The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-03 00:00:00

THE DEATH OF THE LATE COLONEL

GORDON.

In consequence of information received by the rela-
tives of the late Colonel Gordon, R.A., it was deter-
mined to institute a further inquiry into the circum-
stances accompanying his melancholy death, which took
place in a railway carriage, between Stafford and Crewe,
on the night of the 15th ult. The body was accordingly
exhumed on Saturday, the 25th ult., and conveyed to
Crew; where it was viewed by a jury, and identified by
the son-in-law of the deceased, Mr. William Duckett,
of Russell's-town-park, Carlow.
The inquiry was then adjourned to Friday last, when
lit was resumed at Crewe, before Mr. Henry Churton,
coroner for the southern division of Cheshire.
Mr. Blenkinsop, of Liverpool, on behalf of the London
and North-Western Railway Company, attended to
watch the inquiry, and expressed the desire of the com-
pany to afford every facility in their power to aid its
prosecution. Mr. Phillips, of London, attended on
behalf of Saunders, the night inspector at the Stafford
station. Mr. John Henry Gordon, son of the late
colonel, was present during the inquiry.
Mr. James Gibbs, an engineer in the service of the
Peninsular and Oriental Steam-packet Company, was the
first witness examined. He stated that he left Euston-
square station by the 8.55 mail train on the night of the
15th of March, accompanied by his wife and family. He
was in a third-class carriage, and in the compartment in
front of him was the late colonel and two other gentle-
men, Mr. Russell and Mr. Boyd ; behind him there was
a drunken man and some other persons. This man got
out at a station before arriving at Stafford, and brought
four pint bottles of ale and porter into the carriage with
him when he returned. He drank from these, and be-
came much more intoxicated and very noisy. The man
who was in that compartment complained of him at
Stafford to the inspector there, for being intoxicated
and using bad langurge, and he was removed from
that compartment by the inspector, and taken to the
one where Colonel Gordon was sitting. The colonel re-
fused to admit him, and on the inspector insisting on his
admission he repeatedly offered his card, saying he would
take all the responsibilty of refusing admission to the
drunken man, and asked why he should be taken out of
one compartment and brought there. The inspector re-
fused to take the card, saying he neither cared for him
nor his card, and, after some altercation, rushed into the
compartment where the colonel was, seized him by the
shoulders, and said he must go out. He pushed the colonel
towards the door, and witness heard a slight knack.
The deceased and the other two gentlemen said they
never saw such treatment before. The inspector after-
wards let go his hold of the colonel, and put the man
who was tipsy into the compartment where the deceased
was, the conductor of the train going in with him. Col.
Gordon asked the two gentlemen who were in that com-
partment to oblige him with their names, as he intended
to take the matter up as an assault. He did not,
however, take down the names,' but sat as though
asleep, and about ten minutes afterwards his head be-
gan to drop forward, and he was near falling, when he
was caught by Mr, Russell. Shortly after this the
train reached Crewe, where medical aid was obtained,
and the colonel was found to be dead. The deceased
appeared in good health and spirits up to the time when
the altercation commenced. He was very much excited
when the inspector refused his card, and spoke in a
loud tone.
Mr. Russell, manager of the firm of Lawrie and Co.,
shipbuilders, Glasgow, stated in addition to the evidence
of the former witness that both he and Mr. Boyd ob-
jected to the man who was intoxicated being put into
the compartment where they were sitting. The colonel
told them not to interfere —he could manage it. The
man was taken to the compartment by the conductor
of the train (Teddy) before he was brought by the in-
spector. The colonel positively refused to admit
the drunken man, and repeatedly offered his card to the
inspector. The inspector said, if any one would give
the man in charge he would detain him. Witness re-
plied, it was the duty of the gentleman who first com-
plained to give him in charge. When the inspector was
endeavouring to thrust the colonel out, the latter placed
his hands against the side of the carriage, and the in-
spector struck him on the left arm, which caused it to
fall. The inspector was then pressing against the de-
ceased, who appeared exhausted, and said, in a tone in-
dicating exhaustion, "Let him come." Witness after-
wards heard the inspector's name was Saunders.
Mr. James Boyd confirmed the account given by the
last witness, and added, that he walked with the colonel
for ten minutes on the platform at Euston-square station
before starting, and he then appeared in good health,
said he did not mind the long journey to Aberdeen, and
that he was going cheap. It is hardly necessary to say
that no one in the carriage or at Stafford knew the
deceased.

Mr. Hayes here asked the coroner if he thought it
necessary for him to call witnesses on behalf of Saun-
ders, as it did not appear to him (Mr. Hayes) that any
charge could be brought against any persen ; to which
The Coroner replied that he thought the case was
serious as regarded the inspector, Saunders.
Mr. Hayes then called Saunders, the inspector at
Stafford, who, after the usual caution from the coroner,
gave a similar account of the affray at Stafford to that of
the other witnesses, but added that he and the conductor
and a Mr. Moore, had previously done everything they
could to persuade the deceased to admit the man, who
(the witness said) was not drunk. The train was some mi-
nutes behind time, and he was obliged to do something
to get it started. The conductor offered to go in with
the man, to keep him quiet, and did accompany him
when he went in. Witness denied that the colonel
offered his card to him, but admitted that he heard
something about it said to some one else.
William Teddy, the conductor, confirmed the evidence
of Saunders with respect to the determined opposition of
the deceased to the entrance of the man into the com-

partment. He did not believe the man wastipTi. VHe
was very quiet after he got into the carriage. In answer
to Mr. Blenkinsop, witness said it was not unusual to
find third-class passengers who had taken a few glasses
of liquor) _ _

M. M. Richards, superintendent of the Stafford bo-
rough police, and who was on the platform on the night
in question, stated that the man who was said to be
drunk appeared sober, and walked into the carriage with
his hands in his pockets.
Four porters at the station gave similar evidence to
that deposed to by Saunders.
The inquiry was then adjourned to Saturday, when
Sir John Liddell deposed to having made a put mor-
tem examination of the deceased. Death was caused by
an affection of the heart, to which deceased had long
been subject, and any sudden excitement would be likely
to cause death.

The jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter"
against the inspector Saunders, and the coroner issued
his warrant for his apprehension for trial at the ensuing
assizes at Chester.

Bail was subsequently offered and accepted for his
appearance on Tuesday next.
The late Colonel was proceeding to his residence in
Kincardineshire when he met with his death under the
painful circumstances narrated abcive,- He was-firyear
•
of age; and was.a distinguished officer:

STRIKE OF THE MIDLAND PORTERS.— DERBY, SATUR-
DAY EVENING.--The above strike terminated this even-
ing, the men having gained their ends. At half-past
four o'clock this afternoon, Mr. Allport, the general
. manager, requested the whole of the men on strike to
meet him in the goods shed at the Midland station.
They did so. Mr. Allport addressed them at some
length, saying he had no deiire to injure them, but that
he would rather pay them fortnightly for the convenience
of the office. If the men, however, preferred the old
system of weekly payment, he would accede to it. The
men consulted for a short time, and then informed Mr.
Allport that they must be paid as heretofore (every
Thursday evening) if they resumed work. Mr. Allport
then said he would agree to their request. The men
resumed work this (Monday) morning. The strike
caused the greatest confusion in the goods department,
the station-yard and approaches being choked up with
delayed luggage trains.
THE FRENCH MINT.—It is announced from Paris that
from the Ist of April the French Mint will deduct 2 per
mille per kilo from all gold brought for coinage, this
measure having been adopted to meet the extra expense
of coining the new 5 franc pieces. Under these circum-
stances, it will no longer be profitable at present rates
to send gold from London, and hence some of the recent
Australian arrivals will find their way to the Bank of
England.
LETTERS PROM AUSTRALIA..—The number of letters
and newspapers from Australia by the overland mail is
very limited, owing to the extent of the despatches by
previous departures. On the whole, it appears, that
business was more steady than could have been antici-
pated, while, with regard to the gold production, there
is no reason to believe that any permanent falling off
need be apprehended, although continued immigration
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is necessary to insure full activity at the mines, as
s
ro iod ue
the comparative production of gold in 1852 and
1853, but they do not agree in their totals. It
lastthpe receding
year.
quantitybrought
by
seems, however, that the amount for the colony of Vic-
toria was equal to about 12,000,000/. sterling, being
being
escort
ctot the
month
into Melbourne showed a good increase, the sum being
176,535 ounces, against 149,581 in December, 1852, a
result which was the more important from the fact of
tither less
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f
in
the
the previous
five months having presented an uninter•
• Stress continues to be laid by
rupted decrea,,e.
of the clip - many
writers on the probable shortnessd. of wool this
and also on the increasing acuities of getting
season, -
hipment, but these statements must
it to the ports of s
always be regarded with • some reserve.
THE NEW BILL ON MORTIIAIN—On Friday, Mr.
Headlam's bill to consolidate and amend the laws of
mortmain, and the laws regulating erifts to charitable or
religious purposes, was print d • There are 25 clauses
in the bill, affording facilities for giving land as sites for
buildings, &e., for schools, with power to sell lands to
trustees for charities. Specific legacies for the promo-
tion of art may be given without restraint. The Charity
Commissioners are to register notice given to them under
the new measure. •
PRIVATE AND JOINT-STOCK BANKS.—At a meeting
of the committee of private bankers yesterday a reso-
lution was adopted to consider the question of admitting
joint-stock banks to the clearing-house, and the matter
it is now believed will vocally be brought too, patio.
factory conclusion,