The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-11 00:00:00

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A SCHOOL

TEACHER.

Yesterday Mr. Wakley held an inquest at the Lans-
downe Arms, Guildford-street, upon the body of Tarrson
Castle, 10 years of age, daughter of Sophia Castle, house-
keeper to Mr. Burge, 1, Lansdowne-terrace, Brunswick-
square, who was said to have died in consequence of a
blow given by Victoria Duncan, a young woman em-
ployed as teacher in the North London British Schools,
Calthorpe-terrace, Gray's-inn-road.

.• -----
The mother of the deceased, who appeared to have
but little recollection of dates, stated that her daughter
came up from the country, about seven weeks ago, in
perfect health, and went almost directly to the school
above referred to, and that when she had been there
about a fortnight she came home one day complaining of
a pain in her head and a feeling of sickness, which she
said had been caused by her teacher Victoria having
struck her with a book upon the head. She kept on com-
plaining about her head, and witness got something for
her from a chemist, and kept her at home for about a
fortnight, but did not make any inquiry about the matter,
or prefer any charge for assault before a magistrate, be-
cause there was no mark of violence visible. Deceased
then got a little better, and went to school again on two
mornings ; but witness, seeing her apparently growing
worse, would not allow her to go the third morning, al-
though she wished to do so, but took her to the Royal
Free Hospital in Gray's-inn-lane, where some medicine
was given to her. Two or three days afterwardsMr.Burge
sent for Mr. Hutchinson, surgeon, of New Bridge-
street, Blackfriars, who attended the child regularly
from the 28th September until last Saturday, when she
died. Front the first she complained of giddiness and
pain in the head, and when any one passed before her
she said " Oh, Victoria, Victoria, Victoria." These
were the last words which she said before she died, and
when sensible she always said the same. She said the
hook with which she had been struck was as large as a
Bible.

Mr. Wakley observed that Bibles were of very dif-
ferent sizes.

The Mother—She had never been subject to fits, or
met with any fall or accident. She was attached to her
teacher, and always spoke highly of her before.
Mr. Francis Hutchinson, F.R.C.S., New Bridge-
street, Blackfriars, was called in to attend the deceased
on the 28th September, and visited her daily until she
died. She was suffering from inflammation of the mem-
branes of the brain, and told him, when sensible, of the
blow given her by her teacher with a book. She com-
plained of violent pain in the head and back of the neck,
with a feverish pulse, and was treated accordingly.

Witness from the first thought the case almost a hopeless
one. Her head was shaved, but exhibited no mark of
violence before death, nor was any -sign of violence
visible upon a post mortem examination. The in-
side of the scalp was whole and bloodless, and with-
out extravasation. The skull, which was very thin, ex-
hibited no marks of injury within or without. The
vessels of the membranes were congested and distended ;
the inner ones much, butsome more than others. In the
brain, the bloody points were numerous and large, and
on opening the ventricles, two or three ounces of pale
serum were found. There was no patch on the mem-
branes. The heart, lungs, and other viscera were per-
fectly healthy. There were no marks of violence inter-
' nal or external.

No direct evidence respecting the infliction of the
blow could be produced, and the inquest was adjourned
to allow opportunity for its collection,

GRAND EXF.LOSiON OF MINES AT CHATHAM.

For the last two months the Royal Engineer Est*
blishment, under the direction of Colonel Harry D.
Jones, has been engaged in preparing mines of a new
construction, with a view to practice in mining, but also
with the object of carrying on the course of drill in sub-
terraneous warfare. On Friday afternoon, the 7th in- '
stant, the whole force of the Royal and East India
Sappers and Miners, and the officers of the engineer
establishment, assembled in the field works near to St.
Mary's Creek, to witness the operations under the order
of the director, Colonel Jones. All the local authori-
ties had been invited to attend to witness the experi-
ments ; and for the accommodation of the ladies and
officers the top of the casemates were opened for th-em,
as the situation afforded a full view of the works. Among
the visitors we observed Major Walpole, brigade major
of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich ; Colonel Portlock,
Military College, Woolwich ; Marquis of Worcester,
Colonel Wood, second in command of the cavalry depot,
Maidstone, and several other cavalry officers ; Colonel
Ord, commander of the Engineers; Sir John Campbell,
38th Regiment; Captain Peter Richards, C. 8., R.N.,
with many other officers. There was also a largo assem-
blage of civilians from the town and neighbourhood.
Shortly after two o'clock p.m. the sound of the bugle
was given as the signal for the commencement of the
operations, which was a submarine explosion in the
river Medway. It appeared that a raft of considerable
strength was placed in the river at a mile distance, and
which was totally destroyed by a charge of 100 pounds
of gunpowder, fired by the voltaic battery, placed at
the edge of the creek by Lieut. Inglis, assisted by Cor-
poral Jones. The explosion was magnificent. The raft
was shivered to atoms, and the effect in the water pro-
duced a cone rising to the height of about 150 feet.
The next explosion was that of firing a fongass—
an experiment for projecting stones, defending a breach,
or a bridge-head. The plan of the mine was oval, and
about 21 feet in length and about 11 feet in width.
In this mine was placed a charge of 80 pounds of gun-
powder ; over the charge was put an oak shield of con-
siderable thickness, measuring three feet nine inches
by four feet six inches square ; over the shield was then
placed nearly six tons of flint stones. Lieut. Ewart,
assisted by Serjeant Jones, fired the mine, which proved
very satisfactory. It blew up with tremendous effect,
the stones were scattered in all directions, resembling a
shower of black substance ; in real warfare the destruc-
tion to human life by the falling of the stones must be
very great. The flints were of very large size. The
next fired was that of a field redoubt. Captain Lovell,
with Serjeant Davey and Serjeant Dobie, had charge of
the galleries. The extent of this redoubt was 90 feet in
the gorge ; each flank was 50 feet, with the facis to a
salient angle ; in each 51 feet in this redoubt was placed
eight charges of gunpowder—one of 1401 b. of powder,
two charges of 100 lb., and five charges of 601 b. each.
The whole of these charges exploded simultaneously
by the voltaic battery. By the force of the gunpowder
the earth was driven. into the air and the shock, for
some considerable distance. was felt. The earth
trembled, every particle of the redoubt was des-
troyed, and also the earth, for some yards distant,
was turned up for some feet in depth. The next
experiment was that of breaching a stockade on the
margin of the river. This stockade was built with
balks of oak, strongly fastened with oak ribbons, top and
bottom. For the purpose of blowing this structure
down, a bag of gunpowder of 701 b. was placed at the
basement, well secured by sand-bags. Captain Lovell,
assisted by Serjeants Davey and Dobie, fired the charge,
which had the desired effect of forcing a breach,
that troops four abreast could with ease pass through.
The next experiment was, loading a mortar with gun-
powder and stones, for the purpose of ascertaining the
quantity of powder that will force a certain quantity of
flint stones to a given distance. There was also an ex-
periment of throwing hand grenades, loaded a certain
distance from the mortar, by gunpowder ; the effect of
this mode of warfare must be awful, especially to an
enemy advancing in numbers, under a heavy fire of these
hand grenades. The explosions closed by Captain Ross,
assisted by Lieutenant Drake, blowing in a counter-
scarp, which was done most effectually. The first ex-
plosion was that of a small charge of 101 b. of powder, to
weaken the basement of the brick wall, which was of
considerable thickness, and immediately two other ex-
plosions followed—onewhich made
a beaorftOhlbof. a3nldfeaentobthyeirioffeet. 601b.The of
powder, v
whole of the experiments went off to the entire satisfac-
tion of all present. The proceedings closed, the esca-
lading par ty appeared at the ditch with their ladders,
which they lowered with the greatest dispatch, and with
their carbines slung across their shoulders.

!T.EIE REGISTRATIONS.

WEST SURREY.

Archer Ryland, Esq., the Revising Barrister, held his
court at the Sun Inn, Chobham, on Thursday last, and
revised the lists of the parishes of Chobham, Bisley,
Frimley, Horsell, Pirbright, Pyrford, and Windlesham.
Mr. G. Edgar Dennes, solicitor, of London, and Mr. T.
Jackson, attended for the Reformers. The Tories were
not represented. The following is the result of the
day's revision :
Reform Overseer's
Sustained. Sustained.
Objections. Objections.
Chobham . 3 3 10 10
Frimley
Horsell . 0 0 3 3
Pirbright 4 4 1 1
Windlesbam 4 4 8 8

13 new- Reform claims were allowed, making a ma-
jority of Liberals on the day's revision of 36.
On Friday last, the learned gentleman held his court t►t
the White Horse, Dorking, and revised the lists in th e
parishes of Abinger, Capel, Dorking, Mickleham, New-
digate, Ockley, and Woolton.
Mr. E. Edgar Dennes, solicitor, of London, and M.
C. J. Smith, solicitor, of Reigate, attended for the Ro-
formers. The Tories were not represented.
Reform Overseer's
objections. Sustained. objections. Sustained.
Dorking.. 9 9 12 12
Mickleham 1 1 1 1
Newdigate 2 2 1 1
Ockley and
Woolton 0 0 0 0
Abinger 1 1 1 1
Cape! 2 2 2 2
New Reform claims allowed 24