The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-16 00:00:00

THE FALL OF THREE HOUSES
AT OLD BROMPTON-INQUEST ON THE

MAN KILLED BY THFAB, FALL.
- On Se!Ala eveniteg 'at half-past six, Mr. G. J. Mills,
Deputy Coroner for Middlesex, held an inquest in the
large room of the Hoop and Toy Tavern, Old Brompton-
road, on the body of James Casey, aged forty-three
Let" a bridW.ayer's labourer, in the employ of Messrs.
William and James Emmens, builders, of Rawstorne-
streets Knightsbridge, and Notting-hill, who was killed
, the fall of three new houses in the course of erection
inAlfred-place West, Thurlow-square, Old Brompton,
Olt the evening of Thursday last.
The inquiry excited intense interest, the room being
densely and inconveniently crowded by the respectable
inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Amongst those pre-
sent were Mr. Donaldson (late Chairmen of the West-
minster Court of Sewers), district surveyor for the parish
of Kensington, in which the houses were erected ; and
Mr. Blore, the surveyor to Mr. Alexander, on whose
property the houses were erecting.
The Jury (on which were several gentlemen con-
nected with building matters) having been sworn, pro-
ceeded to view the bode' of the deceased, which was
lying in an adjoining room, and which presented a
shocking spectacle. Ou their return to the inquest room
the ibllowing evidence was gone into:— -
Patrick Nkrra deposed that he lived at No. 21, Jen-
ning's-beildings, Kensington. Found the deceased
about seven o'clock on Friday morning in the ruins in
Alfred-place West, Old Brompton. Deceased was quite
dead and stiff, having been covered with a quantity of
bricks and mortar which had been removed from off him.
411 he body was brought to that house. Deceased had
been in the employ of Messrs. Emmens all the summer,
but witness had only been on those works for the last five
weeks as a bricklayer's labourer. Witness left the build-
ipgs about five on the Thursday evening, leaving the de-
ceased and a man named John Collins standing on the
scaffolding, they being the two scaffolders. Deceased was
quite sober at that time. About ten minutes afterwards
'Witness was still in the neighbourhood, and heard the
noise of the fall of the first two houses. The scaffold
witness had spoken of was round the chimneys of the
middle of the three houses which have fallen.
By the DEPUTY CORONER—Received directions from
Mr. Bmmens when he was present, at other times from
that gentleman's son, and when be was not present
from One of the bricklayers of the name of Stockwell.
Did not know the cause of the houses falling down.
Had never pointed oat that the materials were improper
for the 'purpose, and that the buildings were unsafe.
Never took any notice of the materials. Never thought
himself in danger when on the works. Had seen the
surveyor come to look over the buildings, and also Mr.
Holmes, the bead-master, who came every day. Mr.
.Bmmens was doing the work for Mr. Holmes. Never
beard Mr. Holmes say anything about the place being
unsafe. Could not say how often he had seen the sur-
veyor at the buildings.
John Walsh was the next witness examined.—He de-
posed that he had been engaged on the works under
Messrs. Emmens as tejebourer for nearly a twelvemonth.
Was not present whft the houses fell. Did not leave
them from any fear of danger, but at the usual time of
leaving the work. Did not think it was his place to ex-
amine the quality of the materials used.
The DEPUTY CORONER inquired if the man Collins,
who Was on the scaffold with the deceased when the
houses fell, was able to attend and give his evidence ?
Martin, the summoning officer, said he was not. Col-
lins was still under the care of Mr. Guazzaroni, the
parish surgeon, who said he would not be able to attend
until the beginning of the ensuing week. He was in-
jured on his head, side, and arm.
The DEPUTY CORONER said he was afraid that would
be the case, but had he not opened the inquiry that
evening he bold net have done so until Tuesday or
Wednesday next, which would have prevented the body
being removed away from that house until then.
After same conversation between the Deputy Coroner
and the jury as to the propriety of an immediate ad-
journment,
The DEPUTY CORONER said he would first examine
Mr. Holmes, and, while doing so, directed that Mr.
Donaldson and Mr. Blore should leave the room, which
they did.
Mr. Thomas Holmes deposed that he lived in Little
Belgrave-street, Pimlico. He bad employed Messrs.
Emmens to find the lime and labour in erecting the
houses, he (witness) providing the bricks. The numbers
of the houses that had fallen down were 25, 27, and 29.
The erection of those houses was commenced about two
months ago at 655. per rod, by measurement, to be
• finished in a workmanlike manner to the satisfaction of
witness. The works were visited by Mr. Donaldson,
the district surveyor, and by Mr. Blore, the surveyor
to the estate, the latter almost daily. Witness
objected to any materials he disapproved of, and de-
puted Mr. Chapple, his foreman to do so in his (witness)
absence. Mr. Chapple bad done so with respect to a
Inifilred houses which witness had erected. Mr. Chapple
had never complained to witness that the work of those
houses had not been done properly. Never received any
complaint from the district surveyor on the subject.
Gave the usual notices required by the Building Act to
the district surveyor, which was evident by his attend-
ing. Could not say when he last saw Mr. Donaldson at
the works. It was some time ago when he saw him there'
Saw Mr. Bloomfield, Mr. Donaldson's deputy, there
oftener than Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Blore was also in the
habit of visiting the works, and he expressed a wish that
hoop iron should be used to tie the walls, which was ex-
tensively done.
By the DEPUTY CORONER—Attributed the falling of
- the houses to the wet weather, and the number of men
who had been running up and down the ladder and scaf-
fold for some days before, which, added to the wet
weather, occasioned the toppling of the chimneys, which
would bring down the whole of the building with it, as
it was all tied together.
The DEPUTY CORONER asked Mr. Holmes if the jury
were then to understand that the chimneys having top-
died on a damp house had occasioned the fall ?
Mr. Holmes replied that and other things together.
The Deputy CORONER said they had then come to this
point, vii., that the accident had been occasioned by
the toppling of the chimneys upon a damp house.
Mr. Benning (a juror) wished to know the height of
the wall above the joists of the attic flooring ? Mr.
Holmes—About twenty feet.
By the DEPUTY CORONER—Witness had not got the
written agreement between him and Messrs. Emmens
with him, as he did not think it could affect the ques-
tion the jury had to decide. Formerly persons building
could put wood in party-walls; but since the New Build-
ing Act had come into operation not an inch must be
put in. In witness's opinion party-walls are not so
sound now as they were before. That was witness's
opinion as a builder. The act came into operation in
Januar', 1845. •
The DEPUTY CORONER desired Mr. Holmes to ex-
plain to the jury what was the difference between the
modes of building walls before and after the passing of
the Ne* Building Act.
Mr. Holmes explained that now wood must not be
put into party-walls, which might be done before the
passing of the Act. There was no difference beyond
that. NO wood bonds were now used. The houses
were built in accordance with the provisions of the New
Building Ask Thought houses built without wool
bends were not so safe, and that the alteration was an
injudicious one. Had heard many other builders say so.
Buildings were more substantial with wood bonds, and
far more safe, for hoop-iron bonds will bend. The rea-
On for leaving out wood was to prevent the extension of
fires, anefitherefore thought the benefit derived from the
alteration WV greater than the injury. The bricks
used were Cowley bricks, which were considered the
best a! bricks. The mortar was good, for he had seen
wort e on other buildings.
Tile DEPUTY CORONER having directed that Mr. Do-
naldson and Mr. Blore be re-called,
Mr. Donaldson, in answer to questions put to him be
the Deputy Coroner, without being sworn, said that he
had found no occasion to complain of the materials used
or the mode of erection, except that they put bats,
which are small bricks, at the foundation, when he wished
them to put goid bricks there. His duty was only to
attend to the thickness of the wall. Mr. Holmes was
building under an agreement with Mr. Alexander (the
owner of the property), and Mr. Blore, his surveyor,
bad the right CO object to any materials. Thought the
lime used geed. Could not prevent builders using bats.
He had only to do with the quality of the bricks used,
and not with the form or size.
Mir. Holmes observed that he had had several walls
not raised very high, fail, and so had other builders.
The DOPUTT ConoNsat remarked that if a wall fall-
without having the suparincumbent weight upon it, it
did not argue well for its security.
Mr. Don,aldson further said that a house might as well
be run up ift six weeks as in six months, and, therefore,
he could not complain, in this ease, of haste. The chim-
neys above the attic floor, for the 20 feet, were one foot
ten inches thick, and when that topple i over, it took the
attic joists with it, which caused the front and back
walls to double in, being in a green state. The number
of labourers which follow each other closely in a string,
occasioned a continued rocking of the ladder, and caused
the acchleat.
The DMTY CORONER wished to ask Mr. Donaldson
ythere he derived that informationm, as he ws not
there at the time of the accident ? That was just what
the jury wanted to know.
Mr. Donaldson said, from the labourers. lie did not
know their names. Marra was one that told him so.
The DEPUTY CORONER asked if the facts which had
seen disclosed were known before the Building Act was
passed ?
Mr. Donaldson replied that he and about twenty other
earvey-Oli were applied to by both members of the Lords
ljnd Commons for their opinions on the subject, and it
was decided that keeping wood out of party-walls would
effect a great saving from fire. If a building was ex-
amined after a fire it would be seen that the wood was
sill burned out, and only holes left in the walls. Thought
tan iron hoop tie was as good as a wood one. No wood
'faits now permitted in a party-wall where there are
chimneys. Thought more timber might be put in front

Mr.. Holmes, being recalled, in answer to a juror,
said,was no
in his opinion, bricks only being used in a wall
no cheaper i&wood was used.
Mr- Wore inlAssaw;rhto questions put to him by the
Deputy Ce;)ner, the buildings on Tuesday
last, when he c'ompiain:dsr that there was not sufficient
bonding in the wall, and told the workmen that they
courses must take five or six of bricks off. He asked,
to see Mr. Emmens, but wases
tolds he was not there.
He then ECtiked for Mr. Einmen; but he was not
there. He then saw Mr. Stockwellsoth
told. him what he desired should be' doeneo.rern' who
opinion that it had not. been done, as the wall had,
"hal
before it fell, been carried up to a great height.
Did
not stay to see that it as done. Preferred bond tim Was
bey, but iron tying does for it. Wood bonds were liable
to fire. Thought, when he was last there, that they
were gettieg on too fast, but he had no power to stop
them. In his opinion wood was the best bond and tie
to a. wall that could possibly be had.
Dlr. Donaldson further said that wet weather had e.