The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-03 00:00:00

LATE EXPLOSION IN LAMBETH.
INQUEST ON THE BODIES.
An inquest was held before Mr. Carter, the Coroner
for
Surrey,
onr y
John
Johnl inll, Public-house, Tyler-
street,G
?orge D'Ernst, alias
Ernest, John Whiting, George Tebbut, and Ann 'Ham-
're ibe at
le the) di es of
shere, the four tanfortanate persons who lost their lives in
the above awful explosion.
The first witness called was G. Johnstone, who stated
himself to a labourer, in the employment of Mr. Miller,
the proprietor of the Lion 'Brewery, Doughty-street,
Lambeth-walk, which was situated directly opposite the
late Mr. D'Ernst's premises. On Monday last the de-
ceased Georg!. Tebbut, who was en an errand-boy, in
the employment of the late Mr. D'Ernst, passed
through the brewery towards the fire-work
factory-, and, in reply to witness, said it was twenty
minutes to twelve. He observed, while speaking to
deceased, that lie carried a :Alin fuse about five inches long
in his hand, which was ignited at the end and emitted a
few sparks. When he was gone witness recollected that
he had promised him an order for the Adelehi Theatre,
and in consequence watched 'Min until he entered a
house which Mr. D'Ernst used as a store-house, within
about a yard of the wooden building where the
firework's were manufactured, at which moment
the fuse was still burning, and in about a minute after-
wards the witness heard a report like that of a cannon,
and then a scond and much louder one when a quantity
of things fell upon the brewhouse. He ran out Mame-
diately and saw the factory on fire, and tried to open the
large gate leading into it, but failing, he got in
by a wicket leading to the private house, and there
saw the body of Tebbut driven with great violence
against a wooden paling, with which it tell at his feet.
It was quite naked, with' the exception of a
small piece of a red comforter around the
neck, and although the extremities were con-
siderably injured, tha trunk did not seem much
scorched. There was a quantity of mucus exuding from
the mouth, but no signs of life were apparent. Witness
got a pail of water and threw it over the body, soon after
which it was removed to a stable adjacent. The body
of Whiting was found at the back of the premises, and
Mr. D'Ernst near the outer-gate, both quite dead, and
frightfully mutilated.
By the CORONER—Often saw the deceased, Tebbut;
Come to the parlour attached to the brewery, for a light,
and used sometimes to see Mr. D'Ernst and his men try-
firevorks in the brewery yard, which was about
fifty paces from the manufactory. Had no definite idea
as to the cause of the fire, but thought from the direction
in which the body of Tebbut was driven when he first
saw it, he might have fallen when entering the factory
from the side door of the house, which was about a
yard from it.
William Cotton having deposed to the identity of the
bodies, as they lay in the dead-room of the workhouse,
said he was a firework-maker, and he had been for
four years in the employment of Mr. D'Ernst, which
was one of the most extensive in his trade in
London. Shortly before twelve o'clock on Monday, as the
witness was leaving his residence in Ship-lane, for the
purpose of going to the factory for some fire-works,
which were to be used at the Adelphi Theatre that
evening. lie heard the explosion, and having a
presentiment that it had occurred at Mr. D'Ernst's.
he ran there and found the place a heap of ruins. Mr.
D'Ernst had an order from Portsmouth for some fire-
works to be let off in honour of her• Majesty's visit to that
town, and they were preparing them in the factory for
some days previous, so that a greater quantity of ma-
roons, coloured lights, &c., were on the premises on.
Monday than usual.
By the CORONER—An oven or stove was used for drying
the composition sometimes. About I cwt. of gunpowder
and combustible materials were generally kept upon the
premises. In his opinion the fire originated in the oven,
where, after he had examined the ruins, he found a pan
with the dross of some kind of coloured light, which had
evidently exploded. At the time of the explosion there
were 100 score of maroons on the premises. • .
Henry Mortram, in the employment of the deceased
Mr. D'Ernst, said the order from Portsmouth had been
countermanded by the Corporation of Portsmouth, as
they had determined to expend the money in illuminatens,
but a small quantity of star-lights were ordered to be
sent down. In his opinion the combustion arose•from
the spontaneous ignition of one of the maroons, which
have small beads filled with detonating fluid attached
to them, or from one of those beads, of which some might
have fallen upon the floor, being trod upon.
Mr. Theodore F. D'Ernst, the deceased's brother,
was examined, but nothing material was elicited by his

evidence.
The Jury retired, and returned a verdict at half-pa
six, of—" Accidental death."

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
ROLLS!. COURT, March 1.
DAY V. CROFr.

This was a petition praying his Lordship's approbation of a
scheme for the establishment of a charity fund. It appeared
that the late Mr. Day, of the firm of Day and Martin, had by
his will devised to certain trustees, upon trust, a sum of
100,000/. for the purpose of forming out of the interest accru-
ing thereon a fund, to be called " The Blind Man's Friend
Charity," which was to be disposed of in annuities to such
blind persons as should be properly recommended as fit
objects of charity, and the present application was for an order
of the Court approving of the scheme, as detailed and set forth
in the petition.

A point was raised by Counsel on behalf of the trustees, as
to whether the charity should be confined to England or ex-
tended to the United Kingdom. It was contended that the
testator being an Englishman, and requiring by his will that
the trustees of the Charity Fund should see that no improper
persons were admitted to the charity; and that though he had
not particularised England, yet there would be great difficulty in
the trustees detecting cases of imposition, if the charity was made
to extend to either Scotland or Ireland, and as there was no
scarcity of applicants in England, the charity should be confined
to this country.
His LORDSHIP conceived that the intentions of the testator
would be best carried out by extending the Charity to the
United Kingdom. He accordingly overruled the objection,
and granted the order sought by the petitioners.

IN RE BROOKSBANK AND FARN.

The arguments in this cause were concluded to-day.
Lord LANGDALE, in giving jtidgment, said that the peti-
tioner, the Duke of Brunswick, had employed the respondents
as his solicitors from the month of February, 1838, to the
month of November, 1841, and in respect of the business done
there had been four bills of costs delivered up. As to two of
them, there could be no doubt the petitioner was entitled to
have them taxed. The whole question in the cause arose upon
the alleged right of the petitioner to have the two first bills of
costs taxed. They were paid in July, 1840, and it was
alleged that there was a right of taxation. Notwithstanding
the payment of them, and notwithstanding the remarkable cir-
cumstance that after thelength of time during which the bils were
in the possession of the petitioner, not one error was alleged or
shown, his Lordship thought that he could not comply with
the prayer of the petition, as far as related to those bills.
There should be an order, of course, to tax the other bills,
The costs of the petition to be paid by the petitioner.
The Court rose shortly before four o'clock.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.

John Dudycon, aged 21, and John Poarch, aged 30, were
indicted for stealing, and Edward Platt, 25, for receiving,
well knowing it to have been stolen, a quantity of horse-hair
of the value t f 101., the property of John TOSS% ell.
This was an extremely long case, but was one merely of
ordinary felony p s<essing no features of public interest. The
robbery was committed by the prisoner Dudgeon (the case
failed in proof against Poarch), and was then sold to the pri-
soner Platt at a price enn.iderably under half its value.
The Jury found the two prisoners, Dudgeon and Platt,
Guilty, and they were sentenced the former to ten years'
transportation, and the Fitter seven years' transportation beyond
the seas.

Barnard Josephs, alias Barnett Josephs, 30, was indicted
for stealing a quantity of old metal, the property of William
flaybone of Clerkenwell.
Mr. d. Jones conductel the prosecu'ion, and Mr. Clarkson
defended the priscner.
This was a case of constructive felony. The prosecutor
stated that he was in the habit of dealing with the prisoner in
the old metal business. On the 29th of Dec., the prisoner
came to his (witness's) place in Clerkenwell to purchase
some copper. Their usual mode of doing business was
by barter. When the primer came to purchase metal,
he paid for it with other metal, such as copper, zinc, &c., and
when any surplus arose on either side, that surplus was made
up in money. 'They never gave each other ctedit. On the
day in question the prisoner came with a cart to purchase
some copper, saying be would pay for it in money. The
copper was weighed, and put into the cart. The ac-
count was made out by the prisoner, and the witness
signed the receipt. but received no money. The prisoner
coolly walked out of the place with the receipt. He did not
call out to him to come back.

The RiconnEtt—l suppose you were so lost in astonish-
ment that your voice was gone. Witus:s3 —Well, I don't think
you are wrong. (This answer caused a roar of laughter
throughout the Court, and in which the Recorder heartily
joine I. )
Examination continued—Saw the prisoner after the above
transaction, when the witness asked him to return the metal,
but the prisoner answered that that was impossible, as he had
sold it before he had Irnight it, adding, that it was a most sin-
gular thing, but he had lost his pocket-book.—(Laughter.)
Air. C. JONES --1 suppose you thought that was a do? Wit-
ness—You are right.—(laughter.) Did not see the prisoner
again till he saw Lim in Whiteeross-street prison.
Cross-examined—Did you get a summons against the pri-
soner? Witness—You must not use your hlent to confme me,

Mr. CLA RKSON—I am afraid the fit of confusion is coming
over you again. Witness—Why, perhaps, it i+; but you arc
making me confused ; but then you are well paid for causing
confusion.—( Loud laughter.)
Mr. CLA RKSON—When you applied for the summons did
you see my friend (pointing to the prisoner) there? Witness
(with a countenance expressive of great surprise)—What ! is
he a friend of yours ?_(Roars of laughter.) Has dealt with
the prisoner some time. When the prisoner was coirmittedp
he obtained bail immediately.
Several other witnesses were called to corroborate the evi-
dence, but

John illapp, 29, was indicted for stealing in a dwelling-
hous-, 651., the property of John Ricardby Bousfield, and others,
his masters, and one snuff-box, and other articles.
Mr. Bodkin prosecuted, Mr. Phillips defended the prisoner.
It appeared that the prosecutors are lame salesmen, carrying
on business at 126, ilounclsditch. The prisoner was em-
ployed by them in the capacity of porter. It was part of
the duty of the prisoner in a morning to open
the iron safe which was in the office, and take out the books.
In the safe was a drawer in which money was usually kept. On
the day in question the clerk of Messrs. Bousticht went W. the
office at the usual hour, and on his proceeding to the safe for
the purpose of taking out the money, he discovered the drawer
to have b en broken open, and the money, consisting of 25
sovereigns, 35/. in silver, and a Si.• Bank of England note, gone.
The case had proceeded thus far, when the prisoner said he
wished to retract his plea, and plead Guilty.
Mr. PHILLIPS made an appliestion to the Court to postpone
its judgment till to. morrow, in order that lie might have an
opportunity of producing before their Lordships a highly re-
spectable witness, a magistrate, who would speak to the cha-
racter of the prisoner.
charge
of
prisloanrcoerny only.her
s intimated that he pleaded guilty to the
The case was then proceeded with br Mr. Bodkin, for the
purpose of making oat a 'charge of burglary.A -witness was then called who proved that he found a
skeleton key upon the prisoner, and which locked and unlocked
the drawer in the iron safe of Messrs. Bousfield. The 5/. note,
which was identified, was traced to the possession of the pri-
soner, he having changed it at a neighbouring public-house.