The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-05 00:00:00

WESTERN GAS COMPANY.

Iu
concluding the notice of this meeting, it is worthy
of remark that the works, which have been some time
commenced, will be the largest in London, the principal
tank being 125 feet in diameter.

IMPRISONING TWO POLICEMEN.
DEVONPORT, Nov. 2.--This day a Court of Inquiry
was held at George's-square Barracks, before Major
Bury, as President, touching the conduct of Lieutenant
Palmer, of the sth Fusiliers, for having detained and
kept in the guard-house two policemen when in the ex-
ecution of their duty. The circumstances were cer-
tainly of rather a novel description. The first witness
called was
Inspector Darton, of the borough police, who stated
that he was on duty on the morning of the 30th of No-
vember, about a quarter before two o'clock, when he was
told by police-constable Hoar that dancing was going
on at a house at the back of George-street, and believ-
ing that the party keeping that house was guilty of an
offence by harbouring certain persons there, he went
with the policeman, and found a man named Webber
and a party of five females and two males. There was
a jug on the table. Webber came up to him and asked
whether he had a warrant. He replied that he had not,
and Webber told him he should leave immediately, say-
ing at the same time, " I shall make you prisoners."
Ile then turned off the gas, and retreated to a coal
cellar. Witness and Hoar followed him. He then
got outside the door of the cellar, and locked them
in for about three-quarters of an hour. Witness
knocked at the door for a considerable time, when
the sentry on duty at No. 4 post, which is just opposite,
came and asked what was the matter? Witness told
him that two policemen were locked in the cellar, and
could not get out, and wished him to send to the main
guard for a file of soldiers. Shortly after that a sergeant
and some soldiers came, and the door was opened. The
sergeant told them the officer of the guard had ordered
him to take them to the guard-house. Witness objected
at first, but at lergth went with them. Witness accom-
panied them, and when they were about to be put into
the guard-house, Webber said, "Take care of them ;
they are slippery rascals." Witness and Hoar were
detained there until four o'clock.
Police-constable Hoar gave similar testimony.
Inspector Cook stated that he was en duty at the
station-house on the morning in question. Shortly after
three o'clock he received a note from Inspector Darton,
brought by a corporal of the guard. The note stated
that Darton and Hoar were prisoners at the guard-house,
and they wished to be released. Witness went to the
guard-house, and saw the detained men there. Darton
asked him to intOrm Superintendent 13rockington of the
circumstance, which he did. Brockington desired him
to return and see the officer of the guard. He returned,
and told the sergeant that he wished to speak to the
officer. The serevant went to the officer's room, and, on
coming out, said. the officer requested him to write the
names of the detained men, together with his own, and
answer for their appearance. Witness did so, and they
were released.

Superintendent Broekington, after corroborating that
part of the evidence relating to himself; stated that after
the men were released, he went to the guard-house and
desired to see the officer. The sergeant said he did not
like to disturb him again. Witness told him that if
he could not see the officer he should report the circum-
stance to the general. He was then admitted, and taw
the officer in bed. He asked him the reason why the
men had been detained at the guard-house ? when he
made an unintelligible reply. The sergeant of the guard
said he was not to know they were policemen. Witness
told him he could see they were by their clothes, or be
could have found that out by applying at the station-
house.

James Webber, the keeper of the house, stated that
two men had entered his house on the day in question,
and as they came in without his permission, and they
had not a warrant, he desired them to leave, and they
refused. He then put out the gasnand went into the coal
cellar, when the policemen followed with sticks or staves
in their hands. lie thought his life was in great danger,
and he went out of the cellar and locked them in.
Tbcre was a sentry on No. 4 post, and he desired him to
send to the main guard for a tile of men. Shortly after
a picquet arrived, and he told the sergeant that the men
had entered his house without leave, and he had made
them prisoners. Lie then opened the door and gave
them into custody.
house. They were marched to the guard-

Lieutenant Palmer stated that he was officer on guard
on the morning of the 30th. About a quarter after
three o'clock the sergeant came to him and said he had
two men in custody,
Webber, who tcld him that they had broken into his
house. The siergeant wished to know what he should do
with them, and witness told him that he should ascertain
. at the instance of a man named
who they were. He told him they were policemen, and
witness directed him to send to the station-house
and inform the authorities there that two of their
men were in custody. The inspector of police
came a short time afterwards, and witnessdi-
rected the men to be set at liberty, on his pro-
mising to be answerable for their appearance. The su-
perintendent afterwards called, but witness told him he
did not wish to hear any more about it, as the men were
set at liberty. He asked the witness for his name, which
was given.
The sergeant of the guard corroborated the above
statement; and Patrick O'Brien, the sentry referred to,
stated what had occurred as before described, adding
that he knew the men were policemen.
This closed the inquiry, and the whole of the circum-
stances were forthwith laid before Major-General the
Hon. Henry Murray, oommanding the western district.
Webber, who has before been fined for keeping a dis-
orderly. house, is to be charged with the same offence,
arising out of the above, on Wednesday.

SUICIDE FROM REPUGNANCE TO MATRIMONY Yesterday Mr. Mills held an inquest at the British Queen,.
Sussex-street, Tottenham Court-road, on the body '
Rossetta Brown, aged 22, servant of Mr. Jenkins, sur-
veyor,
of No. 22, Huntley-street, who cut her throat on
Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Jenkins stated that he found
deceased about five o'clock P.m. on Tuesday, lying in his
cellar, with her throat cut, and a carving knife grasped
in her right hand. He seat for medical assistance, but
she was dead before it arrived. She had latterly been
much depressed in mind. On Monday last she said that
she would rather die than marry a man named Payne,
whom her sister urged on her as a husband. It further'
appeared that she had been long engaged to Payne, but
that within the last year his visits ceased, and during the
interval she received the attentions of another suitor.
This person was accused by deceased's relatives of de-
stroying her peace of mind, and preventing her from
having married Payne. On Monday last she had finally
resolved, however, to marry, but wished that the da '
should be deferred. While labouring under this dilem2a
she committed the act above proved. Some of the jury,
contrary to the opinion of the Coroner, wished to make
inquiries concerning the men. The following verdict
w
ew
deceased
ae n
u de e toyed herself; but in
"hasat state nev i
dence to show."
A TOPER'S CHAMBER.—EarIy on Sunday morning
returned—
mind‘ ‘ 'Thattiie r
last, some wearing apparel, almost new, consisting of a
coat, waistcoat, a pair of brace; a pair of shoes, and a
cloth cap, was found stistrewedd on the ground near the
farmhouse of Trenhale, bt. Erth, Cornwall.
Alarm was
immediately given, and it was conjectured that the
owner had met with an untimely death. Careful search
was made in all the ponds and ditches on the estate, but
without finding the supposed unfortunate suicide. Next
day a person from Germoe came and claimed the clothes,
accounting L cor the
loss by stating that ho had been at
Hayle the preceding evening, and taken a
cheerful
glass, and on his way home he mistook Trenhale for his
own residence, although they are nearly five miles dis-
tant, and he also thought the field was his bed-chamber,
undressed himself and took a nap. On
and consequently'
awaking he discovered his mistake, but it being very
clack he could not find his clothes, and had to proceed
home almost nuked.— Western Luminary,

A meeting of the inhabitants of Hensel-green, called
by the directors of the Western Gas-light Company, in
consequence of a requisition from the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood, was held yesterday afternoon at the
Plough Tavern, for the purpose of afforcing to the
owners and occupiers of the surrounding property an
opportunity of stating their real wishes with regard to
the construction of the new gas-works ; as, at a meeti-
ing which was held a short time back, it had been stated,
that the operation of the works would become a great
ofsehtohled
tnilisainieciegiblybotuhreineg household
xalation of noxious effluvia, and would
thereby cause considerable deterioration in the value of
pied the chair. In opening the business,
after explain-
ing why they had been called together; Le assured the
Boardan d other
Directors,ptoper ty
cM
r.
Taylor, the chairman c
meeting that the works about to be erected were to be
on an entirely new principle, which he could not at pre-
sent explain, because the patent for the invention was
not yet sealed ; but which would entirely obviate and
suppress all noxious effluvia. Mr. Palmer, the engineer,
would be most happy to answer any cnestions that
might be put.
Mr. MAXWELL then moved a resolution, deferring a:
opposition to the gas company on the partot the inhabit
ants of Kensal-green until it had been praqically ascer-
tain whether a nuisance would be created or not by the
new works.
The resolution having been seconded,
FiThe CRAIRMAN, in responding to varioas questions
that were asked, read extracts from several affidavits,
made by scientific persons in the metropolis and in the
country, to the effect that the proposed new mode of
producing gas, as explained to them by Mr. Palmer,
would entirely prevent all noxious exhalations; and they
further stated, that, generally speaking, the neighbour-
hoods of gas works were not unhealthy.
Mr. PALMER, the engineer, explained the reasons of
the nuisances generally complained of in the neighbour-
hood of gas factories; they were caused, he said, chiefly
from the unconsumed coal tar which escaped from the
furnace in smoke; from the escape of carbon during the
process of drying the retorts; and from the manner in
which the gas was purified by lime. His invention would
supersede the use of coal tar; coke made from the Cannel
coal would be used to dry or to charge the retorts, and
in the purifying process the ammonia would not be al-
lowed to escape. Mr. Palmer, in answer to several
other questions, stated that experiments had been made
upon a very extensive softie, -and that their success had
been sufficient to satisfy the directors and the share-
holders of the value of the process; he hoped, therefore,
they would be satisfactory to the meeting for the pre-
sent, as, until his patent had been sealed, he could not
enter into more lengthened explanations.
The resolution was then carried unanimously, as was
another pledging the meeting to support the company if
they realised the expectations held out in the affidavits
that had been read, and in the explanations of the chair-
man and of the engineer. After a vote of thanks to the
directors of the company and to the chairman, the meet-
ing separated, giving three cheers for the new Gas Com.
pany.