The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-13 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

The whole of the ton passengers who came to so un-
timely an end, near Staplohurst, on Friday, have now been
identified. Those who lie injured in the town and its
neighbourhood are getting on as favourably as could rea-
sonably be expected. The wreck of the train to which the
accident occurred has been completely removed, and the
ordinary course of traffic on the line has begun to be re-
newed. There remains scarcely anything that is new to
tell of the sad event save that which is revealed in the evi-
dence given before the coroner yesterday.
The adjourned inquest was held before Mr. W. T. Neve,
at the South-Eastern Hotel, at which Major Francis, whose
injuries are of a very severe character, Mr. Condliff, Mr.
and Mrs. Ralph, who were injured to a less extent, are
still staying.
The railway company were represented at the inquest by
Mr. Freeland, their solicitor ; Mr. Eborall, the traffic ma-
nager ; Mr. Knight, the superintendent ; Mr. Harris, the
assistant superintendent ; and Mr.Enwright, the engineer.
Mr. Fo cries (from Mr. Vining's, solicitor, of Moorgate-
buildings) appeared on behalf of Mr. Geo. Whitby, whose
wife was killed, and of. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Lord, who were
injured. Captain Rich, Inspector of the Railway Depart-
ment of the Board of Trade, was also present to watch the
case on behalf of the Government.

Mr. George Beaumont, of Green-street, Park-lane, was
the first witness called. He identified one of the bodies
which stood over for identification since Saturday as that
of Miss Emma Beaumont, of the Rue de Chaillot, Champs
Elys6es. He was a distant relation of the deceased lady,
whose arrival by the tidal train a friend of hers expected.
Her age was 24.
M. Leon Vanlangendrick, of 16, Caledonian-terrace,
King's-road, Chelsea, cook at the Albion Hotel, Albemarle-
street, identified another of the bodies as that of Hippolyte
Mercier, cook to Admiral Fremantle, of the Admiralty-
house, Devonport. Deceased was expected on Friday night
from Paris. He was 33 years of age.
The body of Mrs. Condliff, whose identity was all but
formally ascertained on Saturday, was identified by James
Tunstall, 31, London-road, Liverpool, as that of the wife of
Mr. M. Condliff, of 1, Queen's Hotel, Waterloo, who is now
lying injured in Staplehurst.

The Coroner then said that ho had been informed that
this completed the evidence of identification. He added
that ho understood Captain Rich had come down to Staple-
hurst, and was at the moment engaged in examining the
portion of the line at which the accident took place. He
did not contemplate that much progress would bo made
that day in the inquiry beyond completing the evidence of
identification, but until Captain Rich arrived he proposed
to proceed with the evidence of the guard.
Theplatelayer Henryßenge, who was taken into custody
on Friday last, was at this stage of the proceedings brought
into the room by Mr. D. Ovenden, superintendent of the
Cranbrook division of police.
Lawrence Mercer was then called and deposed as follows:
—I am guard on the South Eastern Railway. 1 have acted
in that capacity for 13 years. I was guard of the tidal train
which left Folkestone at half-past two on Friday last. The
train consisted of the engine, the break van, one second-
class carriage, seven first-cless, two break vans, and one
without a break. There were, I should say, about 100 pas-
sengers in the train, most of them having arrived by the
steamboat from Boulogne, George Crombie was the driver,
and William Beattie the fireman. There were five breaks,
independent of the tender. There were three guards. I
was in the van next the tender. The train after leaving
Folkestone had to pass all the stations up to Redhill. We
passed the Headcorn station about 11 minutes past 3. The
first notice of danger was the danger signal given by the
engine-driver when we got about a mile and a half
beyond Headcorn. The signal consisted of two sharp
whistles. I did not boforo that see any danger flag.
I did not look for the flag after I heard the signal, but I
immediately put on the breaks, -one ordinary and two patent
breaks. I cannot say what distance the train travelled be-
fore the accident occurred. It might be half a mile. I was
able to slacken speed considerably.. We had been travel-
ling at the rate of from 45.t0 50 miles an hour. I applied
all the break power I could, and the rate of speed was pro-
bably reduced to 15 miles an hour when we reached the
bridge. I did not see when approaching the bridge that
any of the rails had been removed. The engine and break
van, one second, and one first class carriage remained in the
road, although off the rails. They hung over between the
permanent way and the stream. Six of the first-class car-
riages fell over the bridge. They were very much broken.
The depth from the top of the bridge to the surface beneath
is about 7ft. ; it might be 10ft. I had no opportunity of
visiting the spot before the accident, and as the carriages
filled up the brook afterwards I cannot speak positively as
to the ordinary depth, especially at this time of year. I did
not at the time of the accident know the dead from the liv-
ing. I did not see the danger-flag at all. The line from
Headcorn to Staplehurst is perfectly straight. The engine-
driver has, I believe, been in the service of the company 11
years, and is a careful and steady man. Inmy opinion, a train
travelling at the rate of 45 miles an hour on such a line could
not be stopped within at least half a mile. At Headcorn
station the " All right" signal was exhibited. The distance
at which a signal flag can be seen depends upon the atmos-
phere. A brilliant sun will sometimes prevent the colour of
the flag from being seen more than a dull day, and there
was at the time of the accident a very brilliant sun. I was
not at all aware that repairs were going on on the bridge.
By the Foreman—l did not look at my timepiece when I
passed the Headcorn station. I was looking out, but I did
not see any signal. Sometimes the steam blowing will pre-
vent our seeing the signals. We are expected to keep a
general look-out, but not so much at places such as that
where the accident occurred as when we are passing or near
to stations. The longest distance, I should think, at which
I could see a red flag signal would be half a mile, but I
would not say for certain. A danger signal, when there is
danger, should be waved in the air by the man who carries
it. I saw the flag after the accident. The man appeared to
be holding it in his hand behind the train. I cannot say how
far behind, but I should say 150 yards, but that was after
the accident. I cannot say whether the man had moved or
not. When I saw the flag it was after I had got out of the
train, some few moments after the accident. I applied the
breaks on hearing the danger signal, instead of looking first
what was the matter, as that would have been loss of time.

By a Juryman—The remark about the difficulty of 'seeing
,hedanger flag because of sunlight or steam does not apply

to the driver so much as to the guard. When the accident
occurred I jumped out of the train, leaving tho breaks still
on. I should not think when they were once on of taking
them off in a case like the present. If all tho five breaks,
besides the tender and engine breaks, had been applied
simultaneously, it is possible that the train might have been
stopped in less than a mile, but never having made the ex-
periment I cannot say for certain.

By the Coroner—l have a book and written instructions,
but there is nothing in it with regard to platelayers.
By a Juror—The rope communication between the driver
and the guards was complete from end to end. That is for
the purpose of enabling the guard to communicate with the
driver. The driver can communicate with the guard only
by means of the whistle.

Mr. Winder then said ho wished to ask the witness a
question, but

Mr. Freeland, the company's solicitor, interposed, observ-
ing that it might save time if ho at once stated that the
company did not intend to dispute their legal liability.
Mr. Winder remarked that he 11a-411x:en informed of the
resolution of the board of directors to that effect, but that
he thought it nevertheless desirable to elieit from the wit-
nesses all the details connected with the accident in order
to ascertain how far blame devolved upon the company.
Mr. Freeland--I do not dispute your right to put ques-
tions. My only object in interrupting you was to save time.
Mr: Winder—lt is, I think, a proper matter for inquiry
what amouut of blame attaches to the company, whether
large or small.

Mercer stated, in reply to questions which were then
put to him by this gentleman, that he first saw the signal-
man about the time of the occurrence of the accident or
immediately afterwards. His attention was so taken up
by the accident that he did not observe whether the man
was running, walking, or standing, although he saw that
he had a flag. He could sae a mile or perhaps more along
the line. He could not say at what distaucU ho could see
whether a plate was off; certainly not at the distance of a
mile or anything like it. He did not observe the plate-
layers at all until after the accident had taken place. He
could command the breaks of the two first-.class carriages
besides his own and put them on. The breaks were
Cremer's patent breaks, and worked with a spring.
Henry Benge, the platelayer, being asked if he wished
to put any question to the witness, replied in the negative,
but observed that the train was much further away from
the bridge when notice of danger was given than had been
stated.

The witness, in reply to one or two other questions, said
that he generally had notice given him when repairs were
going on on the line, but that he bad no notice that repairs
were being prosecuted whore tho occident orrnrrnd. The
usual number of breaks to a train of 14 carriages was two.
Examined by Captain Rich—My van was glazed in front.
After we left the Headoorn station I was looking all through.
I was not sorting parcels. We don't carry parcels by that
train. I was on the lefthand side of the van, and, therefore,
if a man was on the sixfoot showing a flag, the engine would
to some extent have been between me and the sixfoot
where ho would be standing. I cannot say whether there
was anything in the shape of steam or otherwise to pre-
vent my seeing. I cannot say whether it would have been
possible for the man to have been then waving the flag
without my seeing him. I should say it was decidedly
nearer 200 than 500 yards from the bridge when I heard
the signal. I did not see any beams or timbers lying on the
bridge or near,it when I passed over the previous day.
By the Jury—l can't say whether it was possible for men
to have been at work about the bridge for some days before
without my noticing the circumstance. There is work go-
ing on on many parts of the line.

At the close of the examination of this witness, Mr. A.
White, of Clement-hall, came forward and said ho identi-
fied the body of Miss Caroline White as that of his sister.
She had been in the habit for the last 10 years of wintering
at Pau, and had just returned to England when she met
her death. Ho wished to give this evidence because in the
official report issued by Mr. Eborall the name of the do-
ceased lady was given as Wise.
At this stage of the proceedings the Coroner intimated
that as the platelayers would have to be examined, as well
as the superintendent and the signalman at Headcorn, the
Government inspector, and other witnesses, it would bo
desirable to adjourn the inquiry.

The inquiry was, after some discussion, accordingly
adjourned to Friday next.

Previous to the inquest Henry Benge was brought up
before Mr. Tooth, magistrate at Cranbrook, but the pro-
ceedings were merely formal, and resulted in his remand
until Thursday next. It was suggested at the inquest that
the prisoner, who bears a very good character, should be
admitted to bail, and it was understood that later in the
day two gentlemen proceeded to Cranbrook to offer them-
selves as bail for him.

Extraordinary Information Against a Com-
manding-Officer of Royal Artillery.

Yesterday the Dover magistrates were waited upon by
the Rev. J. Bampton, Captain Mends, R.N., Dr. Sankey,
Dr. Barton, Mr. Chapman, and others, to demand security
of the peace nominally against an officer of her Majesty's
service.

The Rev. J. Bampton said they had come to demand the
protection of the law, because the following letter, addressed
last week to the Duke of Cambridge, had failed even to
receive a reply :

" To 11.R.H. P.M., Commanding-in-Chiof.

"Sir—On tho 23d May, 1864, I attended a levee held by
your Royal Highness, with the late Captain Noble, R.N.,
Mayor of Dover, to represent the annoyance suffered by
the inhabitants of Dover from the gun practice at the Guild-
ford and Shoulder-or-Mutton batteries.

" I am sorry to inform your Royal Highness that we are
anno) ed this year even more than we have been on any
former occasion.

" The officers, of course, shelter themselves under the
plea of orders from head-quarters, and thus our lives are
continually endangered, and our property injured or de-
preciated.

"We have applied to the local magistrates for protection
but they appear to be powerless to act in such a case.
"I, therefore, now humbly request the attention of your
Royal Highness to our complaint, feeling confident that your
Royal Highness will not, upon full consideration, remain
indifferent to the present safety and comfort of the inha-
bitants of Dover. We very humbly request that your
Royal Highness will immediately order the removal of this
intolerable annoyance.—l am, your Royal Highness's
obedient servant,

"Joirx B. BAMPTON.

"42, Marino Parade, Dover, Juno 8, 1865."

The Rev. Mr. Bampton said ho was then prepared to
make oath to the following statement :—" I, John Bampton,
clerk in holy orders, being owner of and resident in the house
known as No. 42, Marine Parade, within the jurisdiction
of the magistrates of the borough of Dover, do hereby make
oath that I Eland in continual fear of danger to my life and
property from the acts of Colonel T. B. Fending Marriott,
commanding officer of her Majesty's Royal Artillery at
Dover Castle. I hereby swear that the said Colonel T.B. F.
Marriott (either by his own act or by the act of his inferior
officers obeying his commands) is in the habit of firing cer
tarn guns in theGuildford and S houlder-of-Mutton batteries,
situate in the immediate neighbourhood of my residence,
and that I am in bodily fear from the bursting of such
guns, or the missiles discharged from them. I therefore
now claim the surety of the peace against the said Colonel
T. B. F. Marriott, and appearing before you her Majesty's
justices of the peace, I demand that he be restricted horn
exploding any gunpowder or other dangerous materials in
my neighbourhood. I also further demand that the said Col.
T. B. F. Marriott be bound to give sufficient securities for
good behaviour in this respect during the next six months."
Mr. Bampton produced ono large and dangerous-looking
piece of shell which had fallen near his residence.
This statement having been reduced to an application
for a summons for a specific offence, the magistrates issued
the summons for Wednesday next.

Extraordinary Case of Suspended Animation

(From the Newcastle Chronicle)

A mast remarkable case of suspended animation has
occurred in Newcastle. On Tuesday night, a boy, named
Batey, about 12 years of age, went to bed after partaking
rather heartily of some rhubarb tart. Next morning about
6 o'clock he awoke in great pain; and his father used some
simple remedies to remove the pain, but his efforts were of
no avail, and shortly afterwards the boy apparently died.
Preparations were made for the funeral,and the father went
to the register office to obtain a certificate for the burial.
but this the Registrar refused to give, as no medical man
had seen the lad while he was ill, and there was nothing
to show what had been the cause of death. The father
was recommended to go to the Coroner and see if an in-
quest should be held, and thither he proceeded. Mr. Hoyle,
after hearing the particulars of the death, ordered a pest-
mortem examination to be made ; and Mr. W. S. Rayne,
surgeon, was sent for on Thursday morning. Mr. Rayne
was, however, out of town ; and as the case was repre-
sented to be urgent—" the body would not keep this hot
weather"—Mr. Bush (Mr. Rayne's assistant) got Dr. Carr
to undertake the duty of ascertaining the cause of death.
Dr. Carr and Mr. Bush, with theirimplements of dissection,
and accompanied by the father of the " deceased," proceeded
—two days after the lad "died"—to the house of mourn-
ing, where had been left the body of the deceased lad, with
all the symbols of grief around it. But conceive the asto-
nishment of the father when he beheld his son, who had
been dead, as he thought, two days, standing in the door-
way, as if nothing had happened. There was nothing
ghastlyabout him. He did not look like one who had visited
the other world, nor like one risen from the dead ; but he
stood with the utmost unconcern, and with every sign of
health and life about him. The astonished parent could
scarcely believe his eyes, and the doctors began to think
that they were hoaxed. The lad, however, told his own tale.
He knew nothing about his narrow escape from being
buried alive. All he knew was that be had been asleep,
and on awakening, as he found no one in the house—his
father was looking for the doctors, and his mother was out,
probably making the arrangements for the funeral—he got
up, and feeling very hungry, looked about for something
to eat. Pindine• some eggs, he cooked them, after which
he went out, in happy ignorance of his narrow escape from
the grave and surgeon's knife. Mr. Bush told the lad it
was a good thing that he had "come to life" when he did,
as he might have been killed in the attempt to ascertain
why he had ceased to exist.