The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-11 00:00:00

LATE FIRE IN CRIPPLEGATE.

-----
CORONER'S INQUIRY.
Yesterday, at two o'clock, Wm. Payne, Esq., City
coroner, and a jury of eighteen parishioners, assembled
at the Fountain Tavern, Red Cross-street, " to inquire,
on behalf of her Majesty, when, how, and by what
means, certain houses in the parish of St. Giles, Crip-
plegate Without, were lately burnt~ The houses are
situate in Brainaes-buildings, Beech-street, Barbican.
The inquiry caused great interest, and the large room
in which it was held was thoroughly crowded with the
most respectable inhabitants of the ward, Mr. Ford,
printer, on whose premises the fire was first seen, and
Mr. Allen, who occupied premises adjoining, were in at-
tendance, and so was Mr. Braidwood, superintendent of
the London Fire Brigade. The jury having viewed the
premises,
A very long investigation took place, the details of
which are too cumbersome for insertion, the evidence
having been completed,
The CORONER summed up, and stated that if the
jury found Mr. Ford guilty of wilfully setting his pre-
mises on fire, he should not immediately commit him,
but send him for further examination before a justice of
the peace.
The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes, and re-
turned the following verdict :—We find George John
Ford guilty of arson."

WISE PRECAUTION.—The winter is advancing, and
the French newspapers contain no accounts of the death or
capture of Abd-el-Kader. Louis Phillipe has given orders
to have the Marseilles telegraph immediately broken, and its
offices are to be superseded by Monsieur Thiers, who will
have an appointment at Algiers, so that there may be no
delay for the future in the transmission of the French vie-
tories.—Punch.
BQUEST OF UPWARDS OF 6,0001. TO HER MAJESTY.
—Yesterday morning the funeral of an eccentric but wealthy
individual took place. The deceased, Mr. William Akers,
was aged 87, lately residing in lodgings at No. 17, Dean-
street, Fetter-lane. The deceased had begun business in
early life as a ladies' fancy fan maker. He was a bachelor,
and by assiduity and parsimony had accumulated a large
fortune. For the last 20 years he had retired from business,
and resided at the house of Mr. Sydenham, where he died.
His habits whilst there were miserly, his only luxury being
sometimes a little gin and water. His property was invested
in the Funds, and at his death was found to amount to about
8,0001. For the last seven years he had been nearly blind,
but otherwise in perfect possession of his faculties. A fort-
night since he was taken ill, and was attended by. Mr. Kelly,
a surgeon, of Fetter-lane. On opening his will, it was found
that to a poor woman who attended him in his illness, by a
codicil made a day or two before his death, he bequeathed
2001. He had no relatives living, nor any acquaintances with
whom he was on friendly terms, with the exception of Mrs.
Sydenham, and to whom he has only left 100/., to her sou
1001., and to each of five grandchildren 1001. ; also 3001. to
a young man residing at Wimbledon, whose father and
mother had many years since lodged with deceased's sister,
who being fond of the child had made her brother, whilst
she was living, promise to do something for him. This he
refused to do until a day or two before his decease, when he
made the codicil. 'There are several other legacies to per-
sons of whom he had only a slight acquaintance. The resi-
due of his property, amounting to above 6,0001., he bequeaths
to her Majesty, to be applied, he wishes, towards the liqui-
dation of the national debt. He has not left anything to
any charity or the poor of the parish where he has so long
resided. Amongst the numerous instances of parsimony, he
engaged the first floor at twenty guineas a year, but he could
not rest until he prevailed upon his landlord to take off the
odd shillings. The only ambition he expressed in life was
that lie should be buried with pomp, and yesterday morning
he was interred at his own request, in Wimbledon church-
yard, where lie the remains of his sister and her husband.
The funeral procession consisted of mutes, plume of feathers,
javelin men, 'hearse, drawn by four horses, decorated with
plumes and housings of rich velvet ; three mourning coaches,
each drawn by four horses, similarly decorated. His execu-
tors are Mr. Kitchen, jeweller, of Dover-street, Piccadilly,
and Mr. Jones, a retired jeweller, formerly of !Henrietta-
street, Covent-garden, to whom he has left 501. each. These
gentlemen were only known to him by his doing business
for them in the formnr part of his career in life.
LORD STANLEY'S DEClSlON.—Yesterday's over-
land mail brings us the unwelcome intelligence that a dis-
patch from Lord Stanley, hostile to the interests of the
squatters and of the community, and conveying full power
to the governor to carry out his new squatting regulations,
with such modifications as he may think proper, has reached
the colony by the Fetruary Post-office packet.—/Ile/bourne
Courier, July 2.
THE BERRESWELL MURDER.—NATHANIEL SHARP,
TUB SUPPOSED CULPRIT, IN CUSTODY.—In the course of the
morning of yesterday (Wednesday), police constable Holmes,
of the Coventry force, took a young-looking fellow, of about
twenty years of age, before the Mayor of Coventry, and other
magistrates, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of
Thomas Tranter, an old resident in the parish of Berkeswell,
but who was killed by some person unknown on the 17th
ultimo. The Hall of St. Mary's was much crowded. The
prisoner gave his name as James Reed—same name as the
person who is supposed to have committed the murder, and
who has likewise absconded, and the particulars of his appre-
hension are these :—He is a labourer, out of employment, and
came from Denham, in Buckinghamshire, twenty-three miles
from Aylesbury. He was detained at the Aylesbury Police-
office, as applying there on Saturday night last for a bed, on
his giving the name of James Reed. The attention of the
officer in waiting was more particularly directed to him on
giving this name, and examined him closer. It appears that,
n his opinion, he corresponded with the description given in
the Government Gazette of Young Reed, of Berkeswell, and
he was accordingly detained. Holmes brought him to Co-
ventry on Tuesday night, he was examined yesterday, and
will be further remanded until to-morrow (Friday), when he
will be taken before the magistrates of the county.
SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.—The
trial of speed between the Fairy and Wonder, so long sought
for, came off to-day, on the occasion of her Majesty's steam
tender Fairy taking the Ministers to and from the island.
The Wonder went down to Cowes on purpose to meet the
Fairy on her return. The two fast vessels, the best possibly
of their respective plans, screw-propeller and paddle-wheels,
made a fair start from the Brambles (off Cowes), and after a
rapid run to the Southampton Docks, the Wonder beat her
competitor by four minutes in time, or about one mile and a
half in distance, showing a superior speed equal to nearly
three miles per hour. The time occupied by the Wonder
from the Brambles was 39 minutes; the distance is roughly
estimated at 11 miles. Her Majesty's Ministers arrived at
and embarked from the Southampton Docks at half-past 10,
and were received by Mr. Forbes, Deputy-Chairman; Capt.
Ward, R.N., superintendent; and Mr. Saintsbury, the secre-
tary, and returned at half-past three, and immediately pro-
ceeded by special train to town. Mr. Lobb, the mayor re-
ceived the distinguished party, and handed the Duke of
Wellington to his carriage.
BRISTOL AND LIVERPOOL JUNCTION RAILWAY.—
The following letter has been addressed, by the authority of
the Board of Admiralty, to Messrs. Johnston, Farquhar, and
Leach, of London, the solicitors to the line of railway called
the "Bristol and Liverpool Junction Railway :"
" Admiralty, Ist December, 1845.
" Gentlemen—Having laid before my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty your letter of the 28th ultimo, I am com-
manded to signify to you their Lordships' assent to the prin-
ciple of the proposed bridge across the Severn, in connexion
with the Bristol and Liverpool Junction Railway, but before
the parties proceed to carry it into execution, my Lords will
require the working plans to be submitted to them for appro-
bation.,, I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" W. A. B. HAMILTON.
"Messrs. Johnston, Farquhar, and Leach,
65, Isloorgate-street."
THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO BUCKINGHAM
PALACE.—Yesterday morning workmen commenced laying
down the main pipes leading from the Horse Guards to
Buckingham Palace, which will in future be supplied with
water from the Trafalgar-square wells. The pipes will be
carried from the Treasury across St. James's Park.
CONSCIENCE VERSUS THE BOARD OF TRADE.—
The Clerk of the Peace for the county of Lancaster, notwith-
sdhebhooklisn
eosf referencesw ere thonii
notwith-
standing the order of the Board of Trade to the contrary,
the refused3ot ht to
n tr.e;ceainl rtahilew
driven to the last day, and they were many, made the yes
quired deposits on Monday morning the Ist of December
under protest. Amongst the number of. lines in this predica-
ay
agents plans
oaf n
Ulverston and branch to Broughton.—Curnberland Parquet.
predica-
ment is the Furness Railway, fer its intended extension to
Their Highnesses Prince and Princess Nicholas
Esterliazy and family, it is understood, will prolong their re •
sidence in this country until the end of May, when they re-
turn to Hungary. The Prince and Princess are staying on a
visit to the Hon. Captain Frederick and Lady Elizabeth Vil-
hew, at their boat agar Tomato,