The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-26 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Lest night Mr. BAKER, the Coroner, and Jury re-as-
sembled at the Town Hall, Poplar, to resume the investi-
gation touching the deaths of William Grittain, Richard
Hallett, and William Freeman (a boy), who met with
their deaths on Saturday morning last by a man-of-war's
boat, in which they were proceeding from Woolwich to
Deptford with eight others, being run down by the Prin-
cess Victoria steamer off Greenwich.

Mr. Clarkson, the barrister, with whom was Mr. Rich-
ardson, the solicitor, again attended to watch the proceed-
ings on the part of the Commercial Steam Packet Com-
pany, who are the owners of the steamer which caused the
accident.

On the former occasion two of the survivors, named
Freeman and Kingsworth, were examined, whose evidence
went to prove that just after they rounded Greenwich
Point, on the Middlesex shore, opposite the eastern end of
the Royal Hospital, the steamer, which was going down the
river, bore towards them. That they hailed her to alter
her course, but that she made no alteration, and kept on,
and ran down the boat, by which the three persons were
drowned.
The Jury having answered to their names, some discus-
sicn arose as to the hearing of further evidence on the part
of the friends of the deceased, and the Coroner said he had
received a letter from Captain Beechey, of the Royal Navy,
stating that he would send a-witness who had seen the
whole transaction.
The Jury said they would rather hear some evidence on
the part of the Steam Boat Company.
Mr. Clarkson asked if he was to understand that he had
to produce evidence to rebut a charge against any individual?
The CORONER said there was no charge against any one
at present. They were met to inquire into the cause of
the death of the three persons.
John Thompson, the beadle of St. Ann's, Poplar, was
then examined, and stated that he had searched the books
at the Custom House, and found the names of Charles
Bleaden, of Bishopsgate ; John Ferguson, of Blackwell ;
and James Wilson, of Tottenham-court-road, as the owners
of the Princess Victoria steamer, and Henry Foster was
there stated to be the master. Witness did not know whe-
ther Foster was now master.
Mr. James Evans, the principal Surveyor of the Thames
Police, stated that there was a bye-law of the Watermen's
Company which restricted the speed of the steam-vessels to
five miles or knots an hour, between London Bridge and
the eastern limits of Limehouse Reach ; but the place
where the accident occurred was a mile and a half below
the limits. Witness had taken into custody, on board the
Princess Victoria, at Ramsgate, a man named Robert Fair-
bairn, who admitted he was acting as master of the steamer
when the accident happened, and that there was no pilot on
board at the time. The Captain told him he usually took
a pilot, a man named Cook,-with him ; but he did not take
him on that day.
A Juror remarked that he thought it was not usual to
have in evidence what another person had said.
The CORONER said it certainly was not evidence.
Mr. Clarkson said as the witness had stated a part of the
conversation that had taken place between Captain Fair-
bairn and himself, he thought it only fair that the Jury
should hear the whole.
The CORONER said he should like to ask the witness a
question as to the effect of the tide at that part of the river.
Mr. Evans said there was an offset of the tide at flood
from the point to the south shore, and it was so strong as
to affect the course of heavily and deeply laden vessels.
Mr. Evans then produced the warrant by virtue of which
he bad taken Captain Fairbairn into custody. It was signed
by Boyce Combe, Esq., the Thames Police Magistrate.
John Cheeseman, a Greenwich waterman, deposed that
he was aboard of a schooner coming up the river, and saw
the fatal occurrence at a distance of about eighty yards.
He did not see the steamer until she was close ahead of
him on the north shore. She was going rapidly, but not
at full speed. The schooner was in stays on the north
shore when witness observed to the master, " Look at the
es t
steamer, she will be over the boat." The steamer struck
the boat immediately afterwards, and she sunk. The
t mightook certainlypla place
o but
t h
have e stopped
vessel's
e s so
l s
hadwan
y a d
ite
avoided The wheels of thesteamer
was so great that she frothed at the bows. Witness heard
the master sing out " Stop her," and repeated the order
just as the boat was struck. The steamer was in her
stopped steamer,
tin
the accident.
beforei as
et
ochipedin o
opinion
proper course, but there was plenty. of room for her to go
to the southward, and if she had altered her course the
accident might have been avoided. Witness thought the
accident might have been avoided had the people on board
the steamer kept a better look out, and bad they not been
going at such a rapid pace. Witness was a pilot, but was
never employed by'steamere in that capacity. In steamers

it was not usual for persons to look out but from the pad-
dle-box, and the Captain was generally on one box, and the
pilot on the other. The pilot usually had the charge of the
vessel. Captain Fairbairn was a waternian, and must
know the River well.
Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson—Any vessel when
going against the title would have the water up about her
bows. Steam-vessels sometimes parted with their pilots at
Greenwich. On Saturday last there was much obstruction
to the passage of vessels in the Pool.
By a Juror—Witness knew Captain Fairbairn, and be-
lieved that Saturday was the first day lie had commanded
the Princess Victoria.
James Frithing was off Greenwich point, in his own
wherry, and saw the boat, and the steamer just before the
boat Was run down. The boat's head was to the north-
ward, and the people were endeavouring to get out of the
way. The paddle-wheels of the steamer were stopped
almost at the moment the collision took place. There
were three brigs driving their heads to the northward.
There was room enough for the steamer to go southward,
but several vessels were driving up. Witness considered
there was much difficulty in the steamer's going to the
southward, and she might have gone to the northward.
David Robson, the mate of the Brunsbeck, a brig, saw
the accident, and considered that the men endeavoured to
get the boat out of the way, and that if the steamer had
done the same the occurrence would have been avoided.
The steamer must have seen the boat.
Edward King, carpenter on board the Brunsbeck, gave
exactly similar evidence.
By Mr. Clarkson—He had never belonged to a steamer,
but had been at sea many years.
The CORONER said there was nothing in the evidence to
! prove the Captain saw the boat.
The Foreman—He ought to have seen it, Sir.
George Milliard, a waterman, was on the shore in his
boat off Greenwich Point, and heard a voice singing out,
" Which way, are you going on us ?" and, turning round,
saw the steamer run over the boat. He immediately put
off, and picked up four of the men.
The CORONER said there was a deficiency of evidence as
to the earlier part of the transaction. If any person could
elucidate the points at issue they had better come forward
and give their evidence.
Mr. Clarkson said he could produce several persons, who
were in the steamer on the day in question.
The CORONER said he had better produce them.
Charles Tollman, a lighterrean, in the employ of Garnett,
Scott, and Co., was then called by the Learned Counsel, and
deposed that he was in his skiff, off Greenwich, when the
accident happened. He saw the dockyard-boat coming up
from Blackwall Reach, and the Princess Victoria coming
down. The steamer altered her course a little to the
northward, and the boat also did the same. The man
on the paddle-box of the Victoria appeared confused, and
appeared to make a signal to the boat to keep to the
southward ; and witness, had he been in the boat, would
have gone .to the southward. Witness thought there was
danger, and laid on his sculls. The paddles of the steamer
had stopped before she struck the boat, but witness could
not say how long. He was of opinion that had the boat
kept her course up the stream they might have cleared
each other. When witness saw the steamer first she was
about two vessels' length from the boat. He was not fa-
vourable to steamers because they sometimes injured him ;
but he believed the occurrence was perfectly accidental.
By a Juror—Could. not say that the paddle wheels
were backed. There was plenty of room for either of the
vessels to go to the southward. The steamer was but a
little way from the boat when the Captain waved his hand,
as witness believed, for them to go to the southward, and
witness thought the men who steered the boat did wrong in
putting her broadside right athwart the tide, which he thinks
drifted it against the stem of the steamer, and caused the
accident.
By Mr. Clarkson—lt did not appear that there was any
neglect on the part of the steamer's people. The boat of
the steamer was let down, and a man was in it, but he did
not save any one. There was plenty of boats near, and
plenty of assistance.
The CORONER—That is evident from the fact that only
one person was drowned out of eleven, the other two be-
ing killed on the spot, and immediately picked up.
In answer to a question from a Juror, the witness said
the signal was given by the Captain of the steamer before
the boat's head was right up the stream.
Henry Stratford, a seaman on board the Princess Vic-
toria steamer, said he was in the act of shifting the chain-
box and heard the Captain, who was on the larboard paddle-
box, call out to the boat to pull a-head. There was a sea-
man on the other paddle-box. When the Captain called
the boat's head was to the southword, and if they had con-
tinued going they would have gone clear, but they put the
boat's head to the northward. Witness then waved his
hand to them to the northward, but the men jumped up in
the boat and left off pulling, and one man backed the lar-
board oar which brought the boat's head up on the steamer,
and occasioned the accident which took place. Witness
could not say what part of the boat was struck. The
steamer was sopped before the collision took place some
time, the call-boy had called " Ease her," " stop her," and
" back her," which was done before the collision ; if it had
not been so, not a man would have been left alive, and the
boat would have been broken to pieces.
By a Juror—The boat ran against us through backing
the larboard oar.
By Mr. Clarkson—Our steerage wheel was carried away
by the bowsprit of a vessel about five minutes before, and
we had just shipped our tiller, and we were not going at
the rate of more than three knots an hour. He only left
his station two minutes to shift the box.
By a Juror.—The course of the steamer was not altered.
had not the boat backed her larboard oar she would have
cleared the steamer. The steamer was stopped dead, and
had no way on her at alt when the collision took place, and
the steamer was backing astern. He would swear that all
the mischief was caused by the action of the boat, and their
jumping upin her in a state of alarm.
By a Juror.—This was Captain Fairbairn's first voyage
in the Princess Victoria as commander. He had been in
command of other steam-vessels, and was a very skilful man.
Mr. Stayers, the Captain of the Emerald, belonging to
the same Company as the Princess Victoria, said he exa-
mined the boat a few hours after the occurrence. The gun-
wale only was broken to the depth of about five inches and
a half. From the nature of the injury, he should say the
steamer could not have struck the boat when she had any
way on her. Had the steamer been going fast it would
have been knocked to pieces.
By a Juror—The injury might have been caused by the
tide driving the boat against the steamer.
Joseph Wheldon, engine-boy, confirmed Stratford's evi-
dence, except that he heard the Captain say, " Go ahead."
He never heard him say, " Go to the northward."
A Juryman said that did not agree with that part of
Stratford's evidence where he swore the Captain called out,
" Go to the northward."
The boy said lie believed it was an accident altogether,
and there was no blame attached to his Captain.
William Mutton, a seaman on board the Princess Vic-
toria, said that when he saw the boat three men were pul-
ling ahead on` the starboard side and three on the larboard
side astern, the effect of which would be to bring the boat's
head northward. The steamer was stopped, but had some
way on her when the boat was struck.
By the Jury—He did not hear any orders given by the
Captain to put the steamer about. He was at the chain-
box at the time.
Mr. Clarkson said he had other witnessess to call to the
same facts, but he would not trouble the Coroner and Jury
with them.
The Jury retired at eleven o'clock, and at half-past one
o'clock this morning returned with a verdict of " Man-
slaughter" against Captain Robert Fairbairn, the Com-
mander of the Princess Victoria.
The CORONER issued his warrant for the committal of
the Captain of the steamer to Newgate, whose trial will
most likely take place this session, the Grand Jury at the
Old Bailey not being yet broken up.

NEW LIBRARY SYSTENI.—The reading part of
the community will be glad to learn that an admirable new
system for the more immediate and regular transmission of
books to all parts of the kingdom, has just been completed
upon an extensive scale by Mr. Edward Bull, the Libra_
rian, of 19, Holles-street, Cavendish-square. The New
System also yields advantages equal to three guineas in the
year in favour of subscribers, who, besides being ensured
all the New Publications and Standard Works in the Eng-
lish and Foreign languages, for perusal, 24 volumes at a
time for 6/. 6s. the year, can now have any New Works
they wish to possess, gratis, to the amount of two guineas,
and catalogues, boxes, Sze., free of expense. New Sub-
scribers should address their names and orders for books,
to Mr. Bull, Librarian, 19, Holles-street.

ACCIDENT BY FLOOD.—Last week, as a gentle-
man from Aberdeen was passing through Fyvie in his
he encountered a large bevy of hens, who set upon and
frightened the horse, so that he backed, and the vehicle
sticking fast in a wet ditch, the gentleman had to dismount
and make for dry land. No sooner had be set his feet on
terra firma, than the hens having formed themselves in two
divisions, one of them made a simultaneous attack on the
gentleman, who, being no chicken nor chicken-hearted, was
preparing to give them battle, when the other battalion at-
tacked him in the rear, and thus was he standing, with his
feathered enemy in rear and front, preparing for the on-
slaught ! Escape was now his only chance, and accordingly
he took to his heels, closely followed by the enemy in full
cry, and never halted till he had secured to himself safety
within a house situated at a short distance from the place of
attack.-Aberdeen Herald.

POLICE

GENCE.

HATTOiY-GARDEN.

CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE INSPECTOIL.—IesterdaY
nspcctor Busain, of the G division of police, attended be-
:ore the Magistrates of this Office, by order of his Com-
missioners, that the following charge might be heard and
determined
Mr. Hollingsworth, the keeper of a boot and shot shop
in the Pentonville-road, said that last Friday morning,
just after five o'clock, he was waiting with his foreman in
St. John-street, to serve a person whom he had summone4
to the Court of Requests with an absolute order fbr pay-
ment of the debt, when he was accosted by Mr. Busaith
who asked him his business. 'He told him and offered him
his card, with which the defendant was not satisfied. Mr.
Busain, however, walked away, and returned to him at
half-past five with police constable Badcock, and again de-
manded by what authority he was lurking about that spot.
Witness gave the answer he had before made, and having
refused to give him further satisfaction, he and his ma°
were, by the Inspector's directions, taken into custody'
and conveyed to the station-house in Rosamond-street,
Clerkenwell, where, after being searched, they were desired
to walk away.
Mr. LAING—Are you a Sheriff's officer ? Complainant •
—No, Sir. The debt was owing to me, and I had take°.
upon myself to serve the order. .4
Mr. LAING—When you were called upon the seconn'..:
time to produce some document to slum that you were
there for a legal purpose what did you say? Complainant
—As Mr. Busain was leaving us for the first time he re:
quested a policeman on the beat to remove us if we stayed
there ; therefore I said I should not hold any further con'
versation with him, but I again presented him with my eard•
The complainant's foreman gave corroborating evidence.
Mr. Busain being called upon for his defence stated that
at the time mentioned he was visiting the constables on
duty in St. John-street, and, understanding from one of
them that the complainant and his man had been lurking
about for
.four hours, he enquired if he (the policeman)
had asked them what they wanted ? Having received 1
reply in the negative, he informed the constable that in
omitting to do so he had neglected his duty ; and he the'
went up to Mr. Hollingsworth, and, after telling him wh°
he was, requested to be informed if he was there Al
any legal purpose, and that if such was the case he should
have the assistance of the police. The complainant re' "
plied that he had an absolute order from the Court of Ile'
quests to deliver to an individual residing in that neigh' .
bourhood, at the same time observing that he hated the po i
lice, and did not want to have anything to say to any °
them. He (defendant) then said, " Surely, if you have any
authority from the Court you speak of, you cannot object t°
produce it ; it will save any further trouble, and if I ca°,
afford you help I will. You may be the person mentioned
on the card which you have offered, but as you are a strap'''
ger to me lam not bound to believe it. Many thieves,
must be aware, carry cards, and are, if in trouble, very apt
to produce them." Mr. Hollingsworth, still persisting I°.
his refusal to explain fuither his motive for being about
there, induced him (defendant) to desire a constable not
to
permit them to stay there any longer, after which he went?
away. He shortly returned, and the complainant and 1111:;,
witness being where he had left them, he once more begg_
of them to convince him of the truth of their statements P;'
to the Court of Requests' order. He gained no more
formation from them, and thinking, under such mysterious:
circumstances, that he ought to take other notice of the
matter, he gave them in charge to two of his men, and
searching them at the police station, be found the order °

the above Court. on complainant's foreman.
Mr. LAING—Did you detain them after you saw tee
order ? Mr. Busain—l did not, Sir ; I told them thel
were at liberty to depart, which they did.
Two policemen confirmed the defendant's assertion.
Mr. ROGERS said he was of opinion that Mr. Busain hti
acted very properly, and he considered the policeman v's"
saw the complainant lurking about his beat, from 011:
o'clock until five, was to blame for not demanding the"
business.
Mr. LAING.—That is my opinion, and the complain°
and his man may thank themselves for being taken to thd
station-house. (To Mr. Hollingsworth)—Do you say Y°,
hated the police ?
Busain—And that you always would serve them ntt ;i
when ',ou could ?
The; complainant admitted that he made use of that lair
guage.
Mr. ROGERS (to the inspector)—You are discharged'
Complainant—lt shall not rest here.
Mr. LAING—You can do as you like about that. •
Complainant—lf it costs me 100 sovereigns, I'll seo
him out.
The parties then retired.

I

it ,of 1,..,
~„ _ .....,
14::3°1 b
74„w1,T, and
I, ~..WOrdinott
%ill: Ireland,
tb.h. the ecele
tilliC7ll2:b.4llll44ll:l74ll;;•afitusaetnnitrhilhid;rPrrjeat
11,44S<"elai
:fannan'urbeedipi
by the 11

„,.Resolved
4. ant the C
liZe with tt
adopt tt
Iktrier-books
d.tela.ratie
fun(
vati license
e their n(
clprornoti
dons or di
any sod
tri".ban to ad
TtdOCtril
pt;Y imp
ted by the
lasilnplicity
Christia
11(41,"44tid coma.
the R

d
y °f!reland a
i.i474, Indeed, o
Sion" I do si
th pri
INtinjuree any
; Ilf being ;
e sentir
410;`9 adopt&
M by the

Resolvec
at as lc
0,1:111 code
Ililiorthis'corn
ettetnain on
tra, tort' can a
att.4 agitate
to reflect
cbwe Chairny
11%:41th Bt.o
Theved

jtesolve
44, That the
to C_Y Present
%p, ,e the Ch
and fo
times, in
INI) South
.1A DOC
Capital 4
Sharel
Zte for Seri
Mut SuL
%I. Stoke

tqlAi
t, 4.l4eFrom
E
‘II4UTg

- Cap