The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-28 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

VICTORIA CLUB-THIS DAY.
LINCOLN HANDICAP.
20 to 1 agst Christmas Carol (taken)
25 to 1 agst Batthyany (taken)
33 to 1 agst Vaudervelde (taken)
33 to 1 agst Mount Palatine (taken)
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
25 to 1 agst Surney (taken)
33 to 1 agst Accident (taken)
33 to 1 agst Plover (taken)

CITY SUBURBAN.
25 to 1 agst Thalia (taken)
33 to 1 agst Special (taken)
33 to 1 agst Gretna (taken)

CHESTER CUP.
25 to 1 agst Moulsey (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Proserpine (taken)
40 to 1 agst Weather Star (taken)
40 to 1 agst Actsaa (taken)
40 to 1 agst Jollity (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Bracken (taken and offered)
50 to 1 agst Duke (offered)
60 to 1 agst Miss Harriette (taken and offered)

TWO THOUSAND.
4to 1 agst Plaudit (offered, sto 1 taken)
6 to 1 agst Hermit (taken and offered)
10 to 1 agst Julius (taken)
100 to 6 agst Marksman (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Master Butterfly (offered)
Nto 1 agst General (taken and offered)

DERBY.
9 to 1 D'Estournal (taken and offered)
11 to 1 agst Plaudit (offered)

SPORTING NOTES.

Another "Act" of justice in the "Soiled Dove" case has
been meted out to the principal performers by the stewards
of the Jockey Club, and it only remains now for the com-
mittee at Tattersall's to decide respecting the buts in this
unfortunate affair. Admiral Roux, ono of the adjudicators
in question, has already expressed a decided opinion on
the subject, which simply amounts to this, that auy one
who has made any wagers about any race this mare won
last season will have to refund the amount he received,
and also the amount he risked provided she had lost. One
of your Saturday contemporaries says, "she was foaled
either at General Shirley's place, near Rugby, or
at his training establishment at Hodnesford, and adds,
"One link in the chain of evidence is missing,
how and when Soiled Dove was conveyed to Belgium."
This is asserting facts, relative to which there is not
the slightest evidence, and I have as much right to believe,
on the contrary, that she was foaled abroad until proofs are
forthcoming. Furthermore, I contend no satisfactory
decision can be properly come to until her birth-place is
substantiated. Let auy person of impartial mind study
the rules now in force, and whilst there is a doubt if the
filly was not foaled abroad, say the Jockey Club or
their officials have not neglected their duty by allow-
ing the mare to start at Newmarket the first
place where she made her appearance—and acted in
direct contravention to Rules 15 and 16. They ex-
ercise the most arbitrary power according to these rules ;
but if it is proved the mare was foaled out of England
they are certainly responsible for the loss inflicted upon
the public for their lathes in this instance. If all bets
were declared off the innocent and bona fide backers of this
filly would not have so much cause to complain, but when
the Admiral insists upon enforcing all the penalties at-
taching to Rule 17, it is natural for those parties inte-
rested to say, "Had your other rules been enforced this
could not possibly have occurred," and he must see the in-
vidious position in which the Jockey Club are placed."
The weights for the principal Spring Handicaps have
made their appearance in the "Calendar" simultaneously,
and display the usual amount of ability on the part of their
manipulators, but some of the estimates of the capabilities
of different animals formed by the handicapper of the
Epsom handicaps, to my notion, show a good deal of pre-
judice, but it must suffice at the present time if I instance
the weights apportioned to Copenhagen and Gretna for the
City and Suburban. The first-named horse is a maiden
6 yr old, belonging to Mr. H. Hill, whose best perform-
ances were running third for the Lincolnshire Handicap
last year with 7st 121 b on his back, and two months later
carrying Bst 21b, an indifferent fifth for this race. The
same handicapper, I believe, had to weight him towards the
end of the season for the Cambridgeshire Stakes, in which
he gave him Bst 81b, and now, let me hope for the sake
of his owner, as a climax he has to carry Bst 131 b, other-
wise another defeat or two will bring him to the top weight.
Gretna, 4 yrs old, is handicapped at 6st 41b, consequently
has to receive 371bs. from the horse just alluded to, but
except having run half a dozen times as a three-year-old
very indifferently—probably out of all form—there can be
no excuse for placing such a ridiculous weight upon her.
In 1865 (2 yrs old) she was successful six out of the twelve
times she started, her first win being a Maiden Plate at
Ascot, in which a field of 21 horses were behind, amongst
others Ambition and Lecturer. The next stake placed to
her credit is the Grange Park Stakes, at Winchester,
wherein she beat Abergeldie and the colt by Vengeance
out of Midia at even weights and with the greatest ease.
She next, allowing for difference of sex, gave Roden 21b
and a beating at Lewes, following it up by
winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ox-
ford, from Miss Roland and Rama, one being
in receipt of 21b. and the other 71b. from her. She
afterwards won a sweepstakes at Weymouth, defeating
seven others, and finished the season by winning the Ash-
down Stakes at Lambourne in a canter. Every one who
enters his horse for a handicap does so naturally with the
full expectation of being dealt with impartially ; but many
owners now-a-days complain bitterly of the apparent
favouritism shown towards some stables, and, as they con-
sider, unjust weight given to their horses.
It was my intention to allude to several animals which
look favourably in for the different Spring Handicaps, but
as the acceptances will be declared in a day or two, I shall
then be better able to judge of the probable intentions of

owners.

A FRESH MAN.

TIM GREAT LOSS OF LIFE IN THE
REGENT'S PARK•

CORONER'S INQUEST THIS DAY.
The inquest on the unfortunate persons who
perished by the late terrible accidentin the Regent's-
park was resumed at the Marylebone Court-house
this morning.
Inspector Conder stated the number of constables
employed in the park on the day in question, and a
witness named Archer also gave his version of the
scene caused by the breaking of the ice.
A gentleman (Dr. Sylvester) attended, and de-
monstrated to the jury a most successful means of
restoring animation after the appearance of death
has set in from drowning.
Mr. Edwards, the superintendent of the park, was
re-examined, and, in answer to the questions of the
coroner, said that no missing bodies had been found
since they last met. Every part of the water had
been dragged twice over, and lie tia ctuildout that

no other bodies remained in the lake. The men had
commenced preparations for running off the water-
but the operation had been stopped, on the suppo-
sition that no bodies remained there.

11 Sr. the master of the workhouse, stated
that he also was of opinion that all had been re-
covered, as no further inquiries had been made.
He had twenty or thirty letters from the country
with respect to missing persons, but they could not
by any means be connected with the accident in the
park.

By a Juror—What was the ico broken for round
the edges?

Witness—To protect the waterfowl solely.

John Stewart, gardener to Mr. Burton, South
Villa, Regent's•park, said he cut the ice away from
the edges to prevent people taking a narrow cut to
get to the broad water. It was done in the pre-
sent instance on the Monday and Tuesday,
on which day he observed distinctly that the water
had not sunk at all. The ice that was broken
was pushed under the unbroken surface. When the
ice was broken it floated on the water, clearly
showing that there was no vacuum. He did not
think that the breaking of the edges of the ice had
anything to do with the accident. He thought it
was altogether owing to the thinness of the ice.
To have supported the number of people upon it it
ought to have been twice•the thickness.
Mr. Earnest Bunsen said he witnessed the acci-
dent. He arrived opposite the south island where
he saw three men chopping up the ice. Three
young gentlemen from his house were on the ice, and
he gave directions for them to be called off, as he
did not like the appearance of the ice. His servant
told him the men were breaking up the ice because
the water had sunk. He did not like the appear-
ance of it, and therefore he was anxious his young
friends should be got off. This was done, and the
witness went on to state what was done after the
ice broke. It is the system in the Bois de Boulogne
to break the ice round the edges before the people are
allowed to go on and skate. This was done,
because the supply of water was irregular. His sou
had told him that he was at the ice at 10 o'clock in
the morning, and again after the accident, and that
at that time the water had sunk several inches.
The Coroner—That could not have been the case
according to the evidence of Mr. Edwards.
The witness then went on to describe the blocking
up of a pipe connected with the lake near York-
gate as being perhaps one of the causes that led to
the accident by diminishing the supply of water.
Mr. EdVtards said the pipe in question had nothing
to do with the ormamental water. It was merely
used in the service to procure water to distribute
over the roads in summer. He thought the Con-
tinental plan was very good in preventing accidents
from the breaking of the ice. Of course the police
regulations ought to be very strict.
The Coroner asked if the ice was tested in Berlin
previous to the public being let on ?
Witness said he could not answer that question.
In certain places in Berlin a mark is made, and the
passing of that point is made a trespass. Such a
regulation, he thought, would work well in this

country.
Alfred Smith, of 8, Burton-crescent, said he went
on the ice at about half-past two in the afternoon,
at which time he knew it was unsafe. The ice he
considered was the worse for wear, and it appeared
to get worse whilehe was on it. He was between
the two islands when the ice broke. The time would
be a quarter to four, as his watch stopped at that
time. He got immersed. The people seemed to
disappear mostly in the centre. He was standing
some distance off, not thinking the ice would give
way where he was standing, but he saw a kind of
wave come and broke all up into pieces. When the
ice broke he went on his knees, and eventually
stepped into the water as comfortably as possible
under the circumstances. He struck out as well as
he could, and got to shore without wetting his face.
He thought the ice broke in consequence of its being
used up. He was cautioned by the Humane Society's
men two or three times that the ice was unsafe.
He thought the men of the society certainly did
their duty promptly and well under the trying cir-
cumstances in which they were placed.
Mr. Bunsen also said that during the accident
he witnessed the whole of the efforts made to save
life, and ho felt certain that not one in authority in
the park at the time seemed to " have lost his
head." He thought that the means of throwing the
ropes was very primitive. The lines themselves
used on the occasion seemed to him to be too
heavy.

Mr. Young, the secretary to the Humane Society,
said that any kind of line would have to be
weighted at the end, and supposing a lighter line
was used and a greater weight at the end, if in
throwing it the head struck the man in the water
and sent him down a verdict of manslaughter would
be the immediate result. The best rope was
always selected by the society for its apparatus.
A gentleman here exhibited a plan for rescuing
life from drowning by means of fixed lines at
either side of the water.

Mr. Hollis, a gentleman, who lost his son by the
accident, came forward and stated it to be his opi-
nion that the ice was broken up by the explosion of
noxious vapour generated beneath it by the decayed
vegetable matter at the bottom of the lake.
A number of witnesses were in attendance for
examination, but their evidence related to matters
which have already been spoken to before the
Coroner. It is uncertain whether the inquiry will
conclude to-day. _ _ _

The Court then adjourned for refreshment.

After the adjournment,

Mr. Douglas and Dr. Whitmore were examined,
and repeated in detail the facts which have been
already deposed to.
At the conclusion of the evidence,

The Coroner summed up and told the jury that
after they had decided on their verdict with respect
to the deaths of the 40 persons, they would have to
consider whether there were any persons specially
liable for the consequence of the accident. 1% hether
any person had neglected his duty or had been
guilty of anything that in the result brought about
the lamentable accident. They would have to
consider the effect of the breaking of the ice around
the edges of the lake, and it would not be out of
place if, while engaged in their duties, they were
also to consider the advisability of adopt-
ing some steps by which such terrible acci-
dents might, be prevented for the future. Some
of the witnesses had spoken to the good effect of
raising a ball to denote the safety of the ice, and
others had spoken to a variety of precautions that
might be adopted ; but the most important, in his
opinion, was the advisability of reducing the depth
of the water. lle thought that the good which
would follow such an arrangement would amply
It
compensate for the cost of the work.
would be for them to say how and what means
death ensued ; make anyhe
special presentment, they
event of their thinking
it necessary to
could attach it to their verdict.
The jury then retired to consider their verdict,
and after an absence of an hour and three-quarters,
returned into court with a verdict of Accidental
Death in all of the cases.
Appended to tho verdict were the following
recommendations :
14 We find that the accident arose from the over-
large body of persons on the ice at
the while it was in a most dangerous
wrsadmi negtoi
mf
ea,
sta,t,eF, cuarutisieerd, bwy.erlovtotuelndnreesse fltnnlid.nePna(rititahleT
thaw.iegslature
to consider the propriety of investing the police or
other authorities with power to prevent the public
venturing upon the ice when in an unsound state
as the evidence adduced at this inquiry clearly
shows that mere verbal warnings are not heeded in
such cases.

" -We cannot too strongly urge upon the Govern-
ment the propriety of reducing the depth of the
water in the same manner as already adopted in
St. James's-park, so that the repetition of such a
deplorable calamity may be rendered impossible for
the future.

" We cannot separate without speaking a word
in favour of the icemen, park constables, police,
parochial authorities, and others, for their efforts
to save life on this occasion.
" We commend the Royal Humane Society to
the public consideration.
" It now only remains for us to proffer our deepest

sympathy to the unfortunate friends of the deceased,
a sympathy that will, we are sure, be shared in by
the whole of the nation."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

WES TMINS TER.

A BRUTAL AND WORTHLESS lIUSBAND.—David Newman,
a rough-looking fellow, was charged with assaulting Mar-
garet, his wife.

Complainant said that hearing on Saturday night that
her husband was drunk, and dreading violence from him,
she thought she had better keop out of his way and re-
main where sho was employed, but ho sent there at twelve
at night and insisted upon her coining home, and when
she did so he seized her, threw her about with great vio-
lence, and kicked her repeatedly.

Defendant—l should like her to show her marks. I
couldn't have kicked her. It's all wrong about my ill-
using her.

The wife—He is under bail now.

Defendant—No, I ain't ; it's out.

„
The landlady of the house where defendant lodges said
that she saw defendant lift his foot to strike his wife, and
heard her fall and cry out.

Mr. Selfo—Does he often ill use her ?
Landlady—Very often, and she is really a very hard
working, quiet woman, with three children.

A Policeman—He used to live next door to me. He is
the greatest brute out.
The Landlady—l have seen her bruise from one of the
kicks he gave her.
Luby (one of the summoning officers)—l have brought,
him before you twice on warrants. Ile had a month, I
think, last time.

Defendant—l have not done any damage at any time.
They're all on to me ; it puts me in mind of the wolf and
the shepherd-boy.

Mr. Selfe—And you're the shepherd boy, I supposo.
;Laughter.)

Defendant—Well, I don't know about that. Everybody
ought to mind their own business ; that's enough for them.
Mr. Selfo—l have got t 6 mind other people's business
as well as my own, and yours amongst others. (To the
wife)—Do you work for your family ?
The Wife—l have supported the children and him. for
eleven years; he has done no work for a month.
Mr. Selfe (to defendant)—You are a drunkard and
coward and lazy loper, without any apparent redeeming
quality. The fact of your wife supporting herself and
children removes the difficulty we frequently feel in com-
mitting husbands for their brutality. You are committed
to prison for three months.