The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

COMMITTAL OF TWO OMNIBUS DRIVERS
FOR MANSLAUGNTER.

Yesterday Mr. Brent resumed and concluded, in the
Middlesex Hospital, an adjourned and very protracted
inquest upon James Mason, aged 53, who for many
years kept a shell-fish stall at the corner of Mortimer-
street, near Portland-street, and who fell a victim to the
reckless furious driving of two omnibuses. During the
two days' inquiry, the inquest room was crowded, espe-
ciaLlly by omnibus proprietors and their servants, anxious
for the result. Mr. Humphreys attended on the part of
the proprietor of the Hackney and Clapton omnibus,
and Mr. Lewis for the proprietor of the Islington and
Chelsea omnibus, the two vehicles that caused deceased's
death. Mr. Neale watched the proceedings for de-
ceased's widow and orphans. In answer to a question
from the Coroner, Mr. Tibbetts, summoning officer, said
that, although summoned, the drivers of the omnibuses
were not present.

William
Bowles, residing at 5, Chandos-street, deposed
that on the night of the 17th ult. he was standing near
deceased's stall a few minutes before nine o'clock, when
two omnibuses came racing up Mortimer-street from
Regent-street, and turning sharply round into Great
Portland-street, one of them, the Chelsea and Islington,
which was the nearer to the footway, came upon de-
ceased and his son before they could get out of the way.
The wheel caught deceased, and crushed him with such
violence against the street-post that the resistance almost
brought the vehicle to a standstill. The driver Lacked
the omnibus, and deceased, who groaned piteously, and
was partially insensible, was released and removed to
the hospital. The driver alighted and waited until his
badge number was taken. The driver of the other om-
nibus, the Hackney and Clapton, continued his furious
course up Great Portland-street. Deceased's son was
also injured. The omnibuses came up Mortimer-street
nearly abreast, the Islington being a little a-head. De-
ceased could not get out of the way, so rapidly were
they going, and the affair was so instantaneous. Wit-
ness could not state the pace the omnibuses were going
at. They were evidently racing. Other customers as
well as witness were at deceased's stall when the catas-
trophe occurred.
James Mason, deceased's son, who still suffered greatly
from his injuries, stated that on the night in question he
was assisting his father at the stall, when he was alarmed
by the loud rattling of the omnibuses as they rapidly
approached him, and he instantly drew himself upright
to escape them, but before he could get out of the way
the roof step of one of them struck him on the head, and
the wheel dragged off the skirts of his coat. Upon re-
covering from the fright he found that the spectators
had released his father from his jammed position. Had
not witness drawn himself up he would have met the
same fate with his father. So sudden was the affair,
that it was impossible for his father to escape.
Other evidence having been adduced,
The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a verdict
of manslaughter against Titus May and John Wood.
The Coroner accordingly made out their committal to
Newgate, and handed the warrant to Mr. Tibbetts for
the apprehension of the accused.