The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-14 00:00:00

Mr. CHAMBERs again contended, that as the indictment
char4cd the defendant with confining the decea.ed to
divers over-crowded and unhealthy moats--he had a
right to show that the whole of the billings were un-
healthy and over-crowded. The counts charged gene-
rally that the asylum was over-crowded.
Sir F. THESIG ER—And one part of it is a vaster of s
mile from the other. Is that not so, Mr. Whitfield ?
Witness—No; a few hundred yards.
Mr. Baron PLATT said the evidence should be confined
to the buildu g in which the little children eat, drank,
and slept.
By Mr. CHAMDERS—I examined the children as to the
state of their health before they wcro removed. They
were not in good health—their abdomens were tumid—
they had swelled bellies. Many of them were covered
with itch. I think, judging from the state they were in,
they had rot sufficient food. I think if they were seizt d
with cholera, that their constitutions were so enfeebled
that the disease would most likely prove fatal. The
wasting is very sudden in cholera. I did net pay par-
ticular attention to the case of Andrews. I io net think
he was what was calk d " a heap of banes."
Cross-examined by Sir F. TIIESIGER—Had never been
to Tooting before January. There are always a few
cases of itch and scurvy among Workhouse children.
They are not always the most healthy of children. James
Andrews died of Asiatic cholera. I believe cholera to
arise from atmospheric influence, and I think it decidedly
infectious. Persons in a room with a cholera patient I
believe are more likely to be seized with the disease, in
consequence of the air being poisoned by the
breath of the patie at. Cholera is very ca-
pricious in its attacks--sometimes attacking one
side of a ship and not the other—sometimes
one side of a street and not the ether side. Per-
sons in well ventilated places are seized with it, while
those sutject to a close and confined atmosphere some-
times escape. Cold is a great predisposing cause.
Ito examined—Transition from warm clothing to cold
clothing would also be a predisposing cause.
By the Couar—l thick some of them were under the
influence of cholera when they were removed. I cannot
specify any particular child. I did not attend them at
the Free Hospital. I did not inquire whether medical
assistance would be rendered immediately, but it was my
opinion that it wt uld. Removing them at ten o'clock
at night when snow was on the ground might no doubt
be a predisposing cause, but it was indispensable to the
safety of their lives to bring them to London at that
hour.

Mr. Gibson, surgeon, said he examined the children
of the Holborn Union on the 28th October, More they
went to Tooting. Ile did not know whether Andrews
was among them, but if he was he must have examined
him. If a child was thin only, and rot absolutely ill, he
would have passed him.
Mr. Baron PLATT—You must prove the identity of
the body.
Mr. Pearson, one of the visiting guardians, said he had
examined a body in the vault of the church, but could
not say whether it was that of Andrews.
Cross-examined by Sir F. THESIGER—I visited the
establishment at Tooting several times, and had oppor-
tunities of examining it and seeing how it was conducted.
In my judgment it was perfectly well conducted.
Mr. CHAMBERS objected to this line of cross-exami-
nation, as opening up new ground.
Sir F. THESIGER—Then I will put the question in
this form. What was Mr. Drouet's conduct for kind-
ness and humanity? Witness—Exceedingly good. .
Mr. CHAMBERS—Have you made inquiries since these
everts have tuken place? Witness—No. That is the
result of my inquiries during the visits of inspection.
By the COURT—I have heard from persona both at
Tooting and in town, that Mr. Drouet bore a good
character.
Mr. CLARKSON intimated that as a difficulty bad
arisen with respcct to the identity of the body, he had
sent for the necessary evidence.
The Court at this point adjourned for a brief period.
William Filby, examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Said he
was a porter and a gravedigger, and knew the deceased
Andrews. Saw him before he went to Tooting in
October, and he was then in very good health. Was pre-
sent when he died at the Free Hospital. He buried him,
and afterwards, by the direction of the authorities, ex-
humed the body, and was present at the post mortem
examination.

Mr. Garrod was then re-called—He said he bad
formed an opinion as to the death of the child, and he
considered that it had arisen I uns malignant or Asiatic
cholera. The body was very slightly decomposed.
From the appearance be should say that it was greatly
emaciated before death. The teeth were snot very for-
ward for his age, which bettkencd great weakness of the
ptiln. The head was large, which indicated that he
had not arrived at maturity commensurate to his age.
The blood was of a dark colour. The intestines con-
tained a ricy or gravel-like matter. After giv-
ing seme minute details, he said that the appearance
of the body altogether eati►fivd him that death had re-
sulted from Asiatic cholera. He considered that the
child must have been an unhealthy one. Its emaciated
state might have been caused by improper food, clothing,
and lodging, independent of the cholera, but would nut
be positive on that point. A child confined in an over-
crowded and ill• ventilated dormitory was more liable to
be niftet, d by ir:flences such as the cholera than a strong,
healthy person.
(The trial was proceeding when our report left.)

REDUCTION in FIRE ASSURANCE

RATES.
(From the Reporter.)
We have authority to state that the late reduction in
the rates of fire assurance, referr, d to in the last number
of the Rel.°, ter, and copied into the Mot ning Chronicle,
and other morning, cv.ning, and weekly n,,wspapers,
was confined to the fotlowing risks of special hsz
which had prev;,,usly been rai,ed, viz.:—
C ,tton and woollen mills in England.
Manufacturer.' warehouses in Blanchester, London,
Glasgow, and Paisley.
The following table will doubtless be acceptable to
many of our reaili.r::
Rates for the fuildings and Contents of Warehouses in Lon-
don, occupied by Naolesale Dealers in Cotton, Linen, Silk,
Woollen, and Worsted Piece Goods, and by wholesale
Glovers, Haberdashers, Hosiers, Lacemen, and Thread
Manufacturers; also, Bonnets, Straw Hats, Stays, Arti-
ficial Flowers, and other Articles forming partof a Haber-
dasher's Stuck, when in the premises of a wholesale
Dealer; regulated by the Capacity or Cubical Contents of
the Buildings.

o
Not ex- c
ceeding i,`.4).2 Above
A War, house, 100,0 u 00,4. 00
Brick-built and 'filed or Slated. cubic ;Ey; cubic
fee . R 5 feet.
44
not less not less not lees
than than than
s. d. s. d. s. d.
Having entire party walls car-1
ried through the roof
Having no pr cess of inanu•
facture carried on therein
Having no stove with more I
than three feet of pipe....
If the party walls are not en-}
or not carried through 0 6 0 6 1 0
the roof, addit. one'
If there be any window oil
opening into an area, court,
or passage, be wren anti
common to it and any other
06 1 0
warehouse
or,
If any wooden lining to any I
part of the ceilings or walls
If any well-hole for hoisting or
lighting; or it any opening
06 2 0
in the floors, except tar the
staircases and teagle-rope
If in plurality of tenure
If any process of manufacture}
Special. Special. Special.
be carried on
If any stove with more than
Special. Special. Is.
three feet of pipe ......