The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-18 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

Yesterday afternoon Dr. Diplock, coroner for the wes-
tern division of Middlesex, opened an inquiry at the Dray-
ton Tavern, Thistle-grove, West Brompton, relative to
the cause of the death of Samuel Lee, aged 38, the potman
at the above establishment, who is supposed to have been
brutally murdered at the Gledhall Gardens, opposite the
tavern, on Saturday last.
Since the discovery of the murder the house in question
has been besieged by a large number of persons anxious
to gain admission, and the inquest room was surrounded
by a large crowd, eager to learn all particulars.
The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view
the body, which lies where it was originally dis-
covered, and presented a shocking appearance, having
no less than seven distinct wounds. The most prominent
of these was a desperate blow over the right eye,
penetrating apparently about one and a half inches, a
second smaller one over the left eye, and a cut under the
same eye, together with a terrible wound on the back of
the head, penetrating far into the brain. The first of
these had evidently been inflicted with a hammer, the
head of which had entered the head in a straight direc-
tion. The view was a very hideous one, and the jurymen
hurried away as quickly as possible. The first witness
called was Caroline Lee, who said she lived at 2, Clifton-
place, Fulham-road, and was 36 years of age. Last saw
him alive on Saturday morning at seven o'clock. He was
potman at the Drayton Arms, and was in the habit of
collecting money on Saturday from the workmen em-
ployed by Mr. Spicer, carpenter, and the like. He
collected their dinner [and beer money, and used to
bring her her money at one o'clock in the day. He was
most regular in his habits, and never missed coming home
before, and was a steady careful man.
Duffield White said he was a carpenter, and lived at
38, Onslow Dwellings, Chelsea. On Monday I went to
3, Egledall Gardens, to see if I could find materials to
finish my job. I went in by the front area, which is open
to those who know how to get in, and he would know
how to get in, having to collect pots, &c. The doors were
not open, because there was always something lying
about.

--
Here a great number of questions were put by the
jury, from the tenor of which it seemed that they
had some suspicion of the witness, who, however,
answered all questions fairly.
By the Coroner (who suggested that the examination
in chief should continue) : When I went into the house
I smelt a strange smell, and going into the drawing-room
I there discovered a man lying dead. I recog,nised him
immediately. I hastily left the house, and calling Ben-
ham, a mate of mine, he sent over for Mr. Harrison, 'the
landlord here, who brought the policeman back
He saw the deceased as late as twenty minutes past one
on Saturday, when he was taking money of the men on
Earl's Court Farm, where the office is.
The Coroner :--Did you see him after that ?
Inspector Prescott, of the T Division : He was seen
long after that, sir.

In answer to a number of other inquiries, the witness
added that he never knew of any one with whom deceased
had a quarrel. He often gave trust and lent money, but
charged no interest that he was aware of.

MYceased's account book was here produced, having a
large patch of blood on the leaf that was open, part of
this and the opposite leaf having adhered to the floor
where it lay in the pool of blood. The book, though full
of figures, gave no indications as to how much deceased
had received.

Francis Godrich, M.R.C.S., deposed that he was
called to see the deceased at half-past five on Tuesday.
evening he was lying on his back, just as if he had been
laid out. Witness thought he received the first blow in
front, and fell dead, and was chopped about afterwards,
and he never saw such fractures in his life. A plasterer's
hammer, however, would be just the sort of instrument
that would cause the wounds.

.•
Charles Adkins, the landlord of the Drayton Arms,
stated that on being called into the house he observed
footprints as if two persons had been in conversation at
the mantel piece. The room was covered with thick dust,
so that recent footprints were very visible.
After some further evidence, the inquiry was adjourned
till Saturday.

The Cambria won the cup given by the New York
Yacht Club in Newport harbour on Tuesday. Eight
yachts ran. A second race for a cup, offered by Mr.
Ashbury, was carried off by the Magic.
Several American journals assert that Mr. Freling-
huysen has declined the post of United States Minister in
London, and that thereupon it was offered to Senator
Trumbull, who also declined it.

RAILWAY COLLISION.—The attempt to shunt
some carriages into a siding standing at the foot of a rather
steep incline led to a collision between a goods train
and a passenger train at Furness Abbey on Tuesday.
The carriages were part of a tidal train from Barrow,
bringing passengers from the Isle of Man, and while they
were being shunted another portion of the train stood
upon the rails. A second passenger train came up, and
was brought to a stand ; but a second goods train which
followed immediately could not be stopped, on account of
the weight of the train and the steepness of the incline,
before it had come violently into collision with the pas-
senger train. Many of the passengers, seeing the danger,
leaped out of the train ; others were a good deal shaken,
n
but none, it is hoped, fatally.
WORKMENS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.—Last
night a special meeting of the exhibitors in the Inter-
at theth the purpose
of a
Coffeel):
was
pointing a committee "to watch the interests and pro-
mote ea tti Inter-
national
,iv Exhibitioner 1.) o road, held at
for
the inspection and sale of their exxhibits, and confer
with the Executive Council, to make the Exhibition a
complete success." The chair was taken by Mr. Charles
Felling, of Belfast, one of the exhibitors. The chair-
man said they had not met to oppose the Council, but to
offer them suggestions. He gave it as his opinion that
the Exhibition should be opened at five in the afternoon
at the rate of 3d. for each person, and that the 2d. rate
should be abolished. On Friday he thought the price of
admission should be is. from ten to five. It had been pro-
posed that a deputation should be appointed to go to the
country to arouse the people of large towns to support the
Exhibition. A resolution embodying these opinions was
carried, and the meeting separated after a vote of thanks
had been passed to the chairman.