The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-24 00:00:00

WHITECHAPEL.

The supply of meat on sale is but moderate. The trade
rules firm at full prices :

Beef, from 2s 10d to 49 4d ; mutton, 3s 8d to 40 $d ;
lamb, 4s Sd to 5s 4d ; veal, 3s 10d to 49 6d ; and pork, 33 4d
;o 4s 4d per Sibs by the carcase.

CHILD MURDER IN BIRMINGHAM..— An ad--
journcd inquiry was held before Dr B. Davies, corn.
ner for the borough of Birmingham, on Monday, touching
the death of a child five months old, named Edward John.
Thompson, the illegitimate offspring of Lucy Thompson, a
girl of 20, by whom, as alleged, the deceased had been
poisoned by a compound known as " Hunter's vermin killer."
The mother of the child, a wretched-looking object, was pm,-
sent, in the custody of Inspector Percy. Some evidence
taken on the first inquiry having been read, Dr Alfred:

Hill, public analyst for the borough of Birmingham, was.
trilled, and deposed to having made an analysis of the
contents of the stomach and portions of intestines of the
deceased, which were handed to him in two sealed jars
by the coroner's officer. He tested the contents of the
jars for mineral poisons, but failed to detect any traces c‘
their presence. He then searched for organic poisons, and
discovered strychnia in considerable quantities. He then
procured a reaction by the usual process, which also showed
the presence of the same poison. 'Witness stated that he
Lad analytically tested a packet of the poison called
" Vermin Killer," and found it composed of strychnia, to
the extent of one-half of the bulk of the powder, mixed
with starch, and ultramarine as a colouring matter. The
powder in the packet he examined was one ordinarily
sold for threepence, and weighed eleven grains; and
the fraction of a grain of this powder would be fatal

if administered to a child of five months old. The'
accused, after being cautioned by the coroner, wade a.
statement on oath, to the effect that she had suffered
great privation from want of employment, having been
turned out of her lodgings with her child because she
had no money, and the father of the child had refused to
assist her, although she had acquainted him with her Lies-
titute state. She added, " I spent the whole of that nil,•ht
in St. Paul's churchyard, and at five o'clock in the mor;"
ing I wandered down the Bull Ring. Here a feeling cam a
over me, and my senses left me, and I recollect nothin
more until the evening, when J came to myself and found,
I was in Moor-street lock-up." The jury, after some
deliberation, returned a verdict of " Wilful murder,"
against Lucy Thompson. and the wretched woman, who
fainted several times during the inquiry, was committed for
trial at the next Warwick Assizes.

HORRIBLE DEATH OF A BRIDE.--A fatal acs'
dent, caused by a chemical match, has just takes
place at Marseilles. A young girl of 18, residing in the'
Rue Lcriguedes Capucoas, who had been married in the
morning at the church of St. Theodore, proceeded with he:
husband and friends into the country to pass the day. The
bride, who was walking about in high spirits, was suddehlY
seen with her dress in a flame, and heard to utter piercing
cries. She had trod on a chemical match,
which had ignited
and set fire to her muslin dress, and in spite Of every exer-
tion on the part of those near her, the flames could not be
extinguished until she had been so dreadfully burnt that
she expired on the following morning.
ACCIDENT IN A RAILWAY TUNNEL.-otl Monday
night a very sericus accident, in which a large num-
ber of men narrowly escapee: losing their lives, occurred in.
the Waterloo Tunnel, near Liverpool, which extendefrout
Edgehill to Great Howard-street. About 8 o'clock eleven
platelayers in the employa the London and North Western
Railway, and residing at .3dgehill, left Edgehill station to
proceed to the Waterloo station yard to prepare metal for
laying on the line, and effo,;iing certain repairs. It was
then- custom to work at the 'Waterloo station yard by night,
because it was not clear of traffic by day. When they
had approached what is termed " the bank," in that part
of Cie tunnel near Byrom-street, the truck upon which
they were seated came into collision with a waggo,a of
goods standing there, and so great was the force of the
concussion that the men were knocked off the truck, and
precipitated in all directions upon the line. The less injured
of the number gave an alarm, and they were soon taken out
of the tunnel, which w 4, quite dark when the accident oc-
curred, and conveyed to the Northern Hospital. Blame is
attached to some party on account of there being no danger
light at the rear of the waggon with which the truck came
in contact. Several of the injuries received are pronounced
to be of a most serious characzer, and some of the men aro
in a very precarious state.

MAr.GATE VICARAGE.—The Rev. C. T. Astley,
vicar of Margate, having accepted the rectory of Brasted,
Sevenoaks, the living ct Margate, worth £6OO per year, is
now vacant. The Archbishop of Canterbury has the gift of
Loth livings,