of his fellow-ter-
rant, Vary l.onghurst, but not on the person.
James Pople, conductor of the Bow-street patrol in the Syden-
ham district, deposed, that by virtue of a warrant signed by Mr.
Constable, he apprehended Henry Large on Friday evening. He
was charged with throwing vitriol over two gowns belonging to
Mary Longhurst, who, as well as self, was in the service of
Hiss Brookes, who keeps an academy at Sydenham. Witness
(pave him into the custody of Lund, a patrol, to be lodged in the
cage at Lewisham.

'This witness went to view the bodies, but they wire in such a
dreadful state that he could not identity Henry Large.
William Lund, a patrol, stated, that Henry Large was given
into his custody by the last witness, on Saturday. Ile took him
lon that day before Mr. Constable, by whom he was remanded back
to the cage until Tuesday, when he was to be taken before the
Bench, at Omens ich, and it was expected he would have been dis-
charged.
Thomas Burchepp, hostler to the Lion and Lamb, deposed, that
from the contiguity of the inn to the cage, the keys were kept there
for convenience ; he locked theduceaseti Henry up. when the last I
witness brought hint in custody on Saturday, and since then witness I
supplied hint with the county allowance, and a truss of straw to lie
upon. On Monday he complained of being nearly starved with
cold, and begged witness to lend hint some money to buy coals ; he
in consequence supplied him with some ; and of that night his bro.
thtr 'Thomas was admitted to him, to keep him company all night.
About two o'clock in the morning whoess heard cries of " 3lur-
der !" proceeding front the cage ; and having dressed himself, and
obtained the assistance of the watchman, they found the rage en-
veloped in names. The cage door was then opened, and Thomas
was lying at the door, burned to death. Ile and sonic others went
in and brought out Henry, also dead, and lying under the seat.
Witne.s did not take any pipes, tobacco, or candle into the cage.
j Ile did not conceive there seas any four.dstion for the rumour that
they Mot intentionally set tire to the straw.
John Abbott, a watchman. stated, that about two o'clock on
'Tuesday morning, lie heard the try of " Fire !" and on going to
the cage, he saw it in Harms. l'hoinss Large was at the window,
I crying must pitifully, " Ott, Lord ! save me ! nave the :" Wit.

nes, requested him to keep his bead. to the window until he coul•
obtain the keys: having got them, he atteerpted to enter, but H-
limes prevented him ; but in a short time lhoulas wax got ow
,he then ran for a doctor, not knowing that any other perm was ;!.
the cage, and when he gut back, Henry had been brought out.
they were both dead.
James low* (*pact!, that when the dear was opened th,
watchman went in first, and he followA, Isyi:g hold of
coat; in the way they grupcd about until chey reached TL.
males hand, which was in an extended position. It w..s tam.
minutes before Ilenry was gut out, not knowing that two
sons were there. _ _

The Jury returned a verdict, " That the dcetased persons dire
by auffucation produced by the ignition of the straw."
The Jury expressed their decided opinion that the lives of Ilk
two unfortunate persons had been uacriliced to the watt of a mem
awry building in which prisoners might be kept.