The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-09 00:00:00

Another Fatal Omnibus Accident.

Last evening Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Mid-
dlesex, held an inquest in University College Hospital
touching the death of a lad named Geo. D. Dennis, who had.
been killed by one of the City Atlas omnibuses. The parents
of the poor boy were present, and Mr. T. Beard, of Basing-
hall-street, solicitor, appeared for the London Gcne:al
Omnibus Company. Several witnesses were examined, and.
from their evidence the following particulars were elicited.
On Friday evening, about half-past 6 o'clock, the deceased
lad, who was 14 years of age, and who was employed as an
errand boy in an establishment in Tottenham-coart-road, was
crossing the end of London-street when he was struck on the
aide of the head by the pole of one of the " express " City
Atlas omnibuses, which was entering London-street from.
Tottenham-court -road. Immediately on being struck the
boy fell to the ground, and one of the fore and one of the
hind wheels of the vehicle passed over his body. He was
at once picked up and conveyed to University College
Hospital, which is close to the spot where the accident took
place, but he died before he reached the accident ward, so
serious and extensive were the injuries he had received.
One of his arms was badly fractured, his lungs were rup-
tured, his liver was nearly divided, and his dorsal vertebra,
were severed. A number of persons had witnessed the oc-
currence, and they all concurred in stating that the omni-
bus had just crossed Tottenham-court-road from Uni-
versity-street, and was entering London-street, when the
boy ran or walked quickly from the footway on the south.
side of the latter street into the road, and that it would
have been impossible for the driver of the omnibus to pull
up in time to prevent the accident. There was, however,
a difference of opinion as to the speed at which tho
omnibus was travelling. Mark Gibbs, the owner of a
fish-stall at the corner of London-street, said it was
going rather quicker than usual; while William Cox, who
had seen the accident from about the same spot, stated
that the speed was not higher than between four and
five miles an hour. This latter witness was corrobo-
rated by Mr. Walter Neck and other gentlemen, who were
seated on the omnibus at the time, as well as by J. Pierce,
the driver, who said that he had met obstructions in crossing
Tottenham-court-road from University-street, and that con-
sequently he could not have been going at any great speed.
The jury found a verdict of "Accidental death ;" but in
handing in their decision the foreman sakl they desired him
to make this statement—that although in Ws particular case
the evidence obliged them to come to the conclusion that
the omnibus was not going at a speed of more than between

four and five miles an hour when crossing Tottenham-
court-road, several of the jury were prepared to state of their
own knowledge that the same vehicle was in the habit of
crossing there at a speed of eight miles an hour, which in
such a thoroughfare was a very dangerous rate. In addi-
tion to this they could not express themselves in too strong
terms of reprehension concerning the system of omnibus
"nursing" which was being carried on along Tottenham-
court-road. It was positively frightful to look at the way
omnibus opposition was conducted along that street daily,
and there could be no doubt that some very shocking occur-
rence would take place if the nursing and racing of which
several of the jurymen were constantly eye-witnesses were
not put an end to. Dr. Lankester hoped that these observa-
tions coming from housekeepers in the neighbourhood
would have due weight,

COUNTRY MARTTV4TS.

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MANCHESTER-THURSDAY.

At our market this morning the demand for wheat was
exceedingly lifeless, both English and foreign held steadily
for the prices of this day se'nnight, but there was no dispo-
sition on the part of millers to buy. Flour very inactive,
and buyers might have supplied themselves at 6d to is
per sack and barrel lower. New oats receded 2d per 451 b,
and new oatmeal sold slowly at a further decline of is to
2s per load. Indian corn 6d per qr higher. The trade for
in Egyptian beans was firm.