The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-09 00:00:00

THE FATAL CATASTROPHE AT ASTLEY'S.

An inquest was held yesterday (Tuesday) even-
ing, at the King Henry the Eighth, High-street,
Lambeth, before Mr. Win. Carter, Coroner for the
Eastern Division of Surrey, to inquire into the
cause of the death of a man known as Jarvey, who
was killed by a lion in Astley's Amphitheatre
on the morning of Monday last, under the cir-
cumstances detailed hereafter. The investigation
created a great degree of interest, and the room was
crowded with members of the theatrical profession.
Mr. G. W. Barnard, of 14, York-road, Lambeth,
appeared to watch the case on behalf of Mr.
Crockett, the proprietor of the lions.
Mr. Samuel Hinton having been appointed fore-
man of a highly-respectable jury, the gentlemen
proceeded to view the body, which presented a
frightful spectacle.
The Coroner then called the following evidence :
Thomas Crunes—l am stud groom to Mr. Batty,
who is the proprietor of Astley's Theatre, situate
in Bridge-street, Lambeth. I have seen the de-
ceased, who was in my master's employ as a
labourer, called a washer, that is, of carriages and
harness. I did not know the deceased by the name
of Smith, but only as Jarvey. I think he was about
26 years of age. I have known him to be in Mr.
Batty's employ about six months or a week longer
perhaps. On Monday morning, about a quarter to
eight, I got up (I sleep in the house attached to the
theatre), and coming to the stables, having to pass
through one stable to get to another, I Game to an

empty one, when just as I got to the door leading.
from the first, I heard a noise, which seemed like a
man kicking with his feet. The sound was as of a
person having wooden shoes, and I knew it was
Jarvey, because no one else wore wooden shoes in
the theatre. Illy impression was that a large stag,
the property of Mr. Win. Batty, had got out, and
had pinned Jarvey against the wall. I immediately
made a spring forward to kick, as I thought, the
stag, when I saw some one on the ground. Whilst
I was in the act of raising my foot I heard a heavy
footfall on the ground, and turning round I saw a
lion within a yard of me, on the left hand. The
lion was loose. I sprang forward to get into the
large stable, where the horses were, and succeeded
in getting in. The door opened inwards, and I in-
stantly closed it, but not till the lion got his paw
on the door. I could not fasten the door, as there
was no fastening, but I held it till the beast went
away when I made my escape by another door into
the yard. I there saw Reynolds and Mr. Crockett's
man, named Edward Brown, and supposed they
knew of the escape of the lions, because they had
something in their hands—one a stable fork and the
other a spade. lat once said, " Have you sent for
Mr. Crockett !"
By the Coroner—Who is Mr. Crockett ?
Witness—The gentleman who performs with the
lions.
By the Coroner—ls he the proprietor ?
Witness—l believe not. Nothing had been said
to lead me to think they knew anything. I said,
" Is there any one else besides Jarvey."
By the Coroner—Had you seen Jarvey ?
Witness—Only his clogs and feet, not his body
or person. They said, " No. Are your stable
doors fast."
By the Coroner—Who went to seek for Jarvey ?
Witness—No one but Mr. Crockett.
By the Coroner—What was the object of asking
you if your stable doors were fastened ?
Witness—Because it has been well known
amongst us that the lions were very ferocious, and
we thought they might try and get to the horses.
When Mr. Crockett eame he fetched Jarvey out
instantly from the drive, but that was about 20
minutes after I first saw Jarvey's feet. Jarvey was
then dead. I did not see any other animal than the
one lion behind me, nor did I see anything being
done to the deceased. I last saw him alive on Sun-
day night about half-past seven.
Henry Golding, the night watchman at the theatre,
deposed to knowingthe deceased, but at this stage of
the proceedings some interruption took place in
consequence of two or three of the jury asking
irrelevant questions, ,the witness not having seen
the deceased in the morning alive.
The Coroner called Thomas Reynolds, who
said—l am groom to Mr. Batty. I sleep on the
premises, and knew Jarvey, the deceased. I
saw him between half-past seven and eight on
Monday morning come in at the middle door of
the stable out of the hall in Stangate-street, which
is the entrance for those employed. He was alone.
I was at work in the stables. He wanted to know
what he ?could do, and appeared quite well and
hearty. I said I had no orders, and he said he
would go up to the harness room, which adjoins the
stable in the ride, which ride is an enclosed and
covered building. He went out of the stable into
the yard, and closed the door after him. About two
minutes after he shoved open another door of the
stable I was in, and he holloed out, " Oh! oh!" in a
tone a! if affrighted. As he shoved the door open
a lion attacked him at the back. The lion had
reared up and got hold of him, and tore him down,
the door closing. I called out "Jarvey, Jarvey,
what is the matter !" He made no reply, and I
went to the other door, which has panels with glass
in it, but could see nothing. I went outside and
spoke to a man who comes for the manure, and we
went together and shoved the wicket door open,
and there saw a lion with the man Jarvey in his
mouth. The lion was holding him as a dog would
a rat, and looked at as us we opened the door. The
lion had hold of Jarvey just below the stomach.
The man was not crying out or moving of his own
accord, or trying to get away at all. I thought he
was killed because he made no answer when I first
called him. lat once went for the keeper, named
Edward Brown, who came down, and I went for
Mr. Crockett, at 3, Belvidere-road. He came im-
mediately and took a fork with him, and in a,
minute or two Mr. Crockett brought Jarvey Out
quite dead. His clothing was dirty and torn, his
cheeks and underneath his ears were torn.
By the Coroner.—Did the marks appear to be
made by teeth or claws ?
Witness.—By the claws, I think, as they are su

injuries as would be made by such an animal's claws.
By the Coroner.—llid you see blood about him ?
Witness.—Yes, about his head and face.
By the Coroner.—Was there any large wound ?
Witness.—l did not see one.
By the Coroner.—Have you any doubt how he
came by his death ?
Witness—l think the lion killed him. There are
other lions on the premises, but I did not see them
loose.
A lengthened discussion then ensued as to the
necessity of seeing the premises, and having medi-
cal testimony as to the actual cause of death, and
the jury desiring these two points to be elucidated,
the inquiry was adjourned.