Star.
London, England, 1826-01-09 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUtST,

An inquest' was held at illaphaiii workhiuse, on
Saturday afternoon, before Mr. Franks, Coioner for
that part of the Duchy of Lancaster which is situated
in Surrey. and a highly respectable Jury, touching the
death of John Anderson, a little buy, nine years of.aJe,
who was suffocated in:a chimney the preceding morning.
The elimination of the witnesses, of which she following is the
substance, lasted many hours:—
William Wilson deposed, thtt the deceased was in
his employ, having been with him about a year and a
half. On Friday morning, at five o'clock, the deceased
anti Ambrose Ward went to sweep Mr. Oakes chim-
ney. A little after six o'clock, Ward came to acquaint
witness thit the deceased was groaning in the chimney.
Witness was in bed at the time, but instantly got up,
and desired Ward to return and render the lad what
assistance he could. Witness passed Ward on the road,
arid on arriving at Mr. Gain's, found that George
Hellier was then in the chimney, and on his being
asked if the dec ased spnke, answered in the negative.
Witness having got on the outside of the chimney,
commenced taking cif some of the stones. After a few
minutes had been thus occupied, he succeeded in dis-
covet ing the deceased, whom he took in his arms, and
carried down. laying,him on sonic straw. A surgeon
was sent for. Some water in the mean time was
thrown on the poor boy's face, and sonic rags were
burnt near him. The smolt: from the linen went to
his nose. When he was lying on the straw he groaned.
This was after he had beat out of the chimney about'
five minutes. The surgeon was some time befiere,he
arrived. Pt is not an uncommon thing to send persons
up a chimney wh, nitis on fire. Witness saw some
fire in the chimney when he took the lad out. In the
opinion of witness. had he been present he could have
saved the boy's life. If an alarm had been immediately
given when the boy was heard to groan in the chimney,
and proper means had been taken, he might have been
restored to animation. The flue was very hot, and
most likely the lad fainted and fell down, and lay
there until he was taken out. His health was gene-
ral] y vet y good.
Ambrose Ward examined—l am a journeyman sweep.
On Friday morning, a watchman desired me to go at
five o'clock and sweep a chimney at Mr. Gain's. I
understood that the chimney had been on hie the night
before. The deceased accompanied me. The boy and
myself were let in the back way by Mr. Gain's house-
keeper. Ou entetii,i; the kitchen, I perceived a large
'piece of carpet hanging over the fire-place; this I took
down, and then saw a quantity of soot in the grate. 1
said to the boy, John, don't you go up it there is any
fire ut the chimney." He did nct mind what I said,
but went through it. 1 did not force him up. After
the boy had ascended, Mr. Gain, who had come down,
told me that the chimney-top was covered up. The
lad had ascended then about five minutes. When he
wa's in the chimney he requested some water to be got
ready by the time that he came down. 1 suppose he
was then half way up. Some beer was got ready for
him. He made a sad groariiieg, and came down the
chimney as far as the slant. I took off my jacket and
went up. 1 called to hint twice or tinier, and fie
answered ; I could not get up to the slant. I was very
much frightened, and thought it best to go home and
acquaint my master in what situation the boy was.—
Gain's maid servant was present when the lad
groaned. I did not alarm any one, but merely said
that I would go home and fetch my master. On my
way home, I met George Hellier, and begged him to
go and assist Jack, for I feared he was stuck in the
ebimney. When the boy was lying on the straw, I saw
him open his eyes; the lad could not get out at the top.
Ily the Juar—l knew it was dangerous to have a cloth at the
top of the chimney. I did net know how to remove it, not being
acquainted with the way out.
One of the Jurors—tun ought to have gone up, and by neglect-'
ing to do so, the boy's life has been sacrificed.
Witness—l never will be guilty of the like again.
Juror—Did you take the machine with you ?
Witness—No, Sir.
Juror—Why did you not ?

. .
Witneas—l cannot tell.

Juror—Let this be a warning to you, and never go to sweep a
chimney that has been on fire, without your master.

Wiu;ess—lt shall be so.

Elizabeth Allen examined.--I am servant to Mr.
Gain. On Friday morning 1 got up about half-past six ;
when I went into the kitchen the boy was up the chim•
ney ; he said in my hearing to the man below, that the
chimney was ►ery warm. Tire deceased was crying,
ani he asked for some water. My master, who was
then pre.ent, desired me to get him some beer, which I
'did, and the num put it nn the_ chimney-piece, until the
boy should come down, he said. The lad cried very
much-indeed, and the man below told him not to cry,
but come down. There wads a great rumbl•ng in the
chimney, and 1 did not hear any more crying.
As Ambrose Ward, in his examination, had not
mentioned a ward about the deceased having cried
when in the chimney, it was propo,ed to call him in
again and question him as to that point. On entering
the room he was cautioned by the Coroner, on pain of
committal, to relate the *l-.o:e truth. He swore dis-,
tint tly that the boy never cried. Witness admitted that
he was in passion when he ascended the chimney, and
that he swore at the lad.

There were some other witnesses in attendance, but the Jury did
not think it necessary to call them.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, when the Jury, after
considerable deliberation, returned the following verdict," That
the deceased was suffocated iu a chimney that was au tire the pre-
ceding night.".
We understand that the discussion among the Jury was whether
their verdict should contain any censure or not?
As soon as the verdict was pronounced, and the Jury had signed
their names to the Inquest, the witness Ward was again called in,
and very severely reprimanded.

Prince ScHwArrzirosuact, who has been in Eng-
land a few months, hat town on Thursday night, for Vienna : be is
the bearer of dispatchls to the Austrian Gore' nmeut.
It was a custom among the Romans, every New'
Year, to advise those who had been unsuccessful to visit the
Temple of Fortune, in hope of a change ; and those who had been
successful to do as they pleased. In giving the same advice this
New Year, let it be Ytmembered it is for the last time, as Lotteries
ire doomed to die by Act of Parliament, and there will then be
no more opportunities to gain a Twenty Thousand for a few
Posed., or Twelve Hundred and Fifty Pounds fora few Shillings,
fa in the present &theme, containing Six Prizes of Twenty Thou-
land Pounds, &c. &c. all to be decided in One Day, Ist of Maaca.

The ezchanges Ainaridam, ltotierdam, and
Ilambuigh, further declined on Fs iday on the rate ne-
goci.tted on Tuebday la?t. H.imburgh was done at
trvni 36. 9. to 37. Tie rate of Eschange on Pails was
in a trifling degree higher.
MA 4 HEWS made hiaapl.earance at Glabgoa Theatre)
evening. Ti e itnuse was crowded to an
ovei flow in every cot nei. GiCAt numbeis went a ..a)
iiisappointed at not being ab eto get in. Tile audience
was highly delighted with the yell(); mance of the even-
ing, and with the uwal of the unrivalled poweis
ACLOI.