The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-11 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION AT THE POSTOFPCE.

We give the following particulars relating to the examination
of Gomez, the individual who had put the letters into the Post-"}t
'
office, the explosion of the-fulminatingibwder in which eaUsetVd
such serious injury to Barnard, the letter-stamper. -
Mr. Peacock, on his arrival in London, obtained the assist!'
ance of ltuthven, of Bow-street Police-office. Inquiries were
then immediately made at the Swan witk Two Necks, and it was
soon ascertained, that Pelayo, on his arrival in town, had appli-
ed to an individual in the roach-yard to recommend him to some
private lodgings. lie was directed to the house, No. 3, Ben-
, bow's-place. Golden-lane, St. Luke's, where, it appeared, he
eventually took up his residence. Baithven, in consequence, '
proceeded to this house on Saturday morning, accompanied by
an officer attached to the Postolliee, and doinanded to see Gomez.
.They were informed that •he was from home, but was expected
to return shortly, and they expressed their intention to wait
until he should make his appearance. After having remained
some time, Gomez knocked at the door, and immediately on his
entering the house they seized him by both hands, so as effectually
to prevent all attempts at resistance, a course which appears to
have been most fortunate, for, on proceeding to search the
prisoner, they found a loaded,, pistol in each of his trousers'
pockets, as well as a dirk concealed elsewhere about his person.
They proceeded next to examine his pockets minutely, and dis-
covered a letter in his possession,, the impression on the seal of
which was found, on being compared, to, correspond exactly.
with that on the two letters which were sent from Liverpool,
directed to Havannah,, but which had not been forwarded. The •
prisoner wa's directly put into aliackney coach, and conveyed to
Late-street, where he underwent an- examination before Mr.
Minshull. After the examination of-the prisoner, Ruthvsn
returned to his lodgings in Benbow-place, and brought away
a very heavy box, which it appeared. had belonged to him—
He obtained a key alio, which, on his reaching the office, he
found fitted the lock, to external. appearance. On its being in-.
traduced, however, it was discovered to have no effect on the
bolt of the lock, which,it did not turn.. Two smiths were in
consequence sent for, and after considerable exertion they suc-
ceeded in forcing open the lid; they then found that it had
been firmly held down by strong iron bars. -On an examina-
tion of the contents of the box, a dagger with a cross handle
'was found, of a very curious constructioit - The blade was
clasped, and it was not until some ingenuity had been em-
ployed that it could he opened.. Therewas also a smaller box
,found, which the officers deemed it hazardous to open, as they
thought it probably might contain fulminating silver or gold,
the composition which, it was supposed, had exploded on the'
stamping of the letters. The box was then reclosed and sealed,
in order that its contents may be safely preserved, and that no
mischief could..possibly result. In addition to the articles men-
tioned above, there were found in the prisoner's trunk copies
of the letters which exploded; also, a blunderbuss loaded with
eighteen balls. The prisoner evinced great obstinacy, and •
refused to give any account of the crime with which he was
charged. When shown the lock which had been torn off the
trunk, he appeared much annoyed, saying that he gave sixteen .
dollars for it. He was remanded forlfurther. examination till.
Monday.
On Monday. he was re-examined, an interpreter being Tiro-
cured. A good deal of- evidence was given, which tended to. ,
prove that Gomez was the criminal. In this box was found a
letter, not loaded, to• the Governor of Havannah,
_demanding
1500 dollars. He could give no intelligible reason for demand-
ing. that sum; but told a foolish story about his life having been .„
attempted by the father of a lady in the Havannah, with whom H 2.
he had been in love. The handwriting of. this epistle corre- ,y 4
sponded with that in the loaded letters. Several other letters
addressed to persons in Matanzas and Trinidad were found
his box. He was again remanded till Thursday next.

CIIA RITA TILE DONATION.—We are requested to apprise "A •
Friend to the Caledonian Free School," who sent £5 by by pest,
under cover, addressed to the Rev. Dr. Ralph, the chaplain. -ry
that the money has been received, and will be applied to the
important purposes of the charity.
It will be seen, by an advertisement in another column, that
the Tradesmen's Conservative Association have made arrange' -
ments for accommodating 200 gentlemen at their anniversary
i
dinner who may not be members of their society. Our esteesaeu
representative, Lord Sandon Mr. W. E. Gladstone, En"
and several other distinguishedpersons have accepted Invitation'
to the banquet; and it. is also expected that the Hon. Charles
Canning will be present.. By covering the stage with tablet,.
accommodation can be provided for more than 7(R) guests. As •
there are now few;disposable tickets, an immediate application its ,
necessary.
GIRAFFE —We understand that the spirited proprietor of tire
Zoological Gardens has completed his purchase of a plible
bg
specimen of that rare animal—the giraffe. It hasrbeen bola
tinder the condition that it is perfectly • healthy. A elen,
been sent to ascertain whether it is well
.• and he is eXPeet7A
return in a few days with this novel attraction, The animal
one of the largest of its kind.
LACEY'S LIVERPOOL LOCALITIES.—Mr.Lacey has •nst pub-
fished a series of pretty engravings on steel -of the pri?rl,„,..iiia
buildings and situations in Liverpool The views are d
with great spirit and. fidelity, and will serve to give onr. '
srrit friends one idea of " Liverpool Limis;S' while to lam'.
"who are to the mariner born," they cannot but prove ag
ree-
abMr. le-adO 'ditionsConnell tells the to their collpeoectiple of Kilkenny that ons.
if they diffey,o
What humbug,
from him he is ready to resign his seat ; inferring,
they condemn him he must be in the wrong."
is this ! Why Mr. O'Connell is condemned by hundreds
judge of Ins ce..
constituencies, as well informed, and as fit to. !wog
duct as the people of Kilkenny, and still he thinks at
right. that "

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