The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-17 00:00:00

THE COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT .RUABON.

A coroner's inquest is being conducted into the circum-
stances of the great colliery explosion near Ruabon. One
of the witnesses detailed how he was at work altering a
door in one of the shafts when the accident took place.
He heard men and boys screaming, and one man he found
dead at the mouth of the shaft. But he could not tell the
cause of the accident. He saw no naked lights. The over-
looker of the mine (Mr. Darlington) thought the accident
was caused by a naked light being taken into one of the
" breaks." One reason that helped to confirm him in the
belief that the mine fired in the returned-air course of
Fox's break was, that the boys and men at work near the
eye of the pit were burnt and killed, whilst men in the
distant workings escaped all injury. One lamp was found
unlocked after the accident. It belonged to George
Edwards. Only certain men in the pit had keys where-
with to unlock lamps. It was quite possible to open these
lamps without a key.

The Coroner remarked that it was a mere waste of time
to inquire anything more about the keys of lamps. Mr.
found said the lamps in use at the New British Iron
Company's mine were so constructed that if they were
opened detection was sure to follow.

Witness, on being re-examined, said he saw the firemat
on the morning of the accident between six o'clock ant
half-past, and asked him how the pit was. He replied
that he had been round the workings, and bad not found
a " smitering " of gas. He had heard of men working
in the pit getting through the doors into the returned-air
course for the purpose of smoking. He had suspicion
of an individual some time ago, but there was no certain
evidence obtained shewing that he had been guilty of
the act. He was, however, discharged. Another man
was known to have done it, and a summons was obtained
against him to appear before the Ruabon magistrates, but
he did not appear, and a warrant was now out for his ap-
prehension.

Mcses Morgan, a little collier, 13 years of age, was next
called. On being questioned by the coroner he stated that
he had been at school for a week : he did not know what
an oath was, but he believed that if he told a lie he would
"goto a hot fire." He was not sworn, but stated that
when the explosion took place he was looking on at the
bottom of one of the tramways, and he and another boy
were blown away for a distance of about fifteen yards.
At the moment he was blown off he was locking
his lamp. The key had been given to him for the purpose
of giving lights to the men when their lights went out. He
had just supplied a light to a man named Ward, who had
" lost his fire." The explosion took place just after Ward
left him. He locked Ward's lamp when he gave it to him.
He was sure of that.

After some further evidence the inquiry was adiouniec

LAW AND POLICE.

LIBEL.—A serious charge of libel is being inveatti,"..ted
at the Mansion House. The accused is a wine merchant,
and it is alleged that for the purpose of injuring the Otto•
man Railway Company the accused had addressed a
number of letters to the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, "charging the directors in effect with dishonesty,
and dissipating the property of the shareholders." The
case just now stands adjourned.

ROBBERIES.--A curious case of stealing heavy goods
came before the Lambeth magistrate on Friday. Six
men were charged with thieving, and four van loads
of property, the result of their robberies, were piled
up in the office yard. The principal victims were
Messrs. Doulton, Messrs. Stiff, and other drain-
pipe, jar, and stoneware manufacturers near Lambeth
Bridge ; bid besides their manufactures there were found
in the house of one of the accused, named Ball, twenty
coal and forty-seven corn sacks, door mats, carpeta, rugs,
fire-irons, twenty-seven bolts and nuts, and a number of
other articles, all stolen. The prisoners were committed
for trial.

I-TocussiNG.—A singular case of hocussing came before
the Woolwich magistrates on Friday, in which a respect-
able man was stupified, and now lies in a dangerous state
from congestion of the brain, in consequence of snuff having
been put into his beer by a sailor•like looking person who
bad him in tow. No evidence was given to shew that the
poor fellow was robbed ; but should he die, which, from
the medical testimony, appears likely, the prisoner "evil'
be placed in a most serious position.

TILE SHOOTING AT CHILDREN CASE.—The boatman
Buckley, who a short time back shot four schoolboys on
the banks of the canal near Leicester, has been commi.ttcd
for trial.

THE VISIT OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS' OF
WALLS TO KNOwSLEY.—We understand that the visit of
the Prince and Princess of Wales to Knowsley Park, 'die
seat of the Earl of Derby, is to take place, so far ai at
present can be arranged, on the second proximo.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS.—The will of the Rik ~ht
Reverend Francis Jeune, Lord Bishop of Peterboroul ;h,
D.D., D.C.L., was proved at Peterborough on the 1 th
ult., by his relict, Margaret Dyce Jeune, thq, )le
executrix. The personalty was sworn under L 35,000.
The will is very brief, and is in words to this effect : "By
this my last will, I, Francis Jenne, Bishop of Peter-
borough,commenil my soul to Almighty God, throuth the
merits of the Saviour who loved me and gave himse2lf for
ne ; and bequeath all my estate whatsoever to n 371 good
al loving wife, whom I name as guardian of rar, children
coder age, if need be, and executrix of this ik ty will
'4'r..l March 23, 1803, Signed, retcocough,