The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-06 00:00:00

THE SPUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 6,_ 1858.

LINES LEASED AN FIXED RENTALS.

LAW INTELLIGENOE.—(This Day.)

THE CALAMITY IN GILBBET-STREET.

Leasing
.Companies

Closing Prices
this day

Business
this day.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH..

The labours of the coroner and jury, who have so
frequently assembled to investigate the cause of this
melancholy catastrophe, have now come to a close.

(Sittings in Banco.—Before Lord Campbell, Justices
Wightman, Erl-, and Crompton.)

The following is their verdict :
"That the members of the Smith family (except
Richard Smith, the younger) were found dead in the
ruins of a certain house at.d premises which had been
destroyed by fire, and that the deaths were caused by the
mortal effects of certain poisonous fumes and common
wood smoke produced by the said fire ; and the jurors
aforesaid further say, that in what part of the house and
premises aforesaid the said fire originated, and by what
means the said fire was caused, they have fiend it to be
impossible to discover.

138 9

Teat William Hedger, the younger, was found dead
in the ruins of a certain house which had been destroyed
by fire, and that the death of the said William Hedger,
the younger, was caused by the mortal effects of suffo-
cation by smoke produced by the fire .ak.resaicl.
"That Richard Smith, the younger, did die from the
mortal effects of fracture of divers of his ribs, caused by
his falling from a certain house when it was on fire, and
placed his life in danger therefrom."
To the foregoing verdicts the following presentment of
thejury was added—
" In returning our verdict we feel that it is our duty
to state that the owner of the house No. 20, Gilbert-
street (Mr. Taylor), was guilty of great and culpable
neglect in not making a brick wall between the said
house in Gilbert-street and Mr. Calvert's show-room ad-
joining ; and we are of opinion that the following altera-
tions should be made in the laws relating to the con-
struction of buildings and the management of fire-engines
as explained in the very able and valuable official report
of Mr. Marsh Nelson, the architect appointed to inquire
into the melancholy accident, viz.:—
" 1. The amendment of the Building Act, to prevent
the erection of houses such as was lately the house

No. 20, Gilbert-street.
"2. The amendment of the Common Lodging-house
Act and the Nuisances Removal Act, to prevent the
overcrowding of rooms such as were occupied by the
unfortunate families of the Smiths and Hedgers is the
said house.
"The amendment of the Metropolitan Lncal Manage-
ment Act, to prevent the streets being obstructed by
horizontal shores, or struts such as delayed the approach
of the fire-escape on its way to the late fire.
" 4. The amendment of the unrepcaled clauses of the
old Building Act, 14th of George 111., cap. 73, so as to
create for the metropolis a fire brigade and fire escape
establishment icdependent of private or parochial con-
tra—the funds being already provided for by the said
act.
" 5. That the Act of the 10th Vic., cap. 17 (Water
Supply Consolidation), be amended so as to provide for
an ample supply of water in case of outbreak of fire.
"6, and finally. That provision be made by law, in
conformity with the suggestions of Mr. Nelson, to plat,
iu connection police-stations, fire engine stations, fife-
escape ladders, aad the supply of water in case of fire;
the whole of such establishments throughout the metre-
polls and its suburbs being rendered instantly available
for the public service in case of necessity' by means of
the electric telegraph.
" The jury cannot terminate their painful inquiry
without exoreseing their feelings f admiration cf the
Praiseworthy conduct cf John Curls in assisting the
Eastwood family to make their escape."

MAIIKET NEWS.—(This Day.)