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

TIINAL GREEN.  ALLEOED 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 yews, who perished at the late 6ro 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 Inspector Dendy 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 iu the negative, he proceeded to sum up the whole of the voluminous testimony adduced ou the two previous occasions, after which he sa;d 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 varioas 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 expressionof their opinion upon the evidence which they had heard. The case as affecting Mr. Harman, fafled 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 stringers, and the jury were locked up in consultation ab Jut an hour, whm the court was again opened, and the foreman announced that they had nnanimously agreel to the following special verdict :  " That the deceased persons, whilst in a certain house, then awl 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 fire, 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 me." The proceedings then terminated.