The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-30 00:00:00

evening. No one was at work thereewhen I went home
on Saturday. I have known the occupier of the shop to
be at work there so late as 7 o'clock, but I never knew
him to be there with any one smoking. I don't
know what time the shop closed on Saturday night.
The carpenter's shcp was kept locked in the absence of
the occupier. If any one had been there to work on
Saturday night after I returned home I might have
heard it. I had no means of communicating with the
persons above. My thoughts were directed to saving
my own family. We had made our escape by the ladder
before the fire-escape had arrived.

The Coroner—Yon have formed an opinion whence
the fire began ?

Witness—l am certain it was in the carpenter's shop,
but when I can't say. The flanges were rushing
up the stairs and out of the shop windows at the
same time.

By a juryman—l don't think the fire could have
originated in the dust bin ; there was too much water
used there. I firmly believe it was in the carpenter's
shop. If it had originated in the dust bin it would have
been under my bedroom.
By the Coroner—l heard no movement or screaming
overhead.

The Coroner proposed to examine Mrs. Eastwood,
but the witness said she was in such an excited state
that he thought it would be dangerous for her to be
called.

Thomas Stubbs, occepier of the carpenter's shop, was
next called. He said, I reside at 3 Little Russell-
street, and am a carpenter by trade. frented the house
20, Gilbert-street, and underlet it in tenements. Three
portions of it were occupied when the fire occurred. No
one was at work on Saturday, and the last time I was
there was between half-past 9or 10 o'clock en Saturday
morning ;no light was used then. I began work about
half-past 8 o'clock and left about half-pact 9 o'clock, I
was called away by Mr. Taylor to the Caledonian-
road, and did not return again for the day. I have
kept no combustibles there. There was an accu-
mulation of shavings there at the time of the fire,
The shutters were down except one. Some glass
without a shatter behind it was broken near some
shavings. Any one might have thrown a light amongst
them. He had many times omitted to shut up the shop.
He was not insured, and he knew of no one who had
threatened to do him an injury. There was an opening
in the staircase through which a light might be thrown
on the shavings. He could only account fur the fire from
an accident arising from the inmates going up and down
the staircase with a lighted candle. Mrs. Hedger is not
a sober woman, and there were rumours she was out 89
late as one o'clock that morning. I have reason to
believe that one of Smit!i's sons was out equally late.
Policeman 56 E (William Soar) was at the fire on
Sunday morning. I saw Smith the deceased on Satur-
day night about a quarter or 20 minutes to 12 o'clock
go into his house. He had been drinking, but he was
not drunk.

The Coroner—Not helples9ly drunk ?
Witness—No.

By a Juryman—Ho could walk up stairs.
Witnesi—Yes.

The Coroner—•Do you recollect if he was smoking !
Witness—l did not see Linn smoking.
By a Juryman—Do you know if ha was in the habit
of smoking ! ,
Witness—l don't.

By a Juryman—Did he tell you what public house he
came from ?

Witness—No. He went into the house alone, but I
can't say if he opened the door himsalf. I did not go for
the fire-escape.
Mr. S. Low (Secretary of the Fire-escape)---The
former policeman said he sent this man for the fire-
escape.

Carle—This man assisted me getting out the inmates.
The Coroner.—l intend to go on with that part of the
eae at our next meeting.
Mr. S. Low—This is a matter of great public im-
portance. The fire escape might have been brought
within 5 minutes.

Inspector Pethers, E division, said there were two
policemen i❑ the room who fetched the fire engine and
the escape.
Witness said it was a usual circumstance for the shut-
ters to be down. At 2 o'clock he passed the house, and
there was not the least appearance of the fire. After-
ward., when he came up, the flames were rushing out.
The Coroner said they had now been three hours in
examining the cause of the fire, and they were n 3 nearer
now in ascertaining that fact than they were when they
co.amenced. It was a very extraordinary case, and h
appeared to hint to be surrounded by a great deal of
mystery of an exceedingly disagreeable character. He
wished to state that one of the objects of the adjourn-
ment was to have one or two of the bodies opened,
which be thought absolutely necessary, because it was a
remarkable case that eleven persons should have been
smothered—if that be the fact—in one room whilst other
persons immediately below them escaped. There was
something remarkable, he thought, also about the head
and arms only being seen for an instant. No noise was
heard from that part of the premisos, save from ene
individual, who, it was believed, was so injured that he
was unable to speak afterwards ; and under those cir-
cumstances, he thiught it his duty to have two or more
f the bodies opened.

Stringers were ordered to withdraw, that the coroner
might confer privately with the jury and the authorities.
The public inquiry was accor.liogly adj )urned till
Thursday ❑ext.

LONDON GAZETTE.—(This Evening.)

INDIA BOARD, MARes_29.

The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to
pa;s the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, nominating the R,v. George Ed ward
Lynch Cotton, D.D., naster of Arts, to the bishopric of
Calcutta, void by the death of the Right Rev. Daniel
Wilson, .D.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, MAncii 23.
- -

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Gioao-
chino de Zugasti as Consul-General at Sierra Leone for the
Duchess Regent of Parma.

CROWN-OFFICE, Baum 30.
MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT
PARLIAMENT.

College of the Holy Trinity of Dublin.—Anthony Le-
froy, Esq., Master of Arts, in the room of the Right Hon.
Joseph Napier, who has accepted the office of Lord High
Chancellor of Ireland.