The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-22 00:00:00

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

SATURDAY EVENING.—The colliery consists of two
pits near together. The deeper pit, of 127 yards,
works the nine foot seam. The other pit, ninety
yards deep, works the five foot seam. These two
pits are connected by a shaft through the five foot
seam down to the nine foot—an air furnace being
connected with the shaft of the five foot pit, so as
to create an up-draught.
The explosion took place in the northern part of
the workings of the deeper seam, but communicated
by the shaft with the upper seam. The force of
the explosion may be judged from the fact that the
corve ascending the deeper shaft, loaded with 16 cwt.
of coal, was projected into the.air, and the coal fell
around on every side like the cinders from a vol-
cano. An empty descending corve in the other shaft
was thrown out of the pit, and fell at a considerable
distance. The fire cage at the mouth of the pit was
knocked to pieces, and several men were thrown
down, but happily were not seriously injured.
Eli Barber, with a party of about 16, were work-
ing in the southern portion of the mine when the ex-
plosion took place. They were hastening to the pit
shaft, when they encountered the after damp, from
the effects of which they were found almost insen-
sible, when James Froggatt and some other colliers
descended and rescued them in a very exhausted
state. One of the number, named Joseph Cooper, had
actually reached the pit shaft, and had climbed by
the conductors a considerable distance up the shaft.
Of the party thus rescued, two were so much injured
that they have since died.
Of those enumerated above as seriously injured,
William Barraelough, Timothy Tinsley, and Abra-
ham Thompson are Since dead. Three other dead
bodies have been got out of the pit since our former
account, viz., John Garnick, George Hague, and
George Knapton.
It is reported that on Friday the pit was it good
working order, with sltisfaettlyy-‘4htilatiOn: •
Between seven and eight o'clock, the fire engines
from Rotherham proceeded to the :pit to pump in
water, in order to aid in restoring the ventilation. All

This colliery, which was the scene of the unfortunate
accident last week, has again been visited by a similar
occurrence, though happily unaccompanied with the
same disastrous results. An accurate plan of the work-
ings being required for production at the assizes, on
the occasion of Oldfield's trial, Messrs. John Wood and
G. P. Wall, pupils of Mr. T. D. Jeffolk, colliery viewer,
descended the shaft on Wednesday, for the purpose of
making the necessary surveys. They were accompanied
by John Sellars, the fire-trier at the Soap-house pit, and
three other colliers in
.the employ of Mr. Rhodes, the
lessee of the works. Sellars preceeded the party with a
Davy lamp, to test the state of the air, before the other
w,ic Theywhich
direwent theire
ventured forward with candles, the light emitted by a
safety lamp being insufficient for surveying purposes.
Having completed the survey in the locality of the for-
merhtoelaed r
ae
oxb
flpyl
toghs
oieoo
t hirnh
theyow
. retraced
dis-
tance, and proceeded along a wind-gate leading to the
until they came to a spot, of which mention was made
by Mr. Morton, the Government inspector, in his evi-
tioent
steps
p cautiously the
sf o airr a d
short was
forfow anrd
u
evi-
dence at the inquest, where the roof had fallen in, and
completely obstructed the ventilation of this mine in that
locality. Since the inspection of Mr. Morton, the ven-
tilation had been partially restored, by the excavation of
a passage through it, by means of which the party
might with difficulty be enabled to pass. Immediately
they approached the vicinity of this place, a perceptible
change was observed in the air, which had never been
abundant, and there began to fail. Sellars advanced a
short distance, but finding no indication of the presence
of sulphur, the rest of the party approached, and Mr.
Wall proceeded with the survey. Whilst his attention.
and that of Sellars, was thus occupied, Mr. Wood walked
forward into the break with a candle, followed by one of
the colliers named Potts. They had not proceeded far
before the flame of the candle came in contact with a
volume of sulphurous gas, which suddenly exploded
with a loud noise. Mr. Wood was knocked down, and
severely burnt and bruised; Potts also was thrown
down, but escaped with a slight singeing; the others
fortunately escaped unhurt. No after damp followed,
or the consequences would have been most calamitous,
as the place where the explosion occurred is situate
about 140 yards from the pit shaft. Mr. Wood was im-
mediately conveyed home, and attended by Mr. William
Jackson, under whose care he is fast recovering.

afonrdOt
chnleesrpCkautsrOu,
prcodUosameyßmoafTi
committee
special
Court
oALDERMEN.fAIAIdermen
n
e i
requesting
receiving
triensgo l
au t
ci oonn
foefrtehnec
eo ffi
once t rhse'
was held
appointment of a minister for St. James's, Duke's-
place. There was a full attendance of aldermen, as
the subject upon which they were summoned involved
an important question of privilege, and there had
been recently a very marked difference of opinion ex-
pressed by several of the most active members of both
courts.

THE COSTS OF ♦ PROSECUTION FOR PERJURY.

Alderman WiLsoN presented a petition from Joseph
Softlaw, praying for the assistence of the court to
enable him to pay the costs of a prosecution for con-
spiracy.

The petition stated certain facts, all of which were
detailed in the police reports of the Guildhall jmtice-
room on occasions when Alderman Salomons, as-
sisted by Alderman Humphery, presided. The peti-
tioner had been charged by a diabolical wretch with
having committed an indecent assault; and the
aldermen, after having heard the evidence, not
only completely exonerated the petitioner from all
offence or idea of offence, but recommended that
the accusing party should be prosecuted for wilful and
corrupt perjury, A prosecution was accordingly un-
dertaken by the petitioner, and the guilty party was
sentenced to transportation for seven years. The ex-
penses of the proceedings, however, amounted to 621.
25., and all the petitioner was allowed by the court
towards the liquidation of that sum was 161. 7s. En-
cumbered with a family, and incapable, in conse-
quence of the loss of his situation, of incurring so
heavy an expense, the petitioner's only alternative was
by application to the Court of Aldermen, under the
peculiar and afflicting circumstances of the case.
Alderman WILSON moved that the petition be re-
ferred to the General Purposes Committee.
Alderman SYDNEY asked whether such a course
was not calculated to establish a precedent, and whe-
ther the Court had a right to apply the City funds to
the purpose of reimbursing a man for the costs of a
prosecution undertaken by himself ?
Alderman WiLsors said that, in a case of such pe-
culiar hardship, and in which two members of the
Court strongly recommended the course that bad been
subsequently adopted, it would be most proper at
least to make inquiry.
Alderman Tuomrsces thought the Court would not
be justified in entertaining the petition, and that such
a precedent would have the effect of bringing down
upon them a variety of cases, in the hope that the
funds would be open to the discharge of all the atten-
dant expenses.—(Hear, bear.) The petitioner had
been allowed the reasonable expenses upon the occa-
sion, but he had thought proper to employ counsel,
and to incur a large amount of charges, which, if
sanctioned, would impose on the Court the duty of
reimbureement, which would swallow up the whole
of the resources of the city of London.—(Hear.)
He concluded by moving, as an amendment, that the
petition lie on the table.

Sir PETER LAURIE said the probability was, that
if he had sat when the case was brought on, he
would have directed that a prosecution should be in-
stituted by the City solicitor, because the offence was
of a most diabolical nature, and one to which any in-
nocent man might be subjected by a miscreant—
(Hear, hear)—hut he agreed with Alderman Thomp-
son, that the Court would not be justified in paying
expenses to which they had not legally given their
sanction. If they listened to such a course it would
be very easy for attorneys and complainants to get
up cases for their mutual benefit at the expense of the
corporation.—(Hear, hear.) Under those circum-
stances he would second the amendment, repeating,
however, that if he had been the magistrate, he would
in all probability have ordered the prosecution.
Alderman HEMPIIRRY said he was present during
the investigation, and it was considered to relate to a
case of so simple a nature that it would be advisable
in Mr. Softlaw himself to proceed. He thought the
case had a peculiar claim upon the society, and that,
as it was in the power of any miscreant to bring for-
ward atrocious accusations of this kind, the magis-
tracy were bound to render all the necessary aid to
enable those who might be unjustly charged to punish
such delinquency.—(Hear, hear.)
The amendment was then negatived, and the peti-
tion was referred to the committee of general purposes.
PROCTORS' TOUTERS.

The inquest of the Ward of Castle Baynard handed
in to the Court a presentment, complaining of
what
was considered by the inhabitants of the district of
Doctors' Commons and its vicinity a most obnoxious
nuisance—the obstructions of the avenues to the courts
in Doctors' Commons by the touters for the proctors,
who are rivals for business.
The petition stated that ladies in black were parti-
cularly liable to annoyance from the touters, who
were, when intoxicateo, in the habit of using very
abusive language, and it expressed a hope
Court would proceed vigorously to the correction
the evil. that the

Alderman WILSON said the question had been very
frequently
before the court, and that the late Sir
Matthew wood and he had been very active in
their endeavours to abate the nuisance, but all they
could do had proved ineffectual. The fact was the
touters were paid by the proctors for catching hold
of claimants under wills, and from the competition
that excited sprung the annoyance so heavily com-
plained of.
Alderman HUMPLIERY said that originally there
had been no more than one ticket porter stationed
in the neighbourhood to direct parties in black to the
place of business. Two more were afterwards ap-
pointed; but it was found by some of the principal
proctors that their casual business was very much on
the decrease. Inquiry was made, and it was ascer-
tained that the porters were converted into touters
for other proctors, and the consequence was that
several other gentlemen with white aprons and red
facia were employed, and they plied hard for their

THE LONDON COAL DUTY
ST. ALBAN'S, SATURDAY.—A meeting
of the inha-
bitants of this town and neighbourhood was held to-
day, at the Town-hall, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the best means of obtaining relief from
the coal tax lately imposed upon them for the benefit
of the city of London. The Earl of Venda'', was
called to the chair, and amongst those on the platform
were the Mr. H. Baillie, M.P., the Mayor of St
Alban's, Rev. Dr. Nicholson, and all the most in-
fluential residents of the district. The noble chair-
man, in opening the proceedings, said the duty had
existed for some period within a certain distance of the
metropolis,
but by some means its limits had been
extended 80 as to include that borough, and therefore,
for the first time, they were now called upon to pay
the Corporation of London a duty of 13d. per ton.
He for one protested against that charge, as unfair
upon a people who did not participate in the im-
provements of the city of London. Mr. Bennett,
the Mayor of St. Alban's, proposed a re-
solution to the effect that a petition be pre-
sented to both Houses of Parliament, praying for
relief from the coal-tax. He computed that no less
than 7001. would be obtained from the town by the
duty, and against that amount 2501. would be borne
by the poor. The Rev. Dr. Nicholson seconded the
resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr.
Lowe then moved that the petition now prepared be
adopted, and signatures obtained thereto. Mr. Par-
sons seconded the resolution. The petition was then
read. It prayed that the petitioners might be relieved
from the payment to the Corporation of London of
any tax on coals brought into the county of Hert-
ford by canal or railway, &c. Mr. R. W. Gaussen
then moved that the Noble Earl be requested to
present the petition to the House of Lords, that
Mr. Halsey be requested to present it to the House
of Commons, and that the other Members be soli-
cited to support it. After some discussion, Mr.
H. Baillie, M.P., said the charge against the City of
London was nothing more than swindling.—(Cheers.)
They introduced a Bill last session of Parliament to
consolidate their Acts of Parliament. Such a Bill
was generally understood, it was an Act merely to
consolidate other Acts, and excited but little notice.
Now the charge against the City was that they intro-
duced a clause in the Bill to tax the people of St.
Albao's, and extend the coal duty to a radius that had
Lot existed before. Was not that an act of swindling?
—(Yes, yes, and applause ?) If a private individual
had committed the same sort of thing, what would
have been the result ? He hoped that inquiries might
arise which would effect some reform in that city.—
(Applause.) The Earl of Verulam observed that the
third reading of the Bill in the House to which he
belonged took place on the 7th August. It was the
last day of the session, and, to the best of his recollec-
tion, was almost the last Act that was read. After
some further discussion, the resolution was approved
of, and the usual thanks being voted to the Noble
Earl in the chair, the meeting broke up.

DESPERATE ATTEMPTAT MURDER NEAR
TEMPLE-BAR.

Yesterday morning, at a quarter-past two o'clock, the
attention of police constables Short, No. 18 F, and
Wright, 96 F, was attracted by the noise of a brawl at
the corner of Chair•court, Ship-yard, Temple-bar. They
immediately proceeded to the spot, and found two men
engaged in a desperate struggle, one of whom suddenly
staggered and tell to the ground, exclaiming " Oh, my
God, lam stabbed!" The policeman immediately se-
cured his antagonist, and the wounded man was raised
from the ground and speedily conveyed to King's Col-
lege Hospital, Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, where
he was txamined by Mr. Davis, the house-surgeon. It
was found that ho had sustained three severe wounds in
the region of the heart, the nature of which precludes
the slightest hopes of his recovery, and he has since
totally been unable to give any account of the transac-
tion. The instrument which had been used by the as-
sassin was found on the place of encounter and secured
by the police. It is a stiletto with a white handle, and
the blade is one foot in length. The point of it was
bent, as if it had encountered some hard substance. The
name of the wounded man is James Quilley, and he re-
sides at No. 1, Caroline-row, Coppice row, Clerhf nvvell.
The accused, who is a person of gentlemanly appear-
ance, was conveyed to Bow- street station-house, and on
being searched another knife of a very formidable ap-
pearance was found secreted on his person. Ile refused
to give his name, or to furnish any account of himself
whatever.

PUNCH'S PLAYHOUSE AND STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee. Mr. W. It. COPELAND, Liverpool.
The Warmest Theatre in Landon.
Another New Farce.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed SIMPSON AND CO.
After which, BREAKFAST FOP, TWO.
To be followed by a new Farce, entitled CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE. Characters by Messrs. Rogers, Belton, Romer,
Misses Marshall and Maskell.
With STROLLERS AND SiTP.ATAGEMS.
To conclude with a Farce, entitled THE FIFTH OF NOYEM-
P.EI4, by Messrs. Tilbury, Rogers, Hudspeth, Misses Saunders and
Haskell.
The prices of admission are arranged as follaw :—Orchestra stalls,
4s; boxes (first 35.; (second circle), 21. ; Pit, Is.
Doors to he opene 1 at Half-past Six, and the performanCei to
commence at Seven precisely.
I second price will he taken to the Boxes only at Nine o'clock
--arst circle, 25.; second circle, Is.
Private hoses One Guinea and a Half each.
Stage Manager, Mr. E. Stirling.