The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-31 00:00:00

~~=.lT

THE FIRE at RAGGETTS 110TRr,./

RESUMED INQUEST.
The inquest upon the bodies of the sufferers, namely, bin%
Round, aged 56 ; Mr. Raggett, aged 62; Miss Raggett, aged 37;
Mrs. Jones, aged 28, and Mrs. Barnes, aged 40, was yesterday
afternoon resumed before Mr. Bedford, the Coroner for West-
minster, at the Rising Sun, Charles.street, Grosvenor-tquare,
when the fo:lowing evidence was adduced:—

Mr. Henry Davies, surgeon, of Brook.stroet, Manchester.spare,
said that he attended Mrs. Round in his professional capacity. He
had seen the body which had been found that day, but he was
unable to identify it. His opinion, however, was, that it was not
the body of Mrs. Round. He was led to that conclusion from the
fact of the features being larger than those of Mrs. Round. He
understood that a gentleman was present who would produce
portion of the jaw.bone of the body found that day, the formation
of which clearly expressed that the body was not Mrs. Round's, but
in all probability it was that of Mrs. Barnes, the servant.
Mr. Smith, a surgeon, produced the portion of the jaw.►one M.
laded to, from an inspection of which it certainly appeared that
the deceased bad very large and prominent teeth, which was not the
mice with Mrs. Round.

Berkunin Rich, a servant to Mr. King, a merchant of Bristol,
was next examined. He said, I was in Raggett's Hotel on Monday
night last, and went to bed about half-past eleven o'clock. I came
with my master on Friday afternoon. I was awoke by hearing an
alarm of fire, between twelve and one o'clock, when I looked out
of window. I saw six or nine persons in the street at the time,
who were shouting fire. I went to my bed.room door, but
as soon as opened it, I found smoke and flames coming up stairs,
and then went back to the window and got out of it. I hung for
some time by the window frames and sill. 1 then dropped down
into the balcony, and escaped from thence into the street. I held
on the windows as long as possible. I did net let go my hold until
my hands were badly burned. I saw bliss Raggett and Miss Round,
and another party, at the next window, whilst I was hanging at the
sill. Miss Raggelt said---" Oh, for God's sake, Rich, save us, or we
shall be all burned to death." I saw Miss Raggett attempt to get
upon the escape ; in attempting to put her foot upon the same she
slipped, and fell down into the street.

A Juror—How low was Miss Ra-ggett waiting for the tiro-escape?
Witness—Four or five minutes. The escape was not placed exactly
opposite the window, but in the middle of the two.
Another Juror—How long was it before the fire. escape arri►ed t
Witness—Twenty minutes.

Frederick \Vm. Raggett re-examined—My opinion is, that the
body found today was that of Mrs. Barnes, one of our servants.
The body was found in the ruins, near to` where my father was
sleeping. My impression therefore is, that she went into his room
to arouse him, and that, being overpowered with the smoke, she
fell down. The floor having given way will account for the body
being found in the position it was. Mrs. Round, I should say, was
about S feet 8 inches, and more corpulent, but not so large boned
as Mrs. Barnes.

A Juror—What was the width between the two windows on the
second floor ? Witness—About four feet.

Henry Raggett examined—l am a clerk in the servise of Mt.
Smitzwick, a civil engineer. On the night of Monday last I %fa,
sitting up with my brother, who was waiting for the return of two
parties from the French play. About half-past twelve o'clock las
companied my brother is Mrs. Round's apartments, on the second.
floor. On my descending, and reaching the first-loor, I heard some
one cry vet, " tire." I then saw flames issuing from the bed-room on
the first-fioer. I afterwards went with my brother to fetch my
mother, who was confined to her bed with a broken leg. Hay-
lng brought my mother down, I waited in the street for nearly
20 minutes, when the fire-escape .t last arrived. I saw a man as.
cend two or three steps and then come back again. I ascended-the
ladder myself, and while going up I saw a female fall into the
street. I then got up, uad succeeded In saving Miss Round and her
maid-servant. I do not think it was possible for them to have reached.
the machine without assistance, inasmuch as I was obliged to
reach out in order to get them into the escape. If a man had
been with the escape, it would have been his duty to have ascended
the same before 1 could have got up. The man whom I saw go a
few steps up the machine and then descend again did not appear
to me to belong to it; he was dressed in a plain coat. If there
had been some of the ladders which are generally placed against
the church walls, and they had been placed first to the balcony,
and thence to the roof, I think the inmates might have been saved.

I attribute the death of my sister entirely to the escape not having
been placed near enough to her.
Charles Robinson was next examined—l urn a waiter at the
hotel termed Raggett's in Dover-street. On the night of Monday
last I was in the house when the cry of fire was raised. I went
and informed Colonel Bouverie and other parties. 1 met Mrs.
Round on the landing of the staircase, and told her to come
down, expecting that she would. I went to arouse the other parties
in the house. On my running upstairs I met the Earl of Hun-
tingdon, who requested me to save Lord Hastings, his infant son.
The flames were so strong that I could not get through them, and
I then went to arouse the porter. A man who went for ladders at
the Gloucester.mews was refused, and told that he must get his
horses out first.

Mr. Joseph Win. Welborn, of $B, Albemarle-street, was next
examined—He said, on Tuesday morning, about 20 minutes be.
fore one, I was passing along Dover.street, when my attention was
arrested by hearing the breaking of glass. On looking round I
saw that the glass fell from the first window on the first Boor
nearest the southern portico. There were three ladies at
the same window, and the room appeared full of smoke.
One of the ladies attempted to get out, but was prevented
by the others. At that time a policeman came up
and sprung his rattle. Almost simultaneously x cabman
came along, and I persuaded him to drive to the St. James's
station for the escape. He appeared not to know where the
station was, and I got up on the box, and the man drove as fast
as he could to the station. On arriving there I found a man in
charge of the machine, and also a policeman. One of them said
the machine was locked. I spoke very severely to him, and told
him to give me the keys. I told him that the loss of life would
be dreadful if any more time were lost. He appeared to
be quite unconscious of what he was about. On my going
near the box he threatened to 'mock me down. The police-
man said it was no good minding what he had said, as he was
drunk. At last we got the escape away, but on my going to
assist he tried to push me away. Upwards of four minutes
elapsed, owing to the conduct of the man at the maehiae,
before the escape was got down. I should say that not more than a
quarter of an hour was lost before the arrival of the machine. The
young woman (Raggett) got out of one of the windows, and placing
her hand on the parapet, she appeared as if she was going to lower
herself down, but suddenly she sprang forward, but missed the
machine and fell into the street.

The Chairman of the St. James's Fire.escape Society said, after
what had fallen from the last witness, the man who had charge of
the escape on the night in question would be discharged imme.
diately.
Mr. Sampson Low, of the Royal Society for the Protection of
Life from Fire, said that on the night in question a messenger ar-
rived at the Society's station, in South Molton.street, and told the
conductor to bring the escape to Dover-street. On arriving at
Berkeley.square he was met by a man who told hint to take the
419 W PacniMCF-inEldir /PirckpreaeB,"lnVrritqa'st
until after it was too late to render any assistance that the mistake
was found out. A meeting will be held at Willis's Rooms next
week, in order that the matter might be further investigated.
Mr. Braidwood, superintendent of the Brigade, said that each
engine always carried two lengths of scaling-ladders, each six and
a half feet in length. They were so constructed as to form an
escape of great length by being connected together.

Mr. Superintendent Bereeford, in answer to a question from a
juror, said that the instructions of the police were to call the
engines, turncocks, and fire-escapes, but the first object was to do
all they can to save life.

This being the whole of the evidence, the jury returned a verdict
of " Accidental Death," in each case, adding, " they request that
the Coroner will write to Sir James Graham, her Majesty's Sem,
tarn of State for the Home Department, for the purpose of calling
attention to the evidence given at this inquest, in order that the
Government may take some means of preventing, in future, such
an awful sacrifice of human life."

THE CASE OF JAMES DEAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUfy.
7, Upper Belgrave-street, May 30, 1845.
SlR,—Seeing:in the Times of to-day a letter from Mr. Weston
and an editorial article, both of which are calculatod to mislead
the public as to the liberation of poor James Dean from Reading
gaol, I think it my duty to mention the real circumstances of
the case.

In consequence of a letter written by myself on Saturday last,
of which I annex to you a copy, his daugkter.in-law came to my
house on Monday evening, and she having in its worst features
confirmed the report of the case in the Times, my servant, on
Tuesday, went down with her to Reading gaol, where he found
poor Dean in solitary coefinement, in a felon's dress, pumping
water and picking oakum, and dieted upon gruel, which in dis-
gust he had poured down a sink in the earlier part of his im-
prisonment.
My servant paid the fine of 101. I Is. to the governor of the
gaol, and having given poor Dean 21. for himself, returned with
him to Windsor, therefore the statement " that he (Mr. Simmons)
and Captain Bulkeley went to the prison, the Berks eelpty gaol,
and liberated poor Dean forthwith," is totally at earl ace torch
truth, neither of these gentlemen having been present, or having
had anything whatever to do in the matter; in fact Dean was at
Windsor long before they could have become acquainted with his
liberation.
I am told that Dean is a very intelligent, well-informed person,
and likely to be able to give some useful evidence as to the cranes
occasioned by them, if summoned as a witness by the Committee
now sitting upon the game-laws; it is therefore my intention to
speak to Mr. Bright on the subject.
I shall feel obliged by the insertion of these letters in your paper
of to.morrow (Saturday).—l am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
JOHN COLLETT.
u 7, Upper Belgrave-street, London, May 24, 1845.
"Sir,—l observe by the Times of to-day that you have been sent
to prison and to hard labour for four months, at the suit of Prince
Albert, for having offered to sell some pheasants and some phea-
sants' eggs. . _

" As I disapprove of game.laws, and of all proceedings under
them, I will release you by paying the fine of 101. I Is., it you will
let me know how I can forward it to the proper quarter.

" Deeply commiserating what I consider an act of tyranny and
injustice inflicted upon a poor man, I am, Sir, your very obedient
servnilt, " JOHN COLLETT, M.P. for Athlone.
" Mr. James Dean, shoemaker, Easthampstead,
near Bracknell, Berks."

FIRST REPORT from the SELECT
COMMITTEE ON PROCEEDINGS IN THE
ACTION OF HOWARD v. GOSSETT.
action
coofmHmoi,tvtaeredapp.poGitoitie:lettt,o
ainnqduitroorienpotorithtehepirroceedings
observa-
tions
ofTt
and
hhee Select Committee
t opinion thereon to the House, have agreed to the follow-
ing report:—
" In the course of the consideration which your Committee has
given to the subject referred to them, they have been apprised of
proceedings in the progress of the action of which it is proper that
the House should be informed without delay. The plaintiff, on
Tuesday last, executed his writ of inquiry, and his damages were
assessed by the jury at 2001.; and upon the judgment for that
amount he will be enabled to levy his execution on Monday, the
2d of June.
" Your Committee will at an early period present a snore de-
tailed report than they are at present prepared to make ; but they
feel it to be their duty to submit their opinion that it is advisable
that a writ of error should be brought on the judgment of the
Court of Queen's Bench; and as the levyilig of the plaintiff's exe-
cution will in no respect prejudice the proceedings in the writ of
error, your Committee do not deem it 'expedient to advise the
House to interpose to prevent the levy.
" May 29, 1845."

THE LATE DUEL NEAR GOSPORT
GOSPORT, FRIDAY.--Mr. Scton, the gentleman who was wounded
in the late duel at brown's down by Lieutenant Hawkey, wits so
much improved in health on Wednesday, that hopes were enter-
tained of a speedy removal to his own residence at Soutbsea, but
we regret to anncun^.:, that all bore has since vanished. On
Thursday the wounded gentleman became worse, and in the
course of the day it was evident some unfavourable alteration
had taken place. These symptoms have incieased to-day to such
a fearful degree that the recovery of the patient is now pronounced
hopeless.

Mr. Liston has been sent for from London will all dispatch, and
Is expected to arrive at Portsmouth this evening, to see if there it
any chance of prolonging the life of the sufferer by an operation,
the success of v. hia, however, even in the minds of the medical
gentlemen, is not lucked upon as probable. Drs. Stewart, Mor-
timer, and Jenkins attend very regularly, and consult twice s day
upon their patient.
Neither Lieutenant Hawkey nor the seconds have been heard of
since the warrants for their apprehension have been issued. It is
reported and b. lieved they are all on the Continent.
Mrs. Hawkey has left Portsm tor London, with the. Inten.
htiuosnb,aintdis believed, of proceeding tot the Continent, and joining her