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dear, sir, come here." He went up immediately, and the woman said, "Here's a gentleman who has just thrown himself out of the window." Witness then saw deceased lying on the stones of the steps, and an immense pool of blood on the lower step. A broken walking-cane was beside him, and his hat had rolled off. Witness went and fetched a porter, and then went up the stairs of deceased's chamber, and found a window that lighted the first and second landing open.

By a juror.-The outer door of his chambers was half open, and I judge he had been in them. There was a key in the door. The landing is on the second-floor, and the window was open from the top.

Mr. George Cooper, superintendent of the Temple police, said a watchman informed him that a man had fallen from a window. Witness went to the place indicated, examined the window, and found it open. There were no marks of struggling on the landing. The inner door of deceased's chambers was locked, the outer not. Witness should say that as deceased was running down from his chambers his foot slipped on the landing, and he fell through the window legs foremost.

Mr. H. Macleod, barrister, lived in the top story of the same house as deceased. About half-past 11 on Thursday night he had just gone to bed, and thought he heard some one come up stairs; and immediately after he thought he heard two or three sounds of steps louder than usual, and then he heard something like the sound of a violent leap down stairs; and then, immediately after that, he heard what he thought a second leap. It appeared as if a man

had leaped down a flight of stairs in high spirits. Heard nothing else on the stairs. About a quarter of an hour afterwards he heard a number of persons speaking under his window, and through that he discovered that an accident had happened. He had examined the landing, and saw on it, about nine inches from its edge, in the direction of the open window, marks of boots, as if some one had slipped. He examined the spot outside where deceased had fallen, and found it 7 feet from the perpendicular of the wall, showing that the party had shot out through the window with great velocity. The witness was decidedly of opinion that when the deceased jumped on the landing, which was very slippery, from having had a coat of whitewash, his boots slipped, and he was sent legs foremost through the window. The stairs' windows were often open by night.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

30. DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE CHESHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY.-A terrible accident, which resulted in the loss of six lives, and in the severe injury of many other persons, took place about half-past 7 P.M., on the Chester and Warrington Junction Railway.

It being the grand day at Chester races, special trains were dispatched along the line from Manchester and other places to Chester, and were heavily laden with passengers in the morning. The return trains were even more crowded, and it was to one of these trains, packed with human beings, that the accident happened.

This accident presents the unparalleled circumstance, that three trains came into collision at nearly the same moment. A mixed train

left the Chester station at five minutes to 7 o'clock in the evening, a long and very heavy train; another left the same place at a quarter past 7, also a long and heavy train; and a third left at nearly 8 o'clock. The first train advanced at a regular speed to a tunnel about a mile and a half long, called the Frodsham Tunnel, about 10 miles from Chester. There is a sharp rise on the line from Chester, and the train was assisted up this by a second engine, which left it at the top: there is then a level, but the line rises again in the tunnel. The engine was sufficiently powerful to draw the train some distance, but at a slow and gradually decreasing speed, until, when somewhat more than half through the tunnel, either from the slippery state of the rails or from some other cause, its power of traction was lost, and the train came to a stand. The passengers were persuaded not to quit the carriages, on the ground that there was no danger, when in a few minutes the second train came up; but the guard of this, being aware of the proximity of the first train, had slackened the speed, and it ran into the first with a slight shock only. Both trains were thus stationary in the tunnel, which was now filled with smoke and steam to such a degree that it was impossible to distinguish objects even in close proximity. In this condition they remained for some time, when the third train came up at a speed of about 10 miles an hour, the incline having caused the speed to slacken, and ran into both trains; the engine-driver not being aware of their presence, for, though there was a light at the tail of the second train, it was obscured by the

smoke and steam. The effects were appalling. The third engine appeared to leap up, and was thrown violently off the line, across the way, and blocked up the passage. The last carriage on the second train was a carriage truck with a private carriage upon it belonging to Mrs. Ridgway, of Bolton, whose sister was killed. The carriage and the waggon were quite broken, and the next, a secondclass, was broken up. The people in the other carriages were thrown in all directions-on one another and out of the carriages. The shock was conveyed to the other carriages. Several of the first and second class were injured greatly, adding to the horrors of the scene by the prolonged crash which was heard at the point of the collision; and when that crash had ceased, it was succeeded by groans and cries of alarm and for help, which were perfectly appalling. The place was pitch dark, and no one knew what might yet be to come. Lights were procured as speedily as possible from a farm-house, and the passengers were extricated with much difficulty from the ruins. Five were found to be quite dead, viz., Mrs. Wittenhall, widow of Major Wittenhall, E.I.C.; Mr. Davidson, a salesman, of Manchester; Henry Anderson, paperhanger, of Hulme; Newell, a youth, of Whitley; and two others not identified; Mr. Wilson, another passenger, died at Newton on the following Saturday. Those seriously wounded were-Mr. Rooper, of Manchester, compound fracture of the leg, right arm, and fracture of breast bone-a mass of fractures, in fact; Mr. Leete, surgeon, Newton, broken leg; Mr. Henderson, of York, shoulder injured; Mrs. Lennox,

of Newton, leg injured; Mr. Hurry, of Newton, compound fracture of leg; Mrs. Hurry, an injury about the eye; Mr. J. C. Nappier, of Manchester, calico-printer, dangerous internal injuries; Mr. Biddulph, grocer, Manchester, leg broken; Mr. Sudrow, Hulme, blood forced from ears-seriously injured. Other persons were sent on to Manchester, one man very seriously injured, and many others were sent to other places. Altogether it is computed that not fewer than 50 persons were injured, in addition to those dead.

A coroner's inquest was held on the bodies of the sufferers, and made a lengthened and searching inquiry into the cause of this shocking catastrophe; the evidence disclosed great recklessness on the part of the railway officials.

The death of Mrs. Wittenhall was particularly shocking. She had gone with her sister, Mrs. Ridgway, and her brother-in-law, Mr. Clarke, to Chester races, in the private carriage of the latter lady. They occupied a compartment in a first-class carriage, their own being on a truck behind. The railway carriage was broken into fragments, and the body of the unfortunate lady was found jammed in between two splinters, one against her back, the other against her chest; she was quite dead.

With regard to the dispatch of the trains, it was stated that the ordinary number of passengers at Chester per day is about 2000; on this day there were 18,000. The instructions to the Frodsham Station Master were, that trains would return after the races, commencing at 5.30 P.M., and continue running as soon as filled (!) up to 9 PM.' The jury found a verdict of" Accidental death," but accom

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panied the finding with severe animadversions on the conduct of the company.

It

30. HORRIBLE MURDER IN PARIS.-A murder of dreadful atrocity was perpetrated in January last, which was the subject of great excitement at Paris at the time. The victim of this horrible crime was a wealthy, but somewhat eccentric, manufacturer of bronzes, M. Poirier Desfontaines, in the Rue St. Honoré, No. 422. The murderer was now put on his trial before the Court of Assizes. excited the greatest interest, and the court was crowded to excess. Eugene Viou was servant to deceased; he is only 20 years of age, is short in stature, and of remarkably juvenile appearance. The indictment set forth the following facts-On the 6th of January last, at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the servant of M. Desfontaines (the prisoner) fastened up the shop, and told the daughter of the concierge that his master had gone into the country for five or six days. Shortly after he left the place, accompanied by two commissionaires, who had in a hand-cart a large box, some trunks, and baggage. The sudden and unexpected departure of M. Desfontaines caused great surprise, and the conduct of the servant, who had only been a few days in Desfontaines' service, excited some suspicions in the mind of the concierge. He accordingly communicated with the commissary of police of the quarter of the Tuileries, and that functionary visited the house. the house. On looking through the window of the bedroom, nothing was seen of a nature to excite alarm; and it was, therefore, determined to wait for a few days to see if M. Desfontaines would

return. On the 13th, the commissary of police again went to the house; and as nothing had been heard of M. Desfontaines, he caused the shop to be opened. It was, as usual, full of goods, and the concierge supposed that nothing had been taken away. It was noticed that the floor had been recently washed, and that it was still damp. Things remained in this state for several days; at last the chiefs of a carrying establishment caused inquiries to be made respecting a large box which had been lying for some time at the railway station at Châteauroux, addressed to a M. Moreau, of that town, but which no one of that name would receive. Orders were given to have it opened, and it was found to contain the body of a man. It was immediately sent up to Paris, and on being shown to the commissionaires who had taken it to the railway on the 6th of January, it was recognised by them. The body in the box was that of M. Desfontaines. head was at the bottom enveloped in hay, and the legs were bent up to the trunk and tied with a string. The skull was fractured. A shirt and a pair of trousers stained with blood were in the box. This box the prisoner had directed the commissionaires to take to the Orleans Railway, and to take care of it, as it was 'fragile." The prisoner was traced to the Orleans Railway. To a commissionaire he showed a large quantity of bank-notes and gold, and, on taking his place in the railway waggon, said, "I am as rich as California." He was very gay; in fact, in a sort of transport of joy. He was traced to Tours, and thence to Beaulieu, where his family lived. There he had passed several days, during

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The

which he had feasted his friends and acquaintances, and spent considerable sums of money. He had afterwards returned to Paris, and the police, after many searches, succeeded in arresting him on the 4th February, in an hotel near the Pont de la Réforme. In his possession a gold watch, a ring, 650f. in money, some silver spoons and forks, and other things recognised as the property of M. Desfontaines, were found. It appeared that the prisoner had deliberately planned the murder and robbery of his master, and had executed both with extraordinary sang froid. Thus, on the 4th of January, two days before the crimes were committed, he had taken a merlin (the heavy instrument used in chopping fire-wood) and had secreted it in his bed. On the 6th of that month, M. Desfontaines got up, as usual, at 5 o'clock in the morning. and prepared in the kitchen some drink and medicine for a malady with which he was afflicted. then sat down at a table near the window. Viou approached him quietly, and struck him a tremendous blow on the back of the head with the merlin. The blow was mortal, but seeing the victim make some convulsive movements as he fell to the ground, Viou struck two other blows. He then took a ring off deceased's finger, and put it on his own. He then opened the secretary, and took all the banknotes, money, and jewellery it contained. He also collected some linen, some silver spoons and forks. He carefully closed the secretary and drawers, and placed the keys in the proper places. He afterwards, at the usual hour, opened the shop, and selected a costly clock, a lamp, and other articles, all of which he carefully packed

He

Then

up. At about 8 o'clock in the morning he went to a trunk-maker in the Faubourg St. Honoré, and bought a large box and two or three small boxes. He coolly bargained for a reduction in the price demanded. He took these things home, and as the box was too large to go up the staircase to the entresol, where the kitchen was, he removed the door. Not being able to place the box in the kitchen, he left it in the bedroom, and dragged the body of deceased to it. he bound the legs of deceased to the trunk, and packed up the body in the box. He next carefully washed away the blood which was on the floor and the walls. He attempted to carry the box down stairs, but the staircase being narrow, it stuck fast. He went and got the commissionaire generally employed by M. Desfontaines to assist him, and it was deposited in the shop. He displayed the greatest calmness, and the commissionaire naturally thought that the box only contained goods. He made the man nail on it the address, "M. Moreau, Châteauroux." He then wrote and left on the desk a letter in his master's name, saying that he was about to absent himself, and that no alarm need be felt. He next called in two commissionaires, who happened to be passing with a hand-cart, and told them, as already stated, that they were to convey the box to the Orleans Railway station. He quietly followed the cart for some distance. The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to death; he was quite unmoved.

WRECK OF THE "JENNY LIND." -Intelligence has been received of the total loss of the Jenny Lind, a fine East India trader, of 500

tons burden, and of the ultimate safety of her passengers and crew, after intense sufferings. The Jenny Lind left Singapore for Melbourne and London on the 3rd of August of last year. Her crew consisted of nineteen officers and seamen; the passengers were nine in numbertwo of whom were ladies, and three children. On the 21st September (Saturday) the ship struck on Keen's Reef, 400 miles from Moreton Bay, on the Australian coast. She immediately fell over on her broadside on the reef, the sea making breaches over her. The masts were cut away as quickly as possible; but the vessel continued to lurch heavily upon the reef, and it was plain that she must soon break up. An attempt was made to launch the pinnace, but this was unsuccessful, and the master got his leg hurt in the attempt. After great difficulty the jolly boat was launched, and two hands being placed in her she was taken to a rock a short distance inside the reef. The safety boat was then launched, and the women and the children were first taken off in her to the jolly boat, which served as a temporary depôt. In this way all hands were got out in three trips. Some of the seamen jumped overboard from the jolly boat when she was getting overloaded and touching the bottom, the water being shoal near the rock. When all had left the wreck the people were divided into two boats, and made for the coral bank, partly covered with sand, which lay about half a mile away. This place they all reached in safety. The islet on which they landed was about 150 yards long, by 40 wide. In the course of the afternoon some provisions and four gallons of water were procured from the wreck,

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