Star.
London, England, 1821-10-15 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

ACCIDENT IN ST. JAIIES'S STREET.
An Inquest 'was held at four o'clock on Saturday
afternoon, in the Committee Room of St. James's In-
fitmary, Poland-street, on the bodies of Benjamin
Wyatt and William Briant, labouress, whose deaths
were occasioned by the accident in St. James's-street,
alresid!o described.
Thomas Moos, Esq. the Deputy Coroner for the
County, having called over the Jury, they were
aworn, and then proceeded to view the bodies. The
following witnesses were aft.nwards examined:
John Nicholson depOsed, that he lived in Lawson's-
place, Brick-lane, and. was employed for the last
twenty years in pulling down houses. Knew Wil-
liam Briant; was at work with him on Friday last,
in St. James's-street. He was twenty-eight years of
age. About eleven o'clock, witness, the deceased,
and another man, were at work, taking down the
tiles from off two houses, one of which had been a
public-house. They had got all the tiles moved away,
with the exception of about two hundred, when wit-
ness went down stairs, leaving the deceased in the
two-pair, and had just got out of the door when the
two houses fell in. There was nu cracking—the
houses came down suddenly. This was owing to two
stacks of chimnies in the party wail, which had been
hel.l with, iron clamps. Ou the plate of the roof
being removed, they bulged out, and occasioned the
neck:cot. The houses had been sold in different lots,
by coder of Sir Thomas Farquhar. There was no
lot-master appointed to see the houses properly taken
down. There was no fault attributable to any per-
son. Such accidents often happen in taking down
old buildings. There was no truth in the report that
the bottom parts of the houses were taken down first.
Several of the Jury here remarked, that it was
highly proper that some competent person should be
employed to superintend the taking down of old
buildings, to prevent the injudicious proceedings of
the workmen.
The witness, in continuation, said, that it was the
business of the auctioneer's porters to prevent the
houws from being improperly undermined. Every
exertion was made to relieve the men who-were bu-
ried in the ruins. Witness left work at seven o'clock,
the deceased had not then been found.
W. Gratin, of Bridgewater-gardens, deposed, that
he was :t dealer in old building materials. Bought
some of the tiles of the houses in question, and one
lot of wood work. The deceased, Want, asked wit-
new- for a job, and he engaged him to take off the
'tiles that be had purchased. Witness was on the
house at the time of the accident, with his son and
two lads. Seat the deceased and the last witness to
load a cart; atter they had done so, he saw them
come into the house again; he saw no more of them;
but observin:, the floors giving way, he endeavoured
to save himself by the rope, but he fell on the pave-
ment and hint his shoulder. His son, and the teo
lads, who were friendless orphans under his protec-
tion, were buried in the ruins. Two of the lads were
dreadluliy injured, the other not so much.
George Osten, a constable of St. clothes's, proved
that he was called on duty, on Friday, to the ruins in
St. James's-street, at twelve o'clock, and remained
till seven ; during that time he saw two people dug
out of the ruins alive, and cartied to the Hospital.
He returned to the ruins at ten, and remained on
duty till six on Saturday morning. At three o'clock
on Saturday morning, saw the body of Briant taken
out; it was lifeless—was conveyed to the workouse.
T. Oliver knew the deceased, Wyatt; was working
with him in the houses in St. James's-street. Witness
was in the top room, under the rafters: he had just
entered the room when the house fell. As he went
up, he saw Wyatt in the second floor. Witness was
buried in the ruins ; he was dug out, and was consi-
derably bruised. He had not seen Wyatt since.
William Gran, on being recalled, said, that or-
ders had been given not to touch the brickwork till
it was measured. If the chimnies had .been first
lowered, to the roof, he thought the accident might
have been avoided. The auctioneers always ap-
pointed men to superintend the proper taking down
of houses. There were such men employed- on the
present occasion. The houses were in a very decayed
state. It was usual to lower the chimnies in taking
houses down, to prevent accidents.
The Jury returned a verdict of—Accidental Death.
DEATH OF A BORER BY FIGHTING.

- - •
An Inquisition was held on Friday night, before
THOMAS limos, Esq. Coroner for Westminster, at
the Feathers Tavern, Dean-street, near Westminster ,
Abbey, on the body of John Wilson, aged 24 years,
whose death was occasioned by blows which he re-
ceived in fighting a pitched battle, on the Sunday
preceding at Millbank, near the Penitentiary, with a
man named Edward Horner. The battle was for five
guineas a-side. Deceased had fought many battles.
Mg. JAW Drew, assistant-airgeonto Mr.7Landak, of George-
steclet Westminster, sworn.—On Tuesday night last I was sent,
at the request of the parish officers, to attend upon she deceased.
I saw Lint about seven o'clock in the evening, in bed, in a front
room of a house in defray's-buildings, New-way, Westminster.
I examined him ; he was quite senseless, and I understood that
he had remained so since Sunday morning. I observed a swell-
ing upon his neck, under the right ear, apparently the effect of
a blow. His right side was wholly paralysed. I bled him, as is
usual in such cases, and administered medicines, but without
effect. I saw him again the same evening, had his head shaved,
and applied a lotion. I called again the next morning, and found
no alteration in him. Mr. Langdale also called upon fiim on
Wednesday, and every assistance was rendered to hint that was
likely to restore him. I called again on Wednesday night, at
eleven o'clock, and found him dead. A violent blow on the ear
would produce the effects that I witnessed en viewing the -de-
ceased's body. A blood-vessel in the head, no doubt, was rep•
turgid by the violence that he received. A fall would doubtless
produce the same effects.
Thomas Serguy sivorn.-I live in New-way, Westminster; I
knew the deceased; he was twenty-four years of age when he
died. I do nut know bow the quarrel originated between the
deceased and the other young man ; I do not know the other
young man's name ; they call him Hunter. I was coming gip
St. Ann's-lane on Saturday.night, and heard deceased say to his
opponent, “ I shall fight you to-morrow morning." They ac-
cordingly met on Sunday morning, and fought for about a guar-.
ter of an hour, when Horner could not come to the scratch in
time, and deceased of course won the battle. The ring was
broken in. After some time Horner recovered, and was ready
to fight again ; the deceased said that he was willing to fight
' again - the ring was again made, and they fought three more
rounds ; the last round but one tilty both fell. Deceased could
not speak; he was raised up by his second; he was held up by
hit second on his legs, and fought another rounoi. Ile stood be-
fore Horner, and thrust out his fist to strike him, and Horner
struck him in return; deceased fell, and was senseless when
taken up.
Win. fiewlet, of IS, Orchard-street, Westudnster, &pos.:II--
I knew the dectaied and Lis oprunent, Edward hlorm.r. The

deceased told me that he had had a quarrel with Hornet at the i
Duke's Head,Westminster, about some oysters, about pipeclay,
before they fought, when they were both in liquor. Deceased
told me that be had been to Horner, and challenged hint to fight.
Last Sunday-morning I met the deceased about eight o'clock :
he said he was going to fight, and asked me to be there. I said
I would go. The deceased seemed desirous to fight. I went
Ito the ground, and the deceased waited nearly half an hour for-
Horner. Daring the fight the deceased received many severe
right-band body blows, and heavy falls. The deceased was la
the employ of Mr. Cooper, of Horseferry-road. He was not
fit to fight the last round; he appeared then as if he bad no sense
left in him, and I advised that he should not fight any more. I
Iwished the deceased to come away at the time that Horner
could not come up to the unites, because, by the rules of fight-
ing, he had woo the battle, in consequence of Horner not coming
up when time was called.
Henry Sarguy deposed, that he saw Horner during the fight
strike the deceased a very severe blow under the right ear.
The deceased fought several rounds afterwards, but appeared
sturified during the last few rounds.
the CORONER asked if there was any further evi•
deuce, and receiving an answer in the negative, he
addressed the Jury.—He said that he was himself
passing the Penitentiary when the fight which cost
the deceased his life took place. A more disgraceful
scene, perhaps, never was exhibited, and it was 3 (fie
grace to a Christian country that such brutal and ille-
gal practices should take place on a Sunday morning.
without the interference of the Police. Not a Sunday
had elapsed for many weeks without a boxing match
at Millbank, and he trusted that, after this event, the
Police would abate the nuisance. The Jury would,
no doubt, be satisfied that the deceased died from the
effects of the blows or falls when fighting ; and he
would state to them that the law was clearly defined
upon the subject of boxing. All the authorities laid
it down to be an unlawful eactice, and the law said
that " justifiable homicide" was only where the death
of a person had been caused by accident, or where,
in a sudden affray, a person killed another in self-
defence. But in a case like the present, where the
parties met some days after the original quarrel, and
deliberately stripped to fight for money, and during
the illegal act one man receieid violent blows that
caused his death—blows aimed at pasts of the body
the most dangerous,'and likely to produce -such an
effect, he could find no excuse for it. It was clearly
" manslaughter" in the eye of the -law, unless the
Jury thought the act was attended with malice, and
then it was " murder."—Verdict" Manslaughter
against Edward Horner."
The Coroner issued his warrant against Horner, to
take his trial for the offence at the Old Bailey, and
bound over the witnesses to give evidence.