The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-04 00:00:00

Eiizabeth Nixon, of No. 6, Phcenix-street, St. Giles's,
examined—l have every reason to believe that the un-
known lad is my son. His name is Benjamin Bentley.
He was eighteen years of age. My son knew Stein-
kopff, or Harding, when they lived in Crown-sli ect,
Soho. On Friday, not having anything to do, he came
in and changed his things, and went out. Not coming
home all night, I was fearful he was at a house k pt by
Steinkopff's mother, but not wishing to go there, I sent
a person to inquire after him, when I learned that she
had sent him down the day before with 2/. to get a per-
son out of prison, and that she had left him in William-
street, busy at work making fireworks. Since that I
have not seen him alive, but should say, from the re-
mains of a striped shirt on one of the bodies, that it is
the re nains of my son.
Richard Lillywhite examined am in the employ
of Messrs. Elliott, brewers. I went with the engine
belonging to that firm. I found the house in flames. I
smashed the windows above, and did my best endea-
vours to extinguish the fire. I did not notice how the
windows of the parlour were. Whether they were open
or not I cannot say.
A person here said there was no policeman or engine
there for forty minutes.
The Jury said that was altogether erroneous. As
such a charge had been raised, it was proper that it
should be rebutted.

Several persons who had been present at the time of
the explosion said that was quite incorrect.
The witness said that he was there with Messrs. El-
liott's engine several minutes before eight o'clock.
Inspector Forbes examined—Several minutes before
eight o'clock I received information at the station-house
of the fire. I hastened there, and arrived at five
minutes before eight. I saw the flames as I was going
along York-street.

The person who had stated that no police or engine
was present for forty minutes was then sworn. He
said, My name is Phillip Chesney, and I live in Cathe-
rine-street, close by. I heard the explosion about
twenty-two minutes before eight o'clock. I went to
the back, and saw the child who has been examined,
and who said, " Mother, mother, come out." The door,
however, was fast. I then ran home and put on a
jacket, and went back to the front, and with another
person tore lip a grating, and with it forced in the door.
The house was one body of smoke and fire. No one could
get in for the beat.
By the CORONER.—The glass of the parlour window
was forced out by the explosion. I saw that the fur-
niture in the room, &c. was all thrown on a heap, and
burning. When the doors were broken open no per-
son came out. I did not see a policeman there until
after eight o'clock. There was not a great crowd there,
and if any policeman had been present he must have
kept himself behind.
A deal of noisy and desultory conversation then
followed as to the time the occurrence took place, and
the arrival of the engines, which was of no public inte-
rest. Several witnesses were examined as to that point,
from which it appeared that the witness Chesney was
mistaken, and the Jury totally exculpated the police and
the firemen from any charge of having been dilatory or
neglectful.
The CORONER wished it had been more conclusive.
He did not think it necessary that any adjournment
should take place for the production of other witnesses,
as their evidence could only be confirmatory of that
already given.
The CORONER then proceeded to read the evidence
of witnesses, particularly that of the girl Jenkins, when
A Juror said there were several explosions, one after
another, which, in his opinion, had affected only the
lower portion of the premises. The upper part, he
considered, was not touched by the explosion, but was
destroyed by the fire consequent from it.
A lengthened conversation then arose among the
Jury and other persons, as to whether the doors of the
house were fastened or not, Mr. Chesney declaring that
they were bolted. A person, however, who stated
that he had lately resided in the house, most positively
said that there were no bolts to the front door.

The Jury considered it was probable the force of the
explosion had shaken the premises, by which the doors
became so fastened as to render it necessary to break
them open.
The Coaorata then made a few further remarks on
the melancholy and awful occurrence : after which the
jury, at about half-past ten o'clock, returned a verdict—
That the deceased persons were suffocated from an ex-
plosion of gunpowder, but how that explosion was oc-
casioned there was no evidence to show.

The CoRoNEa then said that the verdict did not apply
to the case of Mrs. Elizabeth Harding, of whose body
the Jury had not had a view. It was then too late to
enter into that ; and he should, therefore, postpone it
until Monday (this day.)
It is proper to mention that the names of the per-
sons sworn to have perished, and on whom an inquest
has been held, are Mr. Steinkopff or Harding, Mrs.
Hitchens, Mrs. Jenkins, Abraham Hanson, Benj.
Nixon, John Graham, and Thomas Jenkins ; being
seven persons ; although the bodies of six only have been
discovered ; there must, therefore, still be one in the ruins.