The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-27 00:00:00

JURISDICTION OF CORONERS.

Yesterday evening a jury assembled at the Marlbo-
rough head public-house, in Fox's-lane, Shadwell, to
hold an inquest before Mr. Baker, on the body of Ben-
jamin Harbour, a farmer's labourer, aged twenty-four
years. The deceased was one of the three unfortunate
persons who lost their lives at Westminster-bridge by
the capsizing of a boat which came athwart one of the
piers with seven persons it, three of whom were drowned.
The body of the deceased was picked up at Shadwell
Dock-stairs on Saturday afternoon. That of his wife,
to whom he was married the day before the accident,
and who perished with him, was found near Waterloo-
bridge on Saturday morning, and the body of the
third sufferer was recovered on the same morning, on
Horsleydown. Is it not a little remarkable that the
bodies were found in the jurisdiction of three different
coroners, and within a few hours of each other? An in-
quest was held upon the body of Bridget Sheehan, found
off Horsleydown, on Saturday evening, before Mr. Payne,
the coroner for London and Southwark, and was adjourned
for further evidence. Mr. Baker, coroner for Middlesex, no
,
soonerz
ameinto tne room last evening, where the parties
were arisembled, than he was informed of the above facts,
and said he should decline proceeding with the inquest on
B6njamin Harbour, whose death occurred out of his
jurisdiction. The case was one of considerable impor-
tance, and as the question of a deodand upon the boat,
which was alleged to be unsafe, was likely to arise, if he
was to proceed with the inquiry and the Jury were to
return a verdict implicating any party, or levy a deo-
dand upon the boat, the inquisition might be quashed
and all the proceedings rendered nugatory. Under
these circumstances he should direct the beadle to convey
the body to the district in which the parties died.
The friends of the deceased pressed Mr. Baker to
swear in the Jury and go on with the inquiry, and said
they had an objection to the body being conveyed from
place to place, which was exceedingly distressing to the
relatives.

Mr. BAKER said, in the present state of the law he
could not help it. The case, as far as he was concerned,
was corani non judice.
He then discharged the gentlemen summoned from
further attendance and retired. The body, which was
n a very decomposed state, was removed to St. John's
Church, Waterloo-road.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—The large ship Mer-
sey, from Barbadoes, with a cargo of sugar, cotton, &c.,
was hauled into the London Dock on Sunday afternoon.
When at the Nore on Saturday a dreadful accident hap-
on board the Mersey. A seaman named John Robinson
was desired to go aloft to the fore-yard and furl the top-
sail, and whib thus engaged he lost his hold of the ropes,
.and fell on ilk deck of the ship, a distance of more than
70 feet. The poor fellow was taken up in a dying state,
but lingered in the greatest agony until the vessel
reached London, on Sunday afternoon. The body was
yesterday removed on board the Mersey to the house of
an undertaker in Shadwell, to await an inquest.
ALARMING ACCIDENT.—An occurrence took
place at a watering place in Miltown Malbay, county Clare,
a few days ago, which would have been attended with
melancholy consequences to one of the gentler sex, but
for the intrepid conduct of a young gentleman, whose
name we cheerfully record. The circumstances were
theie ;.—A Miss White, of Dublin, a lady of great
personal charms and mental acquirements, was bath-
ing in Miltown Malbay, and having gone out of her
depth, -.she suddenly disappeared. The female ser-
vant who accompanied her became terribly alarmed,
and screamed most lustily for assistance. Mr.
Michael Cuffe, the ) ouug gentleman alluded to, hap-
pened to be passing near the place at the time ; and,
hearing the signal of distress, instantly repaired to the
spot, and without waiting to relieve himself of his
clothes, he leaped into the water and " buffeting the bil-
lows to her rescue," caught her by the arm and brought
her manfully to shore. The poor creature was perfectly
insensible ; but on being conveyed home, and aid af-
forded her, we rejoice to say she recovered rapidly. The
parents of the lady expressed their gratitude to Mr.
Cuffe ; and the lady herself, in suitable terms, likewise
acknowledged the heroic conduct of her preserver.—
, Dublin *miter.

DEATH FROM FURIOUS DRlVlNG.—Yester-
day the adjourned inquiry relative to the death of Mr.
John Ray Bartlett, an extensive builder, residing in
Grove-road, Brixton, was resumed before Wm. Carter,
Esti. , the coroner for Surrey, at the Antelope Tavern,
Lower-road, Brixton. It appeared that Mr. Bartlett and
Mr. Rudd, also a builder, living in Holland-street, Clap-
ham-road, proceeded in the latter's chaise-cart on the
evening of Monday week, along the Dover-road, and
while driving at the Ate of only five or six miles an
hour, an omnibus opposite the Sessions House at
Newington came galloping up, and ran against their
chaise-cart, which was upset. Mr. Bartlett was found
lying under the wheels, and Mr. Rudd was quite insen-
sible from the injuries he had suffered. Mr. Evans, the
surgeon, of Stones'end, applied all proper remedies, but
Mr. Bartlett died of inflammation of the brain, the con-
sequence of the injuries, on Friday week last. On Mon-
day last it was hoped some of the passengers would be induced to come forward, but such was not the case.
Last night no additional clue had been obtained either
as V) owner or driver of the omnibus. The Jury returned
a verdict of " -Manslaughter, against some person or per-
sons unknown."
MELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT.--
Yesterday morning about nine o'clock a fatal accident
happened on the premises of Mr. Read, a builder,
fat
resid-
ing in Lower Belgrave-place, Pimlico. In the wfloiarr
nthae
the back of Mr. Read's residence arc saw-mills
purposF of cutting marble blocks into slabs. On
truck beneath the engine that works the mill
marble
propped, the one against the other, ten Jar'?
'about ten
slabs, that had been recently sawn,
eachfour and five
feet by five, and each weighing between four °stood
the time of the
cwt. Mr. Charles Read, son of thet
about nineteen, was, with others at
slabs, when the
accident, engaged in removing proprietor, aged
d as a fulcrum to keep
outer slab, which apparently
their tops rest-
others, so that they fell against
and pressing him against
the others standing, fell ouateie,ahredis,,allio,osening all the
ing against Mr. Read's throat, .
ed bleeding
fragments. Mr. Read
was then
nose, and ears, and
the wall, until by their own wteiiitdtihseeytigabrogke, into large
profusely from the throat, 1
by
though
d at his
hour after the accident.
I geons, he expired
attended
father's residence in about an
the neighbouring: sur-
geons, An inquest will be held this

evening.
STRIKE OF BRICKLAYERS AND LABOURERS
AT THE MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY
STATION.—The bricklayers on these
their w.orkls, who receive
five shillings per day wages, and abourers, who
receive three shillings per day, struck work on Monday
morning last, in consequence of a refusal to pay an ad-
vance of wages to three shillings and sixpence, demanded
by the labourers. We understand that many of the
latter are going about soliciting charity, with gross mis-
representations of this matter ; but the above is a true
statement of the case.—Manchester Herald.
FALMOUTH PACKETS.—Captain Foote, R.N.,
Devonport, is appointed to succeed Captain Plumridge,
as Superintendent of the Packets at Falmouth.