The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-02 00:00:00

APPREHENSION OF MR. ROPER.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner
for West Kent, resumed the inquiry, at the Globe
Tavern, Greenwich, into the origin of the fire which
consumed the premises of Mr. Richard Roper, corn-
dealer, of Royal-hill, Greenwich, and resulted in
the death of his two infant daughters, on the morn-
ing of Sunday, 12th Sept.
This was the fifth and most important inquiry,
and the court was, as on former occasions, densely
crowded by respectable inhabitants of the district.
Mr. Ingle, solicitor, of Hibernia-chambers, Lon-
don-bridge, again appeared on behalf of Mr. Roper.
At the commencement of the proceedings the
coroner and jury proceeded to the house of Mr.
Cowell, tailor, of Deptford, for the purpose of tak-
ing the evidence of Mrs. Roper. who is still in a
very weak state, and under medical treatment.
In reply to questions from the Coroner and Mr.

Ingle,
The witness deposed as follows :—On the morn-
ing of the fire, about 2 o'clock, she observed a
strange smell in the room where she had been sleep-
ing with her nurse. She remarked this circum-
stance to the nurse, who replied that it was only
fancy. Her husband immediately came into the
room, and placed her and the nurse on the roof, and
subsequently, returned for the infant, which was
also saved. Witness knew that her husband wished
to let the business, and on the Tuesday before the
fire a man whom she had never seen before came in
and inspected the premises. He ultimately con-
sented to take the business for £l3O, and paid her
husband two sovereigns as a deposit, it being ar-
ranged that the man would take possession on the
following Wednesday week, and pay the remainder
of the money. Witness subsequently told her hus-
band that as the business was let she wished some
of the furniture to be removed, and Mrs. Cowell
(the mother of witness) consented to receive a
number of articles, which were sent away daily.
Witness packed up the china, a dinner service, &c.,
which were sent to Mrs. Cowell's house by the ser-
vant girl. The witness .was then examined with
respect to pawning a number of articles of wearing
apparel, and deposed she first commenced pledging
last April. She then pledged goods to the amount
of £2 to make up a sum due for rent. A short time
before the fire witness sent her father to pledge
several articles of clothing, and similar articles
were also pledged by her brother-in-law at Wool-
wich. She pledged a number of these articles with-
out the knowledge of her husband.
The Coroner—lt is only fair to tell you that your
father (Mr. Cowell) stated that the articles he took
were pawned with the knowledge of your husband.
What was your motive in keeping it a secret from
your husband ?
Witness—Because he was unwell, and I thought
it would only worry him.
.Examination resumed—At Christmas last witness
assisted her husband to make out an inventory of
the furniture and stock for the purpose of effecting
an insurance. The man who paid the deposit of
£2 stated that he came through Ilford, but did not
give his name or address.
Mr. Cowell, senior, father of the last witness,was
then re-examined relative to pawning a portion of
the property, and his evidence was, as before, highly
contradictory.
A young man named John Abbott was then exa-
mined, and, in reply to questions from the coroner,
denied that he had taken articles of clothing be-
longing to Mr. Roper out of pledge since the fire.
His statement was -then directly negatived by the
production of the tickets, and it was distinctly
proved that: since the fire witness had redeemed
clothing pledged at the shop of Mr. Parr, Green-
wich.
At this stage of the proceedings it was communi-
cated to the jury that the directors of the Kent
Fire Insurance Company had resolved to give Mr.
Roper into custody on a charge of fraud, and the
inquiry was adjourned for one hour; the coroner
directing the jury to reassemble at the Lecture-hall
of the Literary Institution, on account of the ex-
citement which prevailed, and the impossibility of
affording accommodation to the public at the room
where the inquiry had been heretofore held.
At half-past 5 o'clock Mr. Richard Roper was ap-
.hended and conveyed to the Greenwich police-
pre
statlonf with the whole of the furniture which had
been removed from his premises. A crowd of per-
sons: assembled, and Mr. Roper, who was accom-
panic-11 by several friends appeared to feel his posi-
tion most acutely. The accused will undergo an
examination at the Greenwich police-court this day
(Saturday).

RESUMED INQUIRY.
.The coroner and jury re-assembled at the Lecture-
hall, Royal-hill, at 6 o'clock.
The utmost excitement prevailed, and the spa-
cious hall, which will accommodate about 1,000
persons, was crowded to excess.
The following witnesses were examined by Mr.
Ingle
William Gandy, of 14, IValbrook, City, deposed
—On the Monday after the fire lw was at Green-
wich, and returned to town by the train which left
al`, 11.45 in the morning. Two gentlemen were, in
etc same third class carriage, and a conversation
took place respecting the fire. One of the gentle-
men &lid he had rendered assistance at the fire, and
the at,-ti,-r stated that he was in treaty with Mr.
Roper :.c°; his business and had paid a small deposit.
" gentleman was apparently about 40 years
The lattt.'l had the appearance of a respectable
of age, al: w ich
Ictlast Monday witness was at Green
tradesman.
artisl saw the handbills calling for infor-
+lkc
on business, person who had paid Mr. Roper
inatirOn as.to . He consequently went to
two sovereigns sit
him as to the conversation
Mr. Ingle, a-nd,
he had heard i n carriage.
Mr. Sayer, c torn dc.aler, of church-street, Green-
wich;t who had 'been in treaty h Mr. Roper re-
wi
"specting his bill iness, then stood opposite to the
witness, who, in reply-to the coroner, stated that he
believed Mr. Sa; Ter was the gentleman who spoke
about the business of Mr. Roper in the carriage.
(It must be ob served that Mr. Sayer is not the
parson from )vhol n Mr. Roper states he received two

sovereigns as a deposit, and although this person
has been advertised for, he has not appeared.)
William Bull, assistant to Mr. Parr, pawnbroker,
of Greenwich, proved that a coat and two vests
were pawned at his master's shop in the name of
Brown, for 12s. These articles were redeemed on
the 16th Sept., the Thursday after the ire.
Police-inspector Barry produced t o vests, of
silk and velvet, which he had found on searching
the house of Mr. Cowell. The vests were the pro-
perty of Mr. Roper.
Police-inspector Wilson proved that when he
made an inventory of the property of Mr. Roper
on the 20th September, at the house of Mr. Cowell,
no mention was made of these vests.
Mr. Murrell, corn dealer, of Creek-road, Dept-
ford, proved that Mr. Roper had dealt with him
for flour, and witness had supplied him up to the
Friday before the fire.
Evidence was then given as to the pawning on
the 28th of August- and the 2d of September of
various articles of wearing apparel and plate, the
property of Mr: Roper, and at eight o'clock the
inquest was adjourned until Wednesday next.