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" gentleman" found misbehaving himself , or breaking the law , will really be prosecuted and sentenced , as if he were what he would be , not a gentleman but a law breaker . Captain Paulet Henry Somerset , of the Coldstreara Guards , distinguished himself on Monday afternoon much to his own satisfaction , and in the evening was distinguished as an example by Mr . Hardwick , much to the satisfaction of the public . Captain Paulet Henry Somerset , of the Coldstream Guards , entered the Kensington gate of Hyde-park
at a rapid rate in a phaeton and pair , and . proceeded to drive up the road towards the Exhibition . The constable stationed at the gate called to him , but he either did not or would not hear . Police constable Griffin , while 30 or 40 yards in front of the vehicle , signalled him to stop , by holding up his hands . Captain Somerset paid not the slightest regard to the signal , but held on his way . As he continued to drive on , Griffin endeavoured to explain to him , that , in accordance with the orders of the Commissioners , he must go by Rotten-row , and not by the road . "
Captain Somerset , in answer , merely whipped his horses , and the policeman thereupon , in obedience to his orders , seized the reins . The gallant officer immediatel y commenced lashing the constable about the head and shoulders , and drew blood from his face . Finally the policeman let go his hold , and Captain Somerset drove off at a gallop , but was overtaken and brought back by the mounted patrol . For this offence he was at once taken before Mr . Hardwick , who , after hearing the evidence , said : — " It matters very little whether the warning given by the police constable at Kensington-gate was seen or not . Two other constables signalled you , and then , whether gentleman or coachman , it was your duty to pull up at the instant . Instead of doing thia you drove on furiously , and paid no attention to the constables .
" Captain Somerset : I should have stopped if treated with proper civility . " Mr . Hardwick : If officers exceed their duty there is an easy remedy by complaint to the commissioners or to a magistrate . I own I am surprised that an officer in her Majesty ' s service should not have set a better example of obedience to those in authority . Constables must be protected in their duty , and examples must be made of all persons who obstruct or injure them in their duty . You will go to the House of Correction for ten days . " Captain Somerset : House of Correction ! Pray allow me to pay a fine . I trust you will consider your decision over again . Such a sentence will probably oblige me to leave my regiment . I will pay any fine you may inflict .
" Mr . Hardwick : No ; I decline to make any alteration in the sentence . The law knows no distinction of persons , and there are no circumstances of mitigation in your case , as you , from your position , ought to have set an example . of obedience to those in authority . " Surely there is some necessity for a placard of the kind above mentioned if the law is to be carried out in this astonishing way ! Gentlemen of high blood won ' t know what to be at . The thing is such a novelty ! A gentleman ignominiously punished—not allowed to pay a finebecause he thrashed a policeman—ridiculous ! It could not have happened in the good old times !
Let us hope that these good old times of impunity are really gone ; and that the salutary example which Mr . Hardwick has made , it may be said to " till nations , " of Captain Paulet Henry Somerset , of the Coldstream Guards , will be useful as a warning to aspiring young gentlemen , and as an encouragement to timid magistrates .
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THE CHESHIRE RAILWAY SMASH : CONCLUSION . The Cheshire tragedy , equal in its results to a small conflict in Kafhrland , terminated on Monday . The evidence given on Friday week connoted of detailaof the accidentund it » attendant circumstances , narrated by tho servunts of the compuny , who had charge of the second and third trains , and contained nothing new , except their personal adventures . The
secretary also was examined , and his evidence related to the general arrangements made to work the line , and thoae adopted having spcciul reference to the operations of the race dayw . The most important facts ascertained being that there was actually at the time " no person responsible for the proper working of the nignalu , " and that no special instructions were ituiued for the working of the tunnel in cnn . st quence of the anticipated increaHO of rrullio on the mco duytt , there l )<; iii < r no engineer to inBiio them .
In order to test the capability of the Druid engine , which drew the first train concerned in tho collision , Captain Laffan proposed that a train equal in weight should proceed from the I'Vodnhimi station through the tunnel to the Moore utation . If , an alleged , the online came to u atand htill owing to the nlipperiiion . s of tho rails- and not the weight of the train , then on a fine morning , with dry rails , tho Druid ought to tuko tho train from Frodshum to Mo . ire without difficulty , and thiiH hIiow that tho primary ciiuho of the ucr . litmt wiih the wetness of tho rails . Accordingly k wus arranged that & train oontuaung of eighteen carriugea should be laden with Hevonty tons of chair iron , properly distributed , and taken through tho tunnel .
The experiment was made on Saturday morning at half-past eight o ' clock . A . train of eighteen carriages was attached to the Druid at Frodeham station . The weather was exceedingly dry and favourable , but there was a rather strong wind blowing , not exactly dead againgst the train , but at an angle of about 45 degrees against it . The train was put in motion , and the start , was certainly a very difficult affair . The engine with a pressure of steam at 761 b . to the square inch , laboured hard , and the progress was barely 100 yards in the first minute , while three minutes and a half were consumed nearly in the first 500 yards . Gradually , however , the speed was increased , and the following are the results of the trip : — h . m . s . Started from Frodsham 8 53 0 Entered the tunnel 9 3 30 Emerged from the tunnel 9 7 25 Reached Moore station 913 0 It will thus be seen that the train was occupiedin . s . In going to the tunnel . . • 1 % miles 10 30 „ through the tunnel .. lj ,, .. 3 55 „ from tunnel to Moore 2 ,, .. 5 35 5 miles 20 0 giving an average speed of 15 miles an hour . Six of the jury were present at the trip , together with Mr . Nicholson , the coroner . The coroner and Captain Laffan were on the engine , along with Mr . Bragge , the company ' s own engineer , and Mr . Norris , engineer on the London and North-Western line , and , as stated above , the result appeared to be satisfactory . The proceedings of the inquest were resumed after the experiment , and the fireman and guard of the third train were examined . What they had to say consisted chiefly of their personal adventures . But the subsequent evidence of Mr . Gibson , the secretary , and Mr . Alderman Bancroft , threw considerable light upon the general method of managing the affairs of the line adopted by the direction . They do not appear to have been at all efficient or prudent . Towards the conclusion of the proceedings — Captain Laffan rose and stated to the coroner and jury that the experiment of the morning had not been satisfactory " to his own mind , and he wished to have the engine further tested . He desired this because the load of the train that morning was to have been 70 tons , and on going hack to examine it , and counting the old iron chairs and rails with which the
carriages were loaded he found a deficiency of 22 tons . Mr . Bragge , the company ' s engineer , stated that he thought Captain Laffan had taken a very extreme estimate of the weight of the train on the 30 th of May in fixing the average of the passengers at 12 stone . Captain Laffan rejoined that the weight fixed upon was that of Mr . Bragge himself , in his own evidence to the jury . He stated how many carriages there were , how many passengers each description of carriage would hold , and fixed the average weight of each . It was also in evidence that the carriages were very crowded , and some of the stand-ups would hold 70 -neraonfi . IIt > took it that most of the i > asseiii / ers
on such an occasion would be grown-up people . Mr . Monk thought 12 stone was a . very immoderate average . Captain Laffan again replied that Mr . Brugge ' s own estimate was taken as to that . Some or the passengers , no doubt , would be only 8 stone , but others would be 14 to 16 stone . There were 5 , 'iG passengers , and that would give a total of 70 tons . The weight in the train that morning was only 48 tons . He was prepared to have made some allowance or modification of this estimate , but certainly not prepared to expect there would be a difference of 22 tons . Mr . Bragge repeated that the number of paH . sen ^ eiH was rather over estimated . The Foreman nuid : The number of passengers in the stand-ups was taken at 70 ; will your Hweur Home , of them will not hold 100 ? Mr . Bragge thought that if densely packed they might . Tho Foreman rejoined that they were stated to be densely packed . The discussion ended without , a second experiment being positively fixed on , but it was understood that it was to be made . The experiment did not take ; place , and on Monday the inquest whh resumed , and Mr . Bragge gave hoiuc remarkable evidence . Ho slated that the locomotive Htock on the line appeared to him iiiHuflicient for its general trallic . lie had stated that opinion to the directors . Had he had n better supply of locomotive Htock on the ; U ) t . h of April he would not have started the Druid with the load he did . Witli respect to the experiment he nuule ; u \ important statement : — il If the weather and other ciicuniKtaiiei's hud been favourable , 1 mill feel that the Druid could have taken her load to Mancta-stcr , asHm < e < l , an she would be , up l , h « j lloolc , mid JMewton inclines . The other circuin HtaucoH I reler tome the falling of sleet , the wind , and t \\ v , c . uniugcB not being in gootl miming condition . Some of tin : carriages were nut . in ^ oik ! running condition ; 1 have bud proof of t . h ; . t . this moriiing . The test , required l > y Captain Lull . in showed Unit , such u loud would depienn the carriages no much an to biinx them ahuoui upon Hie tire of tho wheeln . That weight was upwardn of 4 toimfrom 4 ton » lo 4 tons 10 owl . in each carriage—which would be equal to (> 2 paiHongerw at 11 , atone each . I
stated in my former evidence that the carriages would hold 60 to 70 persons , but I do not think so now . The interior dimensions of the carriages are 19 feet 7 inches by 7 feet 2 inches , less some deduction , amounting to 7 feet 2 inches by 3 inches , and 2 feet 5 inches by 12 inches . That gives an available space of 136 i sqviare feet ; and , allowing that each person occupied a space of IS inches by 18 inches , that would give 60 persons in each carriage . I do not think that is allowing too much space . The result of the trial this morning is to make it probable
that the bodies of some of the carriages touched the wheels , in which case each carriage would act as a break , and so far tend to impede the progress of the train . I should think that would arise from a want of sufficient stiffness in the springs of the enrriages . The carriages in question did not belong to us , but had come to Chester the previous night , and I had not had time to examine them ; but no examination , except they were loaded , would have shown their weakness . Supposing I had had those carriages a longer time , it is probable I should have started them without examination . "
The Coroner then proposed to examine Captain Laffan , but Mr . Monk strenuously opposed this proceeding . Captain Laffan came down there as a Government commissioner , to make an inquiry which was totally distinct from that now going on , and in his capacity as Government commissioner he had facilities afforded to him for ascertaining facts and forming opinions not accorded to persons called on criminal inquiries like the present , and he thought it
would be a dangerous precident if an inquiry before a court like this ( the last remnant of our Saxon , institutions ) were to be mixed up with a Government inquiry . He did not know any precedent for such a course , and he had yet to learn that on any previous inquiry of a kind like the present a Government official was to be allowed to collect information , and then to make a statement to a coroner ' s jury . Mr . Browne entirely concurred in this objection .
The Coroner said , this objection having been taken , which he thought a very reasonable one , he would refrain from pursuing his first intention . He then summed up the evidence at great length , and the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death , with great blame to the Executive Committee , and charge of imprudence and indiscretion against the officers . There was a deficiency of locomotive power , and the management was so imperfect as to endanger the safety of the public . " The jury added a recommendation of signals . it each end of the tunnel , and that lights should be placed in the carriages .
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CHIMES AND ACCIDENTS . Gold dust and bullion which arrives in England from California have hitherto been conveyed from tiie outports in an exceedingly caieless fashion . Consequently great robberies have been e / fi cted by the dexterous people who live on other people's lapses <>[ prudence . On Thursday week , geld dust , bullion , and specie arrived at . Southampton , by the Great . Western steamer , from Mexico , California , and the West Indies , worth nearly a million dollars , and were forwarded to town in common railway waggons , covered with tarpauling . Two clerks and two messengers went , up with the train in a closed carriage . When the properly vvas weighed in London , the weight ui uii out oil ui ciion \ uiscovereu
aj > j ; L'cu ' sunn * , spi . n , vu : s that U ree boxes had been abstracted . One of the boxes was found by a cow-boy near the line , in a thorn bush . A watch was set , and a well-dressed " ill-looking fellow , " carrying a bag , happening to approach the spot , was arrested , and is now in custody . It . is certainly consolatory to people who have not handsome faces and are found in suspicious localities . The man said Ik ; was a tailor ; that he had quarrelled with his wile in London , had left her to seek for work , and had lost his way . Hut he was not believed ; his face was too ill looking to render its owner credible !
Iiiliza Fitzgerald , a dashing lass , was found last week by a policeman in the front garden of a house : in the Camberwell-road , lying on her back , insensible , and her clothes above her knees . She wan conveyed to tho Htntion-Iioukc , and on recovering her Menses told a vory . singular Htory . On Fiiday week she got . into an omnibttH , which the conductor , named Barter , assured her went to ChariiiK-croMs—which was untrue , for it . went , into the city . When she arrived in ( iracechurch-streot ulic naturally complained to Barter , who promised to take her back and put her in the rit * lit omnibus . In the course of thin journey she . determined not 1 o go to Charing-cross , and therefore desired to bo net down near her own house . Barter quietly allowed the driver to proceed homewards ,
disregarding the request of Kliza Fitz ^ ci ;» I < I ; and ishc being alone ; in the vehicle be went inside anil endeavoured to commit , a criminal assault ,. She resisted him , and lie begged pardon , at , the same time inducing her to go and tuko a | i ;!; iHB of rum at . the' ( leorpe Ciiniimj ; . He then coolly proposed that she . should walk with him to his mast . er ' rt stables , which she declined to do , nnd went on her wuy home over ( , ' ambei w :-ll ¦¦ green- Another man named 11 nines here came up ami entered into conversation with her , when the indefatigable Uarter again inndit his appearance . The trio went , to a public-house to huve to
rum , when Kii / . a Fitzgerald imprudently ii ^ ned take another glahK , whioli was placed on the bur . Wbilnt . it was there Barter called her on one Hide , and made hoiiu ; observation which drew away her attention from the ^ lass , and immediately alter it . was handed to her by llainc .-t , who s . iid " Von don ' t , drmlt . " She drunk about the half of it , and observed tlitit it . t . iMed v « iy nasly . Bnrte . r replied that . it . was much better thin t hut . nho had drunk , and permuted her to / initili it . Hhedid not . do mo , but npiit , out a portion of what is he hud taken ; but , not withtitandiiiK ' ¦« ' « , hor tongue , inutantly felt dummy , her
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Ma * 17 , 1851 . ] ® fc * 3 Lta % tV . 461
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 17, 1851, page 461, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1883/page/9/
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