The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1901-06-29 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

INQUINT AT WALLASEY. THE CORONER AND THE POLICE ARRANGEMENTS.  Yesterday mozning Mr. I. C. Bate (coroner 1 for West Cheshire) (veiled an inquest at the Wallasey Cottage Hospital on the body of Thomas Owens, the second fiieman, who died on Wednesday afternoon. In his opening statement he said it would be impossible to go any further in the matter than take evidence of identification, in order that a burial certificate might be issued. It would be necessary to adjourn the inquest in order that evidence as to the state of the boiler when it was last examined might be called, also expert evidenee as to the real cause of the accident— It would not do for them simply to say that deceased was scalded to deahh..  --James Lee, chief engineer of the Duke of Northumberland. was then called. He said deceased was second fireman, and was named Thomas Owen. His addrese was 2, Cfeorgeplace, Holyhead. The ingirry was then adjourned untinkh July. At the opening of the inikuest, while the ccrener was talking to a witness, the constable took the jury to view the body. On learning this Mr. Bate was annoyed. He said snob a course was wrong. They had no 1 right to be taken to tho body without his instructions, and must view it again with him. When, the witness Lee was called, it was found that he had not been taken to the body, and therefore oonld not identify it.  Drunkenness and Assault. Margaret Jones, of no settled abode, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Duncan-street, and also with assaulting P.C. 9A (Symington) whilst in the execution of his duty.—P.C. Symington stated that at a quarter-past one on Wednesday morning, he saw the prisoner lying on a door-step in Duncan-street. Witness asked her what she was doing there, and the prisoner swore at -him and spit in his face, whilst she kicked him several times on the way to the bridewell.—The magistrates imposed a penalty oi Is and costs, or five days. A Habitual Drunkard.—Catherine Chinn, of no settled abode, was dharged with drunkenness and indecent behaviour in Ivystreet. It was stated that the prisoner had been convicted of drunkenness three times during twelve months.—Sergt. Johnson said that the prisoner had mado her iiret appearance at the court on 13th August, 1890. Since that time she had been convicted for drunkenness twelve times, and twenty times convicted for other offences. She had been in custody in all 56 times, and had been discharged four times. She was a habitual drunkard, and was not able to take care of herself when intoxicated. The magistrates said she would have to go to the Royal Victoria Home at Bridal for two years. Drunk and Disorderly. Mary May George, 54, Reelyn-street, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Peel-street.—P.C. 29C (Gainer) said that about 8-15 on Tuesday night he saw a crowd gathered at the corner of Field-street. He went to ascertain the cause and found prisoner drunk and creating a disturbance. She was very violent, and was taken in a cab to the brideswell. On the way it was with difficulty she was restrained from lumping out of the cab. The magistrates inflicted a fine of Is. including costs.—For being drunk and disorderly in Wilbraham-terrace, on Tuesday night, Alice Tyrrell, 8, Albion-terrace, was fined Is. and , costs, or five days. , A 'lark" and its Consequences.—Michael Patrick Davin, 53, Payson-street, was charged on remand for assaulting William Shaw on the 23rd ipst. The prosecutor said he was going home to his dinner on Sunday afternoon when he sa,w the prisoner standing with some other men at the corner of Fieldstreet. Without any provocation, Davies crossed over and struck him, knocking his hat off. Ile followed this up with another blow, which sent witness to the ground. He got up, but prisoner knocked him down again and kicked him in the face, smashing the bridge of his node, and severely bruising his face.—Bvidence was given by several witnesses that they were standing with the prisoner at the corner of Field-street, When the prosecutor came along. Saying that he was going to have a lark with Shaw, the prisoner went up to him and touched hie hat. Shaw retaliated, and there was a bit of a scuffle between the two raen, who fell together on the pavement. Whether intentional or not, &Ws foot came into contact with the prisoner's face, making his mouth bleed. Then Davies kicked the prosecutor on the face, causing the injuries complained of.— According to a witness named James Hughes, the prosecutor struck the prisoner in the face with hie fist.—The magistrates said there undoubtedly had been some provocation, but they could not allow such serious larking, and prisoner would have to go to prison for 14 days with hard labour. John Chinaman in Trouble.—Two Chinamen, named One Cum and Chaug Chung, were charged with smuggling 15Ibe. ol tea on the 25th inst. P.C. 71) (Hetherington) stated that about 240 on Tuesday afternoon he saw the prisoners in Cleveland-street each carrying a sack. Re overtook them, and asked them what they were carrying. As they were unable to speak English, he opened the sacks and found they contained a quantity of tea. The prisoners, who belonged to the s.a. Idomines, first said they had saved the tea from what the steward had given them since they left China. But afterwards when charged at the main britieweil, they said they had bought the tea in Hong Kong. —Au officer in the Customs 'tided that tea did not form part of the cargo of the prisoners' ship, and no duty had been paid for any. The tea had evidently been -brought over in a boz, which had been found on the ship. The value of the tea was le. per lb.. and the duty was 6d. per lb., makiug. its total value :Ms. 6ri. The prisoners were liable to a fine of tl.ree times this umouut. The prisoners, in defence, by means of tha interpreter, said it was the first time they had been to England, and they did not know anything about the duty. It was stated that-the prisoners earned 5 and 15 dollars per month.— The magistrates ordered the prisoners to pay the value of the tea and duty, 225. 6d., ana to forfeit the tea.  Attempted Suicide by a girl named Elisabeth Roberts. 115. St Aune,strest. was charged with attempting to commit suicide by swallowing a quantity of aannioni a on the 21st inst.—P.C. 21) (Connor) stated that on Friday afternoon. as ho was going down Price-street, be heard a woman screaming in Itoreton-strect. Goinz there. he arrived in time to see a girl fall to the ground. By her was lying a bottle which wee labelled poison. A doctor from the hospital was passing at the time, and he attended to her. She was afterwards conveyed to the hospital and aD'