The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-16 00:00:00

DESECRATION OF THE DEAD

s r. GILES'S WORKHOUSE.

Since the dreadful disclosures of Ellen Chapel down to
the recent d, secretion of certain City church-yards, and
the removal of cart loads of human remains to the
Easter -end of the metropolis, nothing so humiliating or
in detail so revolting has occurred to equal in horrors the
proceedings which are now going on in the pauper
burial-ground attached to the St. Giles's workhouse. It
appears that in this parish it has been found necessary to
enlarge the workhouse, and to add an infirmary, a dis-
pensary, a casual ward, waiting-rooms, bath-rooms, and
other buildings for the accommodation of the inmates,
who for many years had suffered much. That in order
to effect these objects, a number of temporary offices,
covering in the whole a. piece of ground at the rear of the
building containing about half an acre, have been re•
moved, and the whole area, extending from the back of
the workhouse to a lane called Short's-gardens, laid
bare. The plot of ground thus exposed is surrounded on
all sides by the dwellings of the poor, who inhabit this
locality in perhaps greater numbers than any other
part of the metropolis. Many of these miserable
tenements overlook the spot, and so dense is
the population that several thousand poor families
reside within the circle of one hundred yards round
it. After the materials of the old buildings had
been removed, the workmen in the employment of
the builder, Mr. Holland, of Duke-street, Blooms-
bury, commenced digging the foundations for the new j
buildings, and while so engaged found at the depth of I
about four feet from the surface some bones, which were
carted away with the rubbish, and deposited in the
vicinity of Battle-bridge. As soon as the circumstance
of finding the bones was represented to the clerk of the
works, he immediately waited upon the governor of the
workhouse, and also some members of the board of
guardians, but no directions were given to cease dis-
turbing the remains. The workmen, therefore, continued
to prosecute their labours, when it soon became apparent
the ;round was filled with coffins, and the decomposed
bodies of human beings. A sight of this appalling cha-
racter had such an effect upon the workmen employed to
clear away the revolting substances, that some of them
exhibited the greatest reluctance to interfere, and only
complied at length from the fear of losing their employ-
ment. While the task of exhuming the remains was
proceeded with, the board of guardians held two or
three meetings, and after some deliberation, and an in-
spection of the ground, came to the determination to ex-
hume all the bodies, and have them removed to the St.
Giles's Cemetery, St. Pancras-road. These instructions
are now in the course of being complied with, and it is
calculated that within the last fortnight the remains of
twelve hundred persons have been removed. The coffins
appear to have been wedged together, and in many
cases fourteen have been found in one grave. A space
of ground, measuring about eighty square feet, has
been already excavated, with the intention of removing
all the coffins that may be found. The earth is found
to be in some parts hard and gravelly, but towards
Short's-gardens it becomes loose and damp, and in
those parts the progress of decomposition has been
more rapid and complete. To the north, and within 8.1
few feet of the workhouse itself, the soil is compara-
tively firm, and here a most appalling sight was pre-
sented.
Owing, it is supposed, to the peculiar proper-
ties of the soil in this place, the coffins were found to
be in a better state of preservation, and to have re-
sisted, to a greater extent, the mouldering effects of
time. They could not, hoe ever, be removed in any-
thing like a perfect shape, and parted asunder when
exposed to the air. The lushes they contained were
found to be still solid, the hair upon the eyebrows and
eyelashes clearly discernable, and every feature entire
and perfect as when first deposited. The flesh, however,
had turned into a white substance, resembling to the
touch, and not unlike in appearance, the common mush-
room or toad-stool. The coffins containing those bodies
were found at depths, varying from four to nine or ten
feet. In some instances, the mouldering flesh clung to
the head, about the jaw, and round the scalps, while
the teeth remained white and firm. The brain could
also be traced; and in some cases even the viscera
were clearly distinguishable. These bodies appeared to
have been swathed in coarse linen shrouds as several
fragments of the latter were found. The accumulation
of those ghastly remains in a few hours became so great,
that coffins or rather large boxes, hastily put together;
and formed of three quarter inch deal, painted block, were
got in readiness, into which the remains of about thirty
persons were packed indiscriminately and forwarded in
a hearse to the cemetry at St. Pancras-road. The re-
mains of about twelve hundred persons were thus re-
moved, a much greater number however still remain,
and at this moment the loathsome place is strewn with
skulls, many of them in the state described, bones of all
kinds, and fragments of broken coffins. The pit exca-
vated has already yielded the remains of 1,200 persons,
including the skeletons of children, and judging from pre-
sent appearances the workmen employed have not more
than half finished, if so much, their frightful task. Por-
tions of several coffins, with fragments of their ghastly
occupants, can now be traced within thirteen or fourteen
inches of the surface, while in other places the piles of
coffins have been compressed by time, according as the
wood rotted, and now appear lying close to each other,
as if some external pressure had been applied. Some of
the able-bodied paupers from the workhouse were
employed collecting the fragments. It is evident from
the appearance of some of the coffins that the eccupants
did not in every case belong to the-humbler classes, as
some of them have pieces of cloth attached to them,
and are richly studded with nails, and contain the marks
of having been once decorated with plates. The dates,
however, are, unfortunately, erased by time„ with the ex-
ception of a few. In one portion of the ground the
workmen found as many as 30 or 40 skeletons, all thrown
indiscriminately together; none of them bore the appear-
ance of being recently deposited. Several copper coins,
pipes, and other things, were also found. The coins
were very much corroded, but one of them is in suffi-
ciently good preservation to exhibit the date 1200 in
legible characters. Independently of the outrage upon
decency and proper feeling which is involved in these
proceedings, it is to be apprehended that very fearful
results to the sanitory condition of so densely crowded
a neighbourhood will follow the opening of the:loathsome
pit now exposed to view. The indignation of the people
in the immediate district has been audibly expressed. A
great majority of them belong to the sister country, and,
with that respect for the dead which they are nationally
characterised for, have viewed with feelings of indigna-
tion the proceedings. It is calculated that an immense
number of coffins and their contents have still to be re-
moved.

IPSWICH AND BURY RAILWAY.—We are glad to
hear that the subsidence of the soil at llaughloy, has
been now overcome, and there is every prospect of the
line being opened for traffic early in the ensuing month.
—Bury Herald.
NEW RAILWAY PROJECT.—We understand th•
surveys are about to be commenced of a proposed rail-
way from Colchester, by way of Nayland, Sudbury, and
Haverhill, to Cambridge.-7-Bury Herald.
FATAL COLLISION ON THE THAMES.--Yesterday
afternoon, about four o'clock, a coal barge called the
Gertrude, was passing down the river, a short distance
from London-bridge, when she ran with a violent crash
foul of a sailing barge loaded with sand, known as the
Opponent. The jerk occasioned by the collision pitched
the steersman of the former into the water, and al-
though every possible exertion was made to save the
poor fellow's life, ho floated away with the tide and dis-
appeared.
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GORDON: We
have to record the demise of a gallant and eminent field
officer, Lieut.-Colonel John Gordon, who expired a few
days since at his seat, Princestown, county of Fermanagh,
at the ad% anced age of seventy-nine, forty-one of which
witnessed a connexion with the British army. This
officer saw during his career some rough service, and he
had the honour and satisfaction of being made a retired
Lieutenant-Colonel on full pay in 1844, being connected
with the Royal Regiment of Artillery, which he entered
as Second-Lieutenant in 1805.
IRON VESSELS.—ADVANTAGES OF WATER-TIGHT
COMPARTMENTS.—A letter from Falmouth to the Liver-
pool underwriters, dated 9th October, contains the fol-
lowing passage:—" The Rattler steamer, from Cork to
London, full rfwater in after parts, and chiefly so in the
hold, the fore compartment only keeping her afloat, has
been run on the mud, and cargo b. ing taken out, all
soaked. She sprung a leak cn the 7th instant, soon after
leaving Cork. Among the plssengers thus miraculously
saved Were Captain Robert Foster, RN., Mrs. Foster,
and Messrs. Frederick, George, and Laton Foster."
MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF ST. PANCRAS.
—An adjourned meeting of the ratepayers of St. Pancras
parish was held on Monday evening, and lasted for seven
hours, relative to the charges against the authorities on
their management of the poor. After a great deal of
talking, Mr. Marley submitted the following resolution,
"'that this meeting have every confidence in the directors
and vestrymen of this parish to investigate the conduct
of the officers and the management of the workhouse.*
Mr. fluffy moved as an amendment —" That this meet-
ing cannot have confidence in any of the directors or
officers of the poor until a fair investigation of the pre-
sent charges against them has taken place by the
vestrymen." The resolution and the amendment were
then put to the meeting and the latter was negatived.
SWANSEA AND MUMBLES OYSTER FISHERY,—
The commencement of the oyster fishery, in Swansea
bay, has been more successful this year than known for
many seasons, and notwithstanding the large number
almost daily caught, such is the demand for these oysters
at Liver" o 1, Manchester, Birmingham, and other large
towns, that they readily sell on Swansea quay for one
shilling and sixpence per long hundred. This is a great
blessing to the hard-working poor engaged in these
fi,heries (some of whom have lately been getting as
much as 21. per week) at a period when provisions are so
dear.—Welshman.

COACH ACCIDENT.—About eleven o'clock on Sun-
day night last an accident happened to the London mail
coach going north, on the most dreary part of Shap
Fells, in Westmoreland, which might have been attended
with the most serious and fatal consequences. It appears
that the road over Shap Fells, especially at the Bucks-
brow, is in a most dangerous and shocking bad state of
repair, there being large deep holes in it at several
places, and, indeed, it is so bad that the mail coaches
cannot get up the brow in due time, and consequently
two extra horses are put to, and a postillion, to assist
the coach up that long steep hill. William Abel, the
postillion, on erriving at the top of the steep, told the
driver, that, as the night was so very stormy, and the
roads so very heavy and bad, he would go on with his
pair with the coach to Shap. However, the coach had
not gone far, when the horse on which Abel was riding
fell, the other four fell over him and them, and one of
his thighs was broken, and he was otherwise most dread-
fully mangled and crushed, but the coach was not thrown
over. It soon afterwards proceeded on, but before it ar-
rived at Shap the pole broke, and some of the passengers
were much alarmed. The coach arrived at Carlisle
upwards of four hours behind her due time.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
SHERIFFS' COURT. October 15.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURCIIELI..)
To-day this Court was re• opened for the regular sit-
tings through the approaching terms. Only three causes
were set down for trial, two of which were withdrawn,
Mr. Crouch being in attendance as counsel, but the wit-
nesses were not present.

BOYCE 1. ALDRAD.
This case was called cn. On the last sitting of the
Court an objection was taken by Mr. Ferner, the de-
fendant's attorney, that the record had been resealed,
but the date ef the writ of trial directed to the sheriffs
had not been altered, and he contended that the altera-
tion of the date, after having been sealed, amounted to
a forgery. The Learned Under-Sheriff on that occasion
left the parties to take their own course, observing that
if a writ was placed before him he should act on it, so far
as obtaining the verdict of the jury, and making his re-
turn. The Court above alone was competent to decide
as to the responsibility of the parties, or the correctness
of the document. The same writ was brought up this
day, having been resealed, the original date, the 22d of
July, being retained.
Mr. FERN ER urged that his previous objection still
applied.
The Learned UNDER- SHERIFF said that he could only
hear evidence if adduced, and make his return on that
and the verdict of the jury.
The case was then proceeded with.
Mr. JOYCE said the plaintiff was a carpenter, the de-
fendant a law-writer, and during the railway mania in
1844 defendant set up in business for himself, leaving
ilia employer. Defendant had ordered the work to be
done, and what defence could be offered he (Mr. Joyce)
was at a loss to imagine.
John Barrett was called, and proved the work was
done, and that the prices were fair and reasonable.
Mr. FERNER, for the defendant, contended that the
debt arose out of a partnership. Defendant had con-
sented to take a person, named Herbert, into partnership,
on the condition that he would fit up the office, which
had been done. It was true Aldred had given the orders,
but under the agreement.
The Learned UNDER-SHERIFF said the plaintiff was
not bound by an agreement made behind his back, and
of which he could only have knowledge when the parties
chose to disclose it.
Mr. FERNER said he held a receipt for IL 10s., in
which plaintiff admitted his whole claim was 11. 14s. 6d.
for work defendant admitted to have been done at his
request.

Mr. JOYCE said that the receipt had been tampered
with. The plaintiff admitted, on the pleadings, the
receipt of 11. on account, but a receipt for 30s. took
them by surprise. The signature was that of the
plaintiff; but the material part was that of defendant or
some friend. The addition of IGs. was put in in figures,
to mystify the account.
The UNDER-SHERIFF said there had been culpable
negligence on one side or the other; in giving ins'ructions,
if only 4s. 6d. were due, how could it be the difference
had not been tendered?

Mr. FERNER said that he was instructed it had actually
been paid but the receipt had been lost.
The UNDER-SHERIFF said that was a question for the
jury. He had expected the observation as to the
" tampering" with the receipt—it was quite open to the
remarks made upon it.
The jury, after examining the receipt, gave a verdict
for Cl. 195., the balance claimed, admitting the payment
of IL
The Learned UNDER-SITERIFF refused to retain the
writ, leaving defendant to apply to the Court above on
the technical points.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Before Mr. POWNALL and a full Bench of MaOstrates.)
Immediately after the opening of the Court the ad-
journed cases from Monday, with respect to the several
parochial rentals, were disposed of, but no points of ge-
neral interest occurred beyond those already reported in
The Sun.

MUSIC AND DANCING LICENSES.
The Court then proceeded with the several applica-
tions, under 25 Geo. 11, for the renewal of music and
dancing licenses which had been granted last year, and
with applications for new ones. Of the former there
were 67 upon the list, and 9 of the latter. Up to the
time of our going to press 39 applications had been dis-
posed of, amongst which were the applications of Edward
Gomorsal and Wm. James Bennett, fur the Garrick
Theatre, Goodman's Fields; Peter Snow, for the St.
John's Tavern, known commonly as Lord's Cricket
Ground; of Sir Thomas Baring, Henry Pownall, and
Archdall Palmer, Esqs., for Exeter Hall ; James
Hedgman, for the National Baths, Holborn ; and of
Thomas Rouse, for the Eagle Tavern.
Mr. Bodkin appeared on the part of Messrs. Littlejohn
and Ellis, the proprietors of the Stadium, Cremorne
House, when it having been shown that the usual forms
were complied with, and no person appearing to oppose
the application made by the Learned Counsel for renew-
ing the music and dancing license, it was granted by the
Court.

Several of tho applicants not having answered to their
names when called upon, the Court stated that it had
the power of at once dismissing the application, and
certainly, if this careless system was persevered in,
that power would be exercised. The Chairman hoped
this would be taken as a warning by the licensed
victuallers.
To-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, is appointed for
the hearing of appeals of indictments for nuisances, and
for the trial of parties out on bail.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BO W-S TREE T.
A young man, of respectable appearance, applied to
Mr. Hall for advice under these circumstance:—He went
on Tuesday evening to a concert and ball, at the Adelaide
Gallery, and was dancing a quadrille, when the check-
taker came up to him, and asked him if he bad paid for
his admission ? Applicant said he had. The check-
taker said that he (applicant) was " not fit for the com-
pany," and must not be allowed to remain. Applicant
asked why, and said he hoped it would be explained ;
but the check-taker would say nothing more than that
he knew him well, and must turn him out. Applicant went
with him to the door, where the check-taker spoke to
the money-taker, and asked him if he had taken the
money from him. The money-taker said he had. The
check-taker said he was a thief and a rogue, was known
at Bow-street, and had been a waiter at a public-house.
All this occurred before a number of people. Applicant
was a tailor, living near Soho-square, and had never been
a waiter, nor had any charge ever been made against
him at Bow-street or any other court.
Mr. HALL could do nothing in the matter. No vio-
lence had been used ; and the object of the applicant
seemed to be to vindicate his character—a matter quite
out of his (Mr. Hall's) province. But if the applicant
chose to go to the expense, he could bring an action
against the door-keeper.
Applicant—That I shall certainly do ; for it would be
very hard if a person, whose profession depended on his
character, was to be dragged through a crowded room
and called a thief with impunity.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
CAUTION TO RIVAL OMNIBUS-DRIVERS.—James Sel-
way, driver of one of the London Conveyance Com-
pany's Paddington omnibuses, was summoned for having,
by furious driving, damaged one of Nelson's Eastern
Counties Railway omnibuses, driven by James Smith.
From the evidence it appeared there was a spirit of
rivalry between the proprietors or drivers of these om-
nibuses. It was alleged on the part of the complainant
that it was the practice of the London Conveyance om-
nibus-drivers to obstruct his omnibus on its journeys,
and to endanger the passengers by keeping another om-
nibus close to the doors of his vehicle. A second omni-
bus was put on in front, and in this way, with one om-
nibus in front and one behind, he was obliged to drive
through the streets, and to take up and set down his
passengers in the best manner he could. On the day
mentioned in the summons the defendant was driving
the omnibus at the tail of his omnibus. Complainant
stopped to set down a lady, upon which the defendant
attempted to pass him, although there was not room
enough, and in this attempt ho ran against the door and
did damage to the extent of 40s.
Witnesses corroborated the allegation of the Com-
plainant that the defendant kept behind him along Ox-
ford street, and drove against the omnibus when it pulled
up to set down a passenger.
The defendant denied the rivalry. He certainly came
accidentally Into collision with the door of the com-
plainant's vehicle ; bat this was the fault of the com-
plainant himself, who suddenly pulled up short, and
made no signal to those behind him.
Mr. HARDWICK said the mode in which rival omnibus
proprietors conducted their competition was alike dis-
graceful to themselves and dangerous to tile public. The
drivers of rival omnibuses appeared to be wholly regard-
less of the safety and accommodation of their passengers;
they were only anxious, at whatever risk, to accomplish
a trifling triumph over an opponent. These were prac-
tices that could not for a moment be tolerated. It bad
been proved in evidence that the complainant was dogged
by a rival throughout Oxford-street—that his passengers
were kept in a perpetual state of alarm—and that posi-
tive danger was produced to a lady when she attempted
to alight. Here, then, was quite sufficient to warrant
him in punishing the defendant with proper severity. If
rivalry could not be put down, at least ho would take
care that it should be so conducted as not to alarm and
endanger the public. If pecuniary fines were not suffi-
cient, he should resort to other measures. In the pre-
sent case he should inflict a fine of 40s. for the public
offence, and 40s. for the damage ; hut he begged it might
go forth that in future instances he should cancel the
licenses of the driver.
Mary Jones, a girl about 15 years of age, was brought
before Mr. Hardwick, chargal with attempting to put a
period to her existence.
Mary Grambler said sho resided in Falconbridge-
court, Soho, and the prisoner resided in the same house.
Yesterday afternoon she had occasion to go up stairs to
a back bed-room, and was surprised'to see the prisoner
stretched at full length on the hod. She went up to her
and took hold of her hand to wake her up. She was
alarmed at the coldness of her hand, and thought there
was something wrong. On closely examining the pri-
soner she found that she had tied a handkerchief tightly
round her neck, to endeavour to strangle herself, and bad
it not been for her going ir,tj the roum she must have
effected her purpose.
Joseph Loader stated that the prisoner had been
under his care ever since the death of her parents. He
had endeavoured to bring her up so as to get an honest
livelihood, but was sorry to say that she was a lazy, bad
girl ; she would not kesp any situation she was placed
in, but would associate with low and bad girls.
The prisoner, in answer to Mr. HARDWICK, said the
reason she was tired of her life was that Mr. Loader
beat her.

Mr. HARDWICK spoke to her upon the sinfulness of
he crime of suicide. She was old enough to be aware of
;he wickedness of such an act.
The MAGISTRATE ordered an officer to take her to