The Sun. — 1863-01-24 (London, England)

THE DERBY. 50 to 1 agst Early Purl (taken) 50 to 1 agst Michael Scott (taken)  WATERLOO cur.  100 to 7 agst Mr. Spinks' nomination (taken freely) 200 to 11 agst Mr. Worrall's nomination (taken freely) 16 to 1 agst Mr. Blackstock's nomination (offered) 20 to 1 agst Mr. Brundritt's nomination (offered) 30 to 1 agst Lord Sefton's nomination (offered)  Mr. Spinks and Mr. Worrall's nominations in great demand, both being nearly equal favourites, till near the close, when the former sprung to 100 to 7 (taken).  Fatal Fall of a Chimney-stack.  Yesterday morning Mr. John Humphreys, the Coroner for Middlesex, opened an inquiry in the Board-room of the Mile-end Old-town Workhouse, Bancroft-road, Stepney, respecting the death of Mary Ann Gobbett, aged 31. James Seton Gobbett, of 5, York-street, Globe-road, Mile-end, said that he was a compositor, and deceased was his wife. On Monday night, he, his wife, and two children all slept in one bed. About 4 o'clock in the morning, when the wind was very high, he was suddenly aroused by a tremendous crash and a mass of brickwork and mortar fell upon the bed. They were all buried beneath the ruins, and he at once called " Murder" and " Police." He struggled for a few minutes, when he got his hands released from underneath the bed-clothes, and commenced dragging away the bricks and rubbish to get his wife and children out of the ruins. He first got his children out, but when he reached his wife he found that she was dead. He subsequently ascertained that a stack of chimneys had fallen down upon the roof, which was forced into the room. He had been three months in the occupation of the house, and paid 6s. 6d. rent per week. It was a four-roomed house, and belonged to Mr. H. Leatherdale, a vestryman of the parish. He had previously complained to the landlord of the rain coming through the roof, and his wife, he believed, had also called his attention to it. The rain always came into the front room, and it was such as might occur from an ordinary leakage. He had never made any complaint of the chimneys to the landlord.—John Harrison, residing opposite the last witness's house, said that he heard a noise on tne morning in ques tion, which awoke him. He jumped out of bed and rushed into the street. At first he could not see anything, but he could hear a cry of " Help !" He turned round and then could see a man in the ruins. He knocked up several neighbours, who assisted in getting deceased out of the rubbish.—Joseph Reed said that he assisted in getting the deceased out. He found her covered with bricks, tiles, and mortar. There must have been at least 7 or 8 cwt. of rubbish upon the bed when he entered the room. Mr. Leatherdale said that he had only been in possession of the house about three years, ar.d he al ways thought they were quite sound and safe. A juror suggested that the jury should proceed to view the ruins, as it might facilitate the inquiry. The coroner said that the investigation would be adjourned, and they could do so when they left the court. He should in the meantime give instructions to a surveyor to make an official insp, ction of the premises, and to report the result at their next sitting. Mr. Frederick James Reilly, surgeon, of the Globe-road, said that he was called to the deceased and found her dead. The face and limbs were quite cold. There were no marks of violence on the body, and death was clearly the result of suffocation, caused by the rubbish. The proceedings were then adjourned.