The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-14 00:00:00

THE ZION ACCIDENT AT ASTLEY'S AMPHI•

THEATRE:

ADJOURNED IN.,IUEST—(THIS DAY).--This (Mondaz)
Forenoon at 11 ('clock, Mr. William Carter, the coroner for

East Sun ey, resumed, at the Mitre Tavern, Palace-road,

Lambeth, the adjourned inquest on the body of the unfor-
tunate man who was killed by one of the performing lions
at Astley's Amphitheatre, some particulars of which have
already appeared in this journal. The inquiry created
considerable interest, and the large club room of the tavern
was densely crowded.
Mr. Nicholas Miskin, surgeon, of No. 7, York-road, said
that he had made a post-mortem examination of the body of
deceased. The countenance of deceased exhibited a degree of
calmness and composure by no means indicative of suffer-
ing, rather implying-that death was instantaneous. The
body exhibited .a large number of wounds, same
superficial, others deep and penetrating. On the
upper portion of the body were 35 wounds, 27 on the left
side and 8 on the right, 18 of which were below the angle
of the jaw. One- scalp wound, two inches above the left
eyebrow, exposing-the bone. On the right groin and thigh
were 45 wounds. The following, gentlemen were present
when ho made the post mortem examination :=Mr. F. T.
Buckland, Mr. J. Bush, Mr. Lawton, and Mr. G. A.
Miskin. The deceased was about 5 feet 2 inches. On
examining the head two large lacerated scalp wounds were
found about 3 inches long, and four crossways 2 inches
above the right ear, another 2 inches to the left on the top
of the head with extravasated blood, another over the left
eye half an inch long and denuding the bone of its perios-
seam. On removing the colvarium underneath the 'Jura-
mater at the corner of the head considerable extra-
vasation, to the extent of 4 inches in diameter, was found.
By the Coroner—He attributed that extravasation to a
blow. The brain otherwise had a healthy appearance.
Examination in chief resumed—On examining the neck
a deep-seated wound was found extending to the 6th cer-
vical vertebra 3 on the left side. On tracing this wound
downwards a portion of the body of this vertebras was
chipped eff, the arsiculasion exposed, and the tip of the
transverse process broken off—the animal's teeth having
penetrated through the transverse to the spinal canal,
causing effusion
of blood between the sheath and the spinal
column. The carotid artery and jugular vein sustained no
injury. On the right groin were two wounds—one
above the os pul§rs and the other below, extending
deeply into the abdomen, and at the base of
the wounds was a considerable effusion of blood
by the aide of the ijilestines, which were uninjured. Thfi
femoral artery and viscera sustained no injury, although
they must have been in the animal's mouth, enclosed in a
mass of muscle. The right lung was firmly adherent to
the, pleura and slightly congested. The left was perfectly
healthy. The heart was healthy. The wounds of the
body when dissectea'were of a much more serious character
th

an their appearances flrst indicated. The conclusions
drawn from the wounds and their situations are, that the
man was seized from behind .by the claws of the lion and
cuffed right and left, which produced concussion of the
brain, and in all probability instant death. The lion bit
him on the neck, which was a wound of a very dangerous
character. The wounds on the groin and thigh were
caused by the animal picking him up to carry him about.

At this stage of the proceedings the Coroner and jury
went to the theatre to s itness the spot where the accident
occurred.

Upon the return of the jury the following evidence was
taken :

Robert Thomas Green said—l am in the employ of Mr.
W. Batty, as hall porter, at the stage door of the Amphi-
theatre in Stangate-street. It is an entrance for the ser-
vants of the estabriihment only. I knew the deceased man.
Last Monday I VFeht on duty at a quarter-past seven
o'clock. I got up ;tout half an hour before that time, and
went to the hall clociii which was ajar. The deceased came
in about 20 minuteefto eight as near as I can recollect. I
was in the little lcidge where Mr. Batty keeps his coats,
&c. It is on the liirhand as you pass to the yard. I had
left the hall door open. The deceased Jarvey, as
he entered, said, 'Good morni4.." I asked him why
he came so early, and he replied, "He came to
work." He said nothing more but passed me,
and went down the' yard towards the stables. I never
saw him again alive. I don't think it was more than five
minutes after I saw him that I heard a noise. I went
down the yard, where a man was carting away the manure;
he got off his cart, and with a groom named Reynolds looked
through the door with glass panels. They went to a door
connected with the large gates, and -then a remark whs
made, "The lion has got Jarvey." •
The Coroner—Mr. Ba4ty, who had charge of the lions?
Mr. Batty—Mr. Crockett.
Coroner—Was he the only person ?
Mr. Batty—He had an assistant named Brown.
Mr. Jas. Crockett was then called and was informed by the
coroner that he need not answer any questions that might
tend to criminate him should he need to give his evidence
on oath unless he chose to do so. He, however, expressed
a wish to give the fullest information, and also to give it on
oath. He then izikceeded :'—l am by profession a lion
tamer. I know kitpre were three lions and a lioness*
AstleY's Theatre, performed with them. They are the
property of two ge#imen named Sanger. I have exhibited
with them all over 4he country for the last three or four
years. I have havii had them out without any guard or
chain, one or mor,* a time.
A Juror—Do you mean to say you have had mere than
one lion on the stage at a time ?
Witness—Yes.
Coroner—Then perhaps they are very docile ?
Witness—To me. perfectly so.
Coroner—We will now go to Monday last.
Witness—On that morning a lady came over from the
theatre and informed me that the lions were loose. I
dressed myself and proceeded immediately to the hall door
of the theatre. I there seined a hay-fork and proceeded to

the gates of the ride. Those gates were closed. There is
a small wicket-gate that opens inwardly by pushing it. I
opened that door, and when I had it half way open
I saw one of the lions near to the stable door on
the right side of the drive close to the salts.
It was one of the male lions, and in front of him lay the
body of a man whom I did not know. He was on his back.
The lion was doing nothing with him. He was quietly
sitting over him as a dog would a bone. I struck the lion
twice with the fork, and he then left the man, who I im-

mediately picked up and took to the hall. I did not then
see either of the other lions. I did not see any blood about
the lion's mouth. The man, when I first picked him up,
breathed, and I directed medical aid to be sent for. I then
recognised him as the person called Jarvey, who was tem-
porarily engaged at the theatre. I never saw him in the
theatre in the day time. I did zot know he had anything
to do with washing-carriages. On the Saturday previous

to the accident three of the lions were exhibited on the
stage—one loose, the other two in the cage. They were
fed after they were exhibited. I feed them every night
after the performance in the large den. The fourth lion on
that occasion was separately confined in a small cage about
14 inches from the large den. The lion confined by itself
had been unwell for about a fortnight. The small den had
been in the position I have mentioned neat: the large one
for about 12 days. The length of the large den is 17 feet 6

inches, 6 feet wide, and the same in height. It is
made of iron cased with shutters. It is made precisely as a
birdcage. The ends and all parts are of iron. The top
is first put on, and then the shutters slide in a groove. The
panels or shutters are all secured by iron pins. There are
five panels in front, five at the back, and two at each end.
After having taken the deceased man away I then went
to the den where the three lions were kept. I found nothing
therein but the cloth. The fourth was still in the small
cage. The deceased was about 50 yards from the lions' cage.
There had been a cloth nailed over the fourth lion, to pro-
tect the sick.lion from the weather. That cloth I found in
the large den. I then noticed that the door had been
opened. One of the panels was down. It had slipped to
eAve.eu, out me door was
open. It opens inwards.
The Coroner—How do you account for the opening of
the door ?
Witness—One or more of the lions, in the act of drag-
ging in the cloth ;from off the small den, must have broken
the bolt, and thus occasioned the opening of the door.
Lions are fond of playing with such things. The cloth
was torn to pieces. The sockets of the panels were quite•
safe when I last saw them on Sunday night. The keys
were in them. Any person could remove the keys from
the sockets, but they could not be taken away, as they were
attached to the cage by chains. I have an assistant. His
name is Edward Brown. I last saw the lions on the Sunday
night, previous to the accident, about half-past eight. I
gave some medicine to one that was unwell, and gave the
others some water. I had to remove one of the panels to
do so. The panel I found down was the next one, on the
left, covering the door. I replaced the door.
Coroner—Having closed the door, are you positive you
replaced the fastening key ?
Witness—Quite sure. I put in two keys and also used
two ropes to secure the cage.
Coroner—What did you use the ropes for
Witness—As an additional security.
way for the panel
Coroner—Can you account in any
coming down in the first instance
Witness—Not in any way.
Coroner—Have you tried to ascertain ?
Witness—Yes, and I cannot discover any. I have
travelled about the country for the last three years, and
although we have frequently travelled bad roads, I
although
anels to fall out.
never knew the p
Coroner—How did you find the ropes ?
Witness—Just as I left them. Secure around the cage.
Coroner—Who ifed the lions on Sundays?
Witness—They are not fed on Sundays. They get some

water.
Coroner—Have qou any doubt about the death of the
man being caused by the lion?
Witness—None, whatever.
Coroner—Now We will go back to the accident.
Witness—After' I had taken the body of Jarvey to The
hall I got some lights and went in search of the other
lions. I saw one playing with some flowers. I put them
into the dep, and the one that had killed the mm followed