The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-15 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION of the NEW BRUNSWICK
THEATRE, WELLCLOSE-SQUARE.

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CORONER'S ADJOURNED INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.)
The investigation into the circumstances connected with
the falling of the new Brunswick Theatre, was resumed
this mortung at nine o'clock.
Michael JoFeph Sherlock-4s a slater; and was applied
to by Mr. Whitwell in September last, to cover the iron
roof of the theatre svith slates. He was subsequently em-
ployed
Octob byer.t he proprietors, and comniehced covering the roof
n The proprietors urged the witness to get the slate
on by the licencing,day, which was the 18th of Oc.. tober ; but he informea thprn that it was impossible.
It was afterwards decided thee the slating should com-
mence before the roof was completed The slates were put
on in what are called "single courses :" which is, 'skip-
ping the alternate courses, in order to press as lightly as
iTesoidbedle onto
btehepournmfianoisehoet, unfinished rbooot was
f. Thi arrangement was not
merely determined for
the purpose of giving the roof the. appearance of being
slated against the licensing day. Witness was in attendance
every day whilst the slating was going on, and has ho a
good deal of experience in iron roofs. The roof rested
on the wall-plate, which was imbedded in mortar. The
temperature to which an iron roof is subject will cause it
to contract or expand; but it is impossible that the
contraction or expansion could affect the wall-plate, which
is built over the parapets, being built on it. There was
sufficient room given in the construction of the tie-beams,
for the effect of contraction or expansion. Three or four
days before the licensing day, the slating was discontinued
at the desire of the smith who was putting up the roof, and
who said that he feared some of the slates must come off, as
they weighed too heavily on one end of the roof, the other
end not being finished.
In covering an iron roof, it is essentially necessary that
the weight should be equal on every part. The roof was
finished so as to be water tight, before the house opened, but
witness said, it was not finished satisfactorily, nor put out
of hands in as workmanlike a manner as could be wished.
Great injury was done to the roof in the buildieg of the
parapets. The slates were broken several times and re-
paired temporarily, but it could not be done satisfactorily un-
til the tradesmen were all off the roof. Witness has been
a slater for eighteen years, and all his ancestors were slaters.
—(A laugh.)—Never before slated a roof in the manner
he had done this. Was never obliged to lay on interme-
diate courses as he had done on this occasion, and was
never subject to the same interruption and damage. In
point of fact, the slating of the roolwas never satisfactorily
finished.
In answer to a Juror--Some gentlemen came from
the Court-house on the licensing day, accompanied by Mr.
Goff, the district-surveyor, and Mr. Whitwell. They look-
ed at the foundation, but did not come on the roof; witness
was on the roof, watching for a signal from the Court-
house, to hoist flags on the roof of the Theatre...—
The roof of the Theatre was the strongest witness ever
slated. He has formed an opinion as to the cause of the
accident. Formed that opinion so long ago as the 25th
of January. Was sent, previons to that day, by Mr.
Barlow, the Agent of Mr. Wellington. Witness's busi-
ness on this visit was for the purpose of superintending
the repairs of the gutters. He observed preparations going
forward for attaching the weight of the flies and of the car-
penter's shop to the roof. He acquainted Mr. Barlow with
this circumstance the same afternoon, and inquired what
weight the roof would bear. Mr. Barlow said he had
no objection to placing a weight of nine or ten tons
to the roof. Witness asked him whether he thought
the roof could bear a hundred tons banging to it; and Mr.
Barlow answered certainly not, and that he bad never
guaranteed it to carry any such weight: he then said he
would write to Mr. Whitwell about it.
Mr. M'Cann (a Juror)—ln your opinion what was the
cause of the accident ?—Witness--In my opinion the cause
of the accident was the weight suspended to the tie beams.
CORONER—Have you formed any opinion as to the
weight so attached to the roof? Witness._] think it could
not have been less than one hundred tons, but I don't
speak accurately.
The Inquest was proceeding when we went to press.