Coroners' Inquests.
The Times, 1824-10-07T00:00:00

Yesterday afterhoon ar, inquest was held at St.Thomias's Hospital, before 1'. SHELTON, Esq., C,eroner for the town and borough of Southwark, on view of thc body of a mas whose name is unknown, who mel with his deathi by the fall of a part ot a dilapidated building near Waterloo-bridge, on Alonday last; the lamentable particulars of which have been publisetl. The Jury having been sworn, proceedeed to an adjoining room to that in whlich the inquesl was held, to take a view of tile body of the unknown deceased, and from thence to view the boly of John Brown who also met with his death at the same timce, who died in Guy's Hospital shortly after his arrival. The following evidence wait then adduced: Stephen Lathorne, of No. 9, Peter-street, Westminster, deposed, that he on Monday last, about half after two o'clock, was em- ployed in like manner with the deceased persons in removing '3icks eind rubbish; one of them was namned Brown; but the name of the other witness did not know. Witness was cut- ting (chasing) the 'wall of a building in Narrow-wall, 1,am- beth, which was formerly occupied hy lUr. Phelps, a soap-ma- nutacturer. The ttvo persons deceased were ceaning bricks under the wall, and witness advised them to go away, as he was ap prehensive of danger. He had previously cautioned Brown to the samne effect. He could not tell what was the occasion of the wall's t'ailing ; neithier witness nor his master apprehended that it would be so sudden. Thie wall was 18 or 19 feet high, but he did not know the lengthi. Th.e deceased persons were extricated as soon as possible; and one of them was blooded. The miedical gentleman said, that the other mighit, by being taken to tihe lhospital and hav- ing his head shaved. recover' By a Juror.-Witness could not tell bowv lhig the building was when it was first begun to be taken down, it might be 23 or 24 feet, and the girders were taken out. .Juror.-It is very wrong that the girders should be taken down in the first instance; and I c onsider it na atter of importance, andl the primary cause of the accident. The witness considered it wrong far a person to work untler the iwall while it is cutting. The wall'was two bricks and a half thick- there would have been no danger had the men took his advice-wten a ctase is cut, no tan had a right to work under the wall. The mas. ter of the men would have the bricks removed, as le apprehended no danger, or lie wouil tnOt hiave been there himself. Hlis namle was Brootm: he lives in the Kent-road ; he was in as much danger as any one. Another labourer corroborated the principal facts as stated by the witness. He was of opinion that there was not sutlicient appa- rettt danger to warrant him to desist from his employment of moving brfcks. A third person stated, that he expressed thIe apprehension he felt as to the safety of the wall * but on his addressing Mlr. Broom to that effect, Broom replied, " I'll be d-d if tile bricks shall not be removed before the wall is taken tiown." While witness was repeat- ing theremolisitralice the wall fell, and witness narrowly escaped * as did Air. Broom. lIe did not, at the time he made the renionstrance. consider the wall was in so dangerous a state as it was. Broom did not ptirchase the eirders ; the timber and-brick work were purchased by different people. The witnesses concurred it the opinion tltat it was the passing of a waggon, or some other veliicle, which caused the wall to come down thius suddeply. Thie two surgeons at thte two hospitals deposed, that the bruises, &c., had occasiotted deatlt. The Foreman of the Jury expresed hIis dissatisfaction that there was not more caution steed when buildings were taken dlown ; it was quite clear that the girders and bottd tltnber ought to retnain. Tite .Jury returned a verdlict of-Accidental death in bothi cases; -deodand on the bricks, 2s. fid. Yesterday morning, at 1 1 b'clock, an inquisition was held before ChART.rES JEMM ETT, Esq., Coroner for Surrey, at thie Rising Sun, Elizabeth-place, Kennington-cross, on the body of Samuel SutIaner, Es9., aged 35, an accotintant In the city, whio destroyed hirnself at his lodgings on Sunday last- M r. Launcelot Armstrong, of No. 11, Park-place, Kennington. cross, surgeon, deposed that on Sundaymorninz, about a quarter before 10 o'clock,he was sent for to attend upon the deceased at his lodgings, No. 17, Elizabaeth-place, and found him lying on thebed in the first floor. On examinitig the deceased, he pronounced Iiim quite dead, and observed a mark of something having been fastened rotind his neck, witiel had caused suffocation. Witness consider.s that the de- ceased must have been tlead more than an hour: he had no previous ktiowledgeof him whatever. Sir. W. H. Edwards, of No. 17, Elizabeth-place, artist, deposed lie hlipd known the unfortunate deceased geittlernan about two years and a halt; he lived with witness's fanmily at Clapham, and he found the deceased a very pleasant companion. He held a very lu. crative situ2tiots in a West India mercantile-house in Broad-street, cij, for upwards of eleven years, where he was ligiltly respected. In Afav last, deceased took lodgings in l3uildford-street. near tl e Foun(ling Hospital; and in June, gave up his situation to enter into business for hiimself as an accountant and general agent. under very promising circumstances. Tite deceaced gentleman waa in the constant liabit of calling upon witness once or twice a week, when he appeared nt times very low spirited-s the business which he had embarked in uot being so flourishing as he had expected, caused thtat depression. On Friday last, the deceased came to wit. nes 'housein Elizabeth-place, where he had formerly resided, in order to board and lodge with him again; lie then appeared in a very bad state of health ; lie coinplained of a palpitation In his head, wisici seemed to affect him mucil. On Saturday, the deceased went to his business as usual at the Custom-house, antI othier places iTI the city, and returned to dinner between five and six o'clock. Wit- ness then noticel he appeared in avery lownmelanlcholy way. A.t li o'clock that evening he retired to rest, and next morning, Sunday, between the hours of nine and ten, witness opetted his, (deceased's) door, and was horror-struck on observing the unfortutiate gentleman suspcnded to the foot-rail of the bed-post. with a silk handkerchtief fastened round his neck. The deceased was a single man. Mfr. Benjamin Bayfleld, wine and spirit broker, deposed to assist- ing last witness In cutting the deceased down from where lie was sttspended with a silk handkerchief round hiis neck ; he was then quite dead. The CoRoNEsR here addressed the Jury, and said there were othler witnesses in attendance if thev thought itrequisite to allthem, to whiich they repliedl in the negative; and after taking aview of the body, they unanimously returned a verdict of-Insatiiy. CORONlPRS' lArQUESPS.,