The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-11 00:00:00

The Fatal Accident at Westminster.

Yesterday morning Mr. Bedford, the coroner for the city
of Westminster, resumed his inquiry into the circumstances
attending the giving wirYigirihe flooring of St. Peter's Ca-
tholic Schools, on the 26th ult., by which Mary Hefferen
and Adelaide Jane Fallen received injuries from which they
subsequently died.
Mr. New was again present to watch the case on behalf
of the Catholic clergy, and Mr. Sergeant Tindal Atkinson
for Mr. Smith, the builder.
The jury having answered to their names,
Charles Orlet Chippett said—l am yard foreman to Mr.
Smith. I have been with him 23 years. My duty is to pro-
vide for jobs in hand. I remember perfectly the class of
timber supplied for the building in Great Peter-street. In
addition to my memory of the matter I produce a stock-
book in which I made an entry. In February, 1857, there
was no other than Baltic timber for building purposes on
the premises of Mr. Smith. I have searched back to 1855.
By building purposes I mean girders. I have had experi-
ence in timber all my life.

By Mr. New—l do not speak so positively to the broken
as to the unbroken beam ; but I swear it is Baltic timber,
and either Dantzic or Memel. There is no sap. The knots
were not visible when the timber was purchased. The
broken timber is very free from knots, and it is the kind of
timber usually used for building purposes. I account for
the accident by over pressure. Ido not agree with the ar-
chitect for the Board of Works that the beam should bear
a weight of 40 tons. I have known beams to give way
before, but I do not remember that they were of the same
dimensions as the one in question.

By the Coroner—l have known timber to be affected by
heat. I think the stove in the sehool-room was likely to
affect the whole of the beams.

Thomas Piper, examined by Mr. Sergeant Atkinson—l
was many years a builder, but am now a surveyor. I have
examined the timber lying on the table. The unbroken
timber is Dantzic. I never knew Dantzic timber to be
without knots. The broken beam is also Dantzic timber.
The top of a room of the construction of the one in ques-
tion, heated with the gas and stove, would likely have a
temperature of 80 or 90, while the body would be lower.
By Mr. New.—The effect of the stove would be to dry
the timber very rapidly. I attribute this accident to the
construction of the building. I agree that these beams are
calculated to bear 40 tons, so far as the dimensions are con-
cerned. It has been weakened by the morticing in of the
joist, which would weaken the beam and cut the fibre of
the timber to within six inches. The effect of that is, that
the beam, instead of haying its bearing powers 12 by 12,
has a bearing power only a little above 12 by 6, therefore it
was reduced to less than half its strength.
By the Coroner—That would sustain about 16 tons. I
am speaking from memory. I think if the room was quite
full of grown persons, and they were in agitation, my
theory is, that as soon as this beam gave way it took the
weight of the two bays. I think seven tons would be the
weight of persons occupying a space of 20 feet. In this
calculation I allow nothing for the excitement, as I think
that would double that weight. When I used the expres-
sion " imperfect" building, I meant not for a school, but for
a public building.
By Mr. New—lf it had been built originally for a school,
then it would be perfect ; but, if it was afterwards used for
a place of public meeting, it would be imperfect. If instead
of the joists being tongued in, they had been laid on, they
would have been much stronger. I think the beams are of
the best description of Baltic timber. The danger would
occur more from looseness than knots. Professionally it
is my opinion that when the timber was put up it would
pass free from all defects. The broken beam is dry, short-
grained, and has little or no fibre. They are wrought, but
I do not think these_ qualities could be ascertained during
that process.

After some further evidence, a verdict of " Accidental
Death" was returned.

Metropolitan Board of Works.

The usual meeting of this Board was held yesterday at
the offices in Spring-gardens. The President, J. Thwaites,
Esq., took the chair at 12 o'clock

FINANCE.
The cash statement for the current week shows a total
general balance of £684,853 16s. 4d.
THE WELLINGTON CLOCK TOWER, LONDON-BRIDGE.
A letter was read by the Clerk from Mr. Stirling, the
clerk of St. Saviour's, Southwark, stating the necessity of
removing this clock tower for the accommodation of the
traffic of the metropolis, and that accordingly Mr. Bennett
had removed his clock. The telegraph company had inti-
mated that they would be prepared to give up possession in
a few days, and the district board now offered to present
the tower to this Board, provided they would erect it in a
more convenient locality.
Mr. HARRIS moved that the matter be referred to the
Streets Committee.—Agred to.