The Sun. — 1857-12-31 (London, England)

LIVES AT BATIINAL GREEN.  ALLEGED ARSON-ADJOURNED CORONER'S INQUEST  -SPECIAL VERDICT.  Yesterday, at noon, Mr. William Baker, the coroner, resumed the adjourned inquest at the Prince of Wales Tavern, Bonner's-road, Victoria Park, respecting the deaths of John Metcalf, aged fifty-two years, Ann Metcalf, aged forty-eight years, and Julia Maria Metcalf, aged seven years, who perished at the late fire on the premises of Mr. Jas. Alfred Harman, silk fringe manufacturer, of No. 27, Anchor-street, near the terminus of the Eastern Counties Railway, Shoreditch. The inquest-room was again densely crowded by persons anxious to hear the proceedings, which created the utmost interest. Mr. Sleigh attended for the accused (Mr. Harman), and Mr. Roberts was present on the part of the Liverpool and London Fire Insurance office. Inspector Deudy and Inspector Wakeford, with Sergeant Egerton, of the H division, were in attendance on the authority of the Metropolitan Police Commissioners.  The jury having answered to their names, The Coroner asked Mr. Vaughan, the summoning officer, whether there was any additional evidence in the case, and being answered in the negative, he proceeded to sum up the whole of the voluminous testimony adduced on the two previous occasions, after which he said the jury could hear any statement which Mr. Harman thought proper to make, if his solicitor (Mr. Sleigh) thought proper, but under the peculiar circumstances of the case he (the Coroner) thought Mr. Harman had better not make any. Mr. Sleigh was of a similar opinion. The Coroner, after a few preliminary observations, remarked at great length on the various points of the case, and begged of the jury to dismiss from their minds any idle reports which they might have heard, and give a free expressionol their opinion upon the evidence which they had heard. The case as affecting Mr. Harman, failed in all its material portions, and he (the coroner) was of opinion that no one could be so wretchedly or miserably cruel , as to commit such an act, for if they did the party would be guilty of wilful murder. The unfortunate calamity might have arisen by accident through the gas or from some other cause over which there was no control. If there was a doubt in their minds give the party accused the benefit of it. The inquest-room was subsequently cleared of strangers, and the jury were locked up in consultation about an hour, when the court was again opened, and the foreman announced that they had unanimously agreed to the following special verdict : _ _  "That the deceased persons, whilst in a certain house, then and there on fire, were, by the noxious vapour and smoke, and the flames issuing from the said fire, suffocated, of which they then and there died, but how or by what means the said fire was caused there was no evidence to satisfy the jury; but they could not separate without recommending a careful division of the ',respective duties of the fire-engine keeper and the escape keeper, so that the engine keeper should be able to give the greatest assistance in cases of ire, and they also express their satisfaction at the conduct of the police and fire brigade, and Barton, the Royal Society's escapeman, on the occasion in question." Mr. Harman, who was in the inquest-room, upon hearing the verdict, said—" Gentlemen of the jury, I am innocent of the charge brought against mo., The proceedings then terminated.  and labour of the claimant. The negro answered under Oath, denying all the material facts set forth in the cer• tificate of Commissioner, and- thus, as his counsel pposed, patting the claimant upon the proof of them before the State Judge ; but be (Judge Wallace) decided that, whatever the conduct of the Commissioner might  have been, he could not go behind his certificate, and that the State had no power to protect any one thus tillaneusly victimised. Such is slave-catching in Indiana, . .  4nd so ended a case which lasted about 10 days, pro: placing intense excitement during its continuance, and threatening at times to end in open revolt against the constituted authoritieß. How much longer will the people of Indiana. and of the Free States tamely submit to a law which tolerates and encourages such outrages as I have described I- How much longer will our. Republican editors and politicians deal all their denunciations against Kansas villanies, when the same or greater villanies are being enacted on our own borders I