The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-28 00:00:00

THE PARAFFIN EXPLOSION.

Yesterday morning Mr. Humphreys, the coroner
for Middlesex, resumed the adjourned inquest
at the William the Fourth tavern, King-street,
New North-road, Islington, respecting the death
of Mr. John R. Catherall, aged 38 years, who died
from the explosion of a paraffin oil lamp.
Mr. Lewis, jun., of Ely place, attended to VT at ch
the proceedings for Mr. Archer, the alleged vender
of the oil ; and Mr. Johnson was present to watch
the interests of Young's Patent Paraffin Light
Company.

The inquest room was crowded, and many scien-
tific men were in attendance.

It will be recollected that the deceased was a
law clerk, residing with his sister, at No. 12, Suf-
folk-street, Rotherfield-street, and about three
weeks since, while his sister was replenishing a
lamp with some oil, the deceased held a lighted
candle near it, when the contents exploded and
burned the deceased over the arms and face, where-
by he received such injuries that he expired in a
few days.
The following additional evidence was adduced :
Mary Catherall, the sister, was recalled, and said,
in answer to the coroner, that she paid 3s. 2d. per
gallon for the oil, at Mr. Archer's shop, in the New
North•road. At the time of the explosion tbelamp
was on the table, and the burner was on the lamp.
There was a wick in the burner. He lifted the
burner off with one hand, and poured the oil in with
the other. The burner was further from the lamp
than the oil. Had seen the can produced, but she
could not identify it. The burner was marked
Young's Patent." A great deal of oil went over,
her brother, and he ran into the street all on fire,
By Mr. Lewis—Had cleaned the lamp recently,
and could not say whether it was Young's oil. Had.
not complained of the lamp being out of order, but
had made a complaint of the oil burning badly. The
lamp was about three parts full at the time of the
explosion.

Mr. John Matthew Akin, 48, Suffolk-street,
New North-rwid, was then called, and said that
he heard of the accident shortly after it had
occurred, He fetched the can away from the
house on the morning after the explosion,
to test the oil which was left. He poured some into
a small 'vessel, and upon applying a light to the oil
it instantly ignited. Ho tested his own oil in the
same way, and it did not ignite. The oil was fetched
back by a stranger from the deceased sister's resi-
dence.

By Mr. Johnson—l believe that I burn Young's
oil ; but I did not purchase it at Mr. Archer's. I
cannot say positively whether it was Young's oil.
I bought my oil at Brown's, at Islington.
Mr. Lewis—l do not know whether I burn one
of Young's patent lamps. I generally keep the lamp
pretty full of oil. When the light diminished, I
found that the oil was getting very low.
By the Coroner—l did not burn any of the oil I
got from the deceased's house.
Wm. APKenzie, a lad, was then called, and said
that he lived at 9, George-street. He recollected
getting half a pint of oil for 21d. at Mr. Archer's,
on Saturday, and he gave it to Mr. Burrows, the
surgeon.

Mr. Burrows was then examined, and said that
he received it from the last witness.
The Coroner said there was a very considerable
difficulty in tracing the oil which had been taken
from the house of the deceased. The jury would
therefore be under the necessity of testing other
oils. He (the coroner) was compelled to take evi-
dence out of the ordinary course.
Mr. Lewis said he should take the oils tested by
Dr. Let heby, of the London Hospital, or Dr. Od-
ling, of Guy's Hospital.
The Coroner said that his position was very
peculiar, and he had no funds allowed by the county
magistrates to pay for such analyses.
After some further evidence the jury retired.
The were absent half an hour, when they returned
with the following verdict:—" That the deceased
died from the effects of an explosion of a certain
paraffin oil purchased as the best paraffin oil, and
unexplosive, ar.d the jurors desire to express an
opinion that the legislature ought to interfere to
prevent dangerous oils being sold for domestic
purposes."