The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-23 00:00:00

WELWYN, LUTON, AND DUNSTABLE.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Luton wa►s held
on Thursday, for the purpose of promoting the above
proposed line—Mr. R. How presided. Resolutions were
passed in favour of the scheme, and a committee wa.i
appoineed to take the necessary steps to carry out the
undertaking.
It was stated that the line would cost 120,0001., and
that the promoters were prepared to advance 40,000/ ,
provided the local parties subscribed the remainder. The
length of the line would be 17 miles, commencing by a
junction with the London and North-Western Railway
at Dunstable, passing through Luton along the valley of
the Lea by Wheathamstead, and terminating by a Junc-
tion with the Great Northern Railway at Digswell.

THE FATAL COLLISION ON THE
BRIGHTON RAILWAY.

INQUEST ON ONE OF THE BODIES.
CROYDON, TUESDAY NIGHT.
This evening, at 3 o'clock, a highly.respectable jury
assembled before Mr. Carter, coroner for East Surrey,
at the Railway Tavern, near the station, to inquire into
the circumstances touching the death of John Gammon,
one of the passengers who lost his life in the frightful
collision which took place on the above line on Monday
afternoon, a detail of which appeared in The Sun.
The jury having been sworn,
The coroner stated that until 2 o'clock that day he had
not received any intimation of the case, except what he
had read in the public papers. He was desirous of hav-
ing the body identified, and to adjourn the question to
a future day.
The jury having viewed the body,
William Gammon, son of the deceased, was sworn—
Said he was a labourer, residing at Ea9t Peckham. De-
ceased was his father. He was a gardener, and was 63
years of age, and had resided at East Peckham. He
saw his father alive between 7 and 8 o'clock on Monday
morning at his own house, preparing for the train to go
to the Palace at Sydenham. The train was proceeding
from Paldock-wood station. Deceased was at the time
in good health. _ _

The inquiry was then adjourned until Wednesday
(Aug. 30), at 10 o'clock, at th►e Town•hall.

INQUIRY BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES.

Yesterday morning 4 prisoners, taken into custody by
the police, were placed at the bar before the bench of
magistrates at the Town hall, Croydon, the magistrates
present being Mr. Byron, Mr. Kemnnis, and Mr. Suther•
land.

Inspector Julien took the men into custody upon his
own zesponsibiity, and has received the strong approba-
tion of tha magistrates for the course he has adopted.
The prisoners are Robert Simpson, engine driver of
the excursion train, and James Sladden, fireman of the
same, both in the service of the South Eastern Railway
Company, with Edward. Boynett, the driver of the bal-
last engine, and Edward Knivett, the fireman of the
same, in the service of the Pondon and Brighton and
South Coast Railway, and they were charged with caus-
ing the death of James Gammon, a gardener, re,iding at
East Peckham. Mr. Burgon attended on behalf of
Simpson and Sladden, and Mr. Church on behalf of the
South Eastern Railoray Company. The Brighton Com-
pany was represented by a solicitor.
Mr. William Brown, the superintendent of the Brick-
layers' Arms station, said he was in the Dover excursion
train when it came up, and was looking forward when
the train approached the Croydon station. They 'rimed
the auxiliary signal about 600 yards below the station ;
that signal being down indicated that all was right at
the station, and the train therefore went on, although at
a reduced rate of speed. The auxili.iry signal was the
protecting signal of the station. When the train arrived
at the second bridge from the Croydon station, he saw
that the danger signal was up, and at the same moment
he saw the station man run out and hold up his red
light, showing the driver that he must reduce his speed.
The driver did the beat he could, but it was impossible
for him to stop.
In answer to a question from the bench,
Mr. Brown stated that when the train was at Steat's
Nest it was telegraphed to Croydon, and the driver
would have every reason to believe that the line was
clear when he saw that it was all right with the auxiliary
signal.

"A
magistrate stated that he had before him a docu-
ment which showed that the train was telegraphed at
Stoat's Nest, and that it was not answered at Croydon,
showing, he presumed, that no one was in charge of the
telegraph there.

Mr. Brown said this accident would not have hap-
pened if the telegraph had been properly conducted.
Sergeant John Julien, 28 P, stationed at Croydon,
deposed to arresting Boynett and Knivett.
The latter prisoners admitted to the court that they
were on the ballast-engine. Boynett said that he stuck
to it, but that Knivett jumped off.
It being here suggested that an adjournment was ne-
cessary, in order to complete the evidence,
Mr. Burgon addressed the bench, and submitted that
nothing had been provefl against his clients, and there-
fore hoped that they would be liberated on bail.
The chairman remarked that they had the interests of
the public in charge, and to see that they were not ex-
posed to any nehlect while travelling upon the railway.
At present the case was in the hands of the police, a
serious charge had been preferred against, the company's
servants, and therefore it was the duty of the bench to
investigate it. They, however, would adjourn the
further hearing of the case until five o'clock that after-
noon. _

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Mr. Lund, the superintendent of the police,
of the
killed on the public highway. Beingsai that
circumstances attending the collision, hehadinofee
duty to take the men into custody. He had s
further instructions from Sir R. Mayne, the Comnlitriesscitieoinvheteiodrs
of Police ; and he should be prepared at a future day
produce further important evidence.
Mr. Everett, solicitor, who had been retained for
Boynett and Knivett, contended that as no satisfactory
evidence had been offered the men ought to be dis-
charged.
The chairman said that, considering the serious loss of
life and the injury sustained by other parties, coupled
with other circumstances, they should not bedoing their
duty if they did not institute the most searching inquiry.
They therefore could not allow the liberation of the pri-
, sonars.
The prisoners were then remanded till Friday next.
...............______

A DOUGLAS DIGS.—In the year 1667 when the Dutch
destroyed our ships in the Medway, filling the breasts
of the inhabitants of London with alarm and dismay, one
gallant heart, true to his heroic name, perished for, his
country's cause. Captain Douglas, of the Roy al Oak,
having defended his ship with the greatest obstinacy, in
pursuance of the orders he had received, " tomaintain
his post to the last extremity," at length found his ship
in flames from stem to stern, the enemy having succeeded
in firing her ; his crew finding further resistance useless,
retreated to the shore, and Captain Douglas was urged
to accompany them ; he replied that he had no com-
mands to retire, arid "that it never should be said a
Douglas had'qUiited his post without orders ;" and thus
resolutely continued on board, and was burnt with the
ship, falling to discipline and obedience to command,
and setting an example worthy all Greek or Rowan
fume,—pcay of Naval Daring,