The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-06 00:00:00

INQUEST-THIS DAY,

A coroner's inquest was held this day, at the Polytechnic
.Institution, to inquire into the circumstances connected
with the death of Emma Pike, aged 10 years, who unfortu.-
rately lost her life by the falling of one of the spiral stair-
cases of the institution, on Monday evening last.
The jury assembled at the Middlesex Hospital, and after
viewing the body of the deceased,

The Coroner said that inquiries of this sort were generally
divided into two parts—first, the general cause of death,
and next, the specific cause, whether from fractures, lacera-
tions, or otherwise. He thsught the proper course, for the
convenience of the jury, would be to inquire into the first
cause, and then adjourn until a future day.
Mr. Pike, the father of the unfortunate deceased, was
examined—He said the deceased was his daughter. She,
with ber brother, were with himself at the Polytechnic
Institution on Monday evening last. As they, as well as
the other part of the audience, were leaving the institution,
and were on the staircase leading to the door, he heard a
report, and immediately looked round for his daughter, and
found her missing. Immediately afterwards he received a
severe blow on the head, and then found himself amongst
the debris at the bottom of the stairs. His first effort was
to look for his daughter, and having succeeded in rescuing
her, she was immediately conveyed to the hospital in a cab.
Although he himself was very much injured, he never fora
moment lost consciousness.

The House Surgeon said the death of the unfortunate
girl was without doubt caused by external violence. The
poor child was brought to the hospital in a state of collapse,
from which she never recovered.

The Coroner and Jury then proceeded to the Polytechnic
Institution to examine the scene of the late accident ; and,
after having done so, the inquiry was resumed in one of
the adjoining rooms.

The Coroner said he thought it would be most advisable
that before the inquiry proceeded any further that the jury
should have the opinion of an experienced architect as to
the exact place where the accident commenced. He
thought that course would enable them more clearly to
arrive at a satisfactory verdict.

Mr. 6reatorex, on the part of the institution, said the
utmost facility would be given to carry out such a propo-

sition.

Mr. Hughes said if the inquiry was adjourned he hoped
that Mr. Pepper, the late lessee of the institution, and for
whom he appeared, would receive proper notice when to
attend, as it had been stated that he was connected with
the institution when the stairs were repaired.
Mr. Longbottom, the managing director of the Poly-
technic, said Mr. Pepper was in no way responsible. When
the stairs were repaired the institution was under the
management of the directors.

A juryman suggested that two architects should be
nominated, one by the coroner and the other by the jurors.
Mr. Wakley said such, no doubt,'would be advisable, and
he had no objection to such being, done, but the expense
would be large in employing two. architects.
Mr. Greatorex said the directors were willing to bear
the expense.

Mr. Wakley said such an offer was highly commendable
to the managers of the institution.

It was then arranged that Mr. Christopher Heale and
Mr. Marsh Nelsori, architects, the former nominated by the
jury: and the latter by the coroner, should be directed to

make an examlimtion of the scere of the accident, and
report the result to the jury on Thursday next, at three
o'cicck in ,the afternoon.

The inquiry was accordingly adjourned until that day.

POLICE IXT_ELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)