cumstances of the case becoming known, apprehended.

The accused persons, Ann Lee and George Peppott, were present in custody during the proceedings. The evidence was read over by the coroner, from which it appears that the circumstances of the case were as follows:

On the morning of Saturday, the 25th of September, the cousin of deceased, a young lady named Dover, who was on a visit to Mr. Crouch's family at Ridgmont, prepared to make some cakes, as the deceased and other friends were expected also on the following day. The batter being prepared, Miss Dover recollected that she required some yeast, but being unable to procure any she desired the cook, Ann Lee, to let her have a little soda, which would answer the purpose. The accused, Lee, replied that there was none in the house, but she would send for some. During the absence of a messenger for that purpose the prisoner Lee came to Miss Dover, and said she had forgotten she had some ready for use in the spice-box. She went and fetched it, and handed it to Miss Dover, who proceeded to mix it with the batter. The cakes were then placed in tins and baked, and no further notice taken. On the same day the family dined off rump steaks, partridges, and sage puddings, which were partaken of by the whole of them. During dinner the rump steaks were noticed to have a peculiar taste, and to be very highly peppered. They were at first too much done for Miss Dover, and an order was given to the cook to send up another steak more underdone; that, however, had also the same peculiar taste. Shortly after dinner the whole of the family were

taken very ill, and vomited violently. Medical aid, however, being promptly procured, emetics were administered, and they towards evening got much better. On the following day (Sunday) the deceased, accompanied by a friend, Miss Ann Gaslee, arrived on a visit from Chalfont. They partook of wine and ate a considerable quantity of the cakes which Miss Dover had made. Miss Gaslee, however, ate the most, and shortly after was seized with violent fits of vomiting, and brought a great deal off her stomach. The deceased, however, was unable to do so, and, notwithstanding medical aid was called in, she died on the day following. A post mortem examination of the body was subsequently made, and the contents of the deceased's stomach subjected to chemical analysation, and it was discovered that they were impreg nated with a large quantity of arsenic. The remainder of the steaks had been secured by Mr. Crouch immediately after the discovery of the illness of his family on the Saturday, and the spice and pepperbox being seized, they were each severally subjected also to the test of analyzation, as was also the soda and the cakes, the result of which was that the whole were discovered to have been impregnated with the same deadly poison, which the medical men declared to have been the cause of the deceased's death.

Mr. Roberts, a grocer of Ampthill, proved that the prisoner Peppott a few days before the occurrence purchased a quantity of arsenic of him at his shop, saying it was for his master, Mr. Crouch, to destroy the rats with.

The Coroner asked the accused parties if they wished to say any.

thing in the matter. They both declared their innocence, and Peppott stated that he dined on the remainder of the partridges after they came from the dining-room on the Saturday, and Lee (the cook) said she ate some of the steaks, and neither of them felt any ill effects from having done so. They could not account for the soda and pepper being mixed with arsenic. Peppott declared that he bought the arsenic of Mr. Roberts to kill rats, and nothing else; that he never put it in the cupboard where the spice or pepper was kept, and that it was all used for the purpose he stated.

The jury then retired, and at a late hour returned the following verdict :-"That the deceased, Miss Mary Ann Crouch, on the 27th of September last, died from the effects of poison through eating a cake in which soda was used instead of yeast, which soda contained arsenic wilfully and maliciously put into the same by some person or persons unknown, for the purpose of destroying life."

12. ALARMING ACCIDENT AT THE VICTORIA THEATRE. On opening the doors of the Victoria Theatre, at six o'clock in the evening, a most alarming occurrence took place. It seems, that at the opening of the doors a great rush was made up the gallery stairs, in order, as usual, to obtain the best seats. This rush increased as the pay-place was approached, and at that part it became so great that the flight of stairs gave way with a dreadful crash. The alarm became general, and while some endeavoured to proceed onward, others tried to make their escape out of the theatre. The screaming of the women was frightful. Shawls, shoes, hats, and coats were

torn off, and were lying in a heap at the theatre for the purpose of being owned. As soon as possible those who had been injured were taken to the surgeons about the theatre. To one shop fifteen persons were taken, and amongst them was a sawyer, named Clayton, residing in Boar-yard, Holborn. So severe were the injuries this poor fellow received internally, that nearly two hours elapsed before he was brought to his senses. For some time he was considered dead. A young woman named Mary Field, living in Pitt-street, Tottenham-court-road, severely injured about the legs; and a little boy about twelve years of age, living in Potter's yard, Waterloo-road, had a rib broken. The other medical gentlemen had similar cases; but fortunately no life was lost. The accident appears to have been occasioned by the supporters of the stairs giving way from being in a rotten state.

was also

14. DREADFUL EXPLOSION OF A STEAM BOILER.-SEVEN PERSONS KILLED.-A most melancholy accident occurred at Manchester, at a very early hour, occasioned by the bursting of the boiler of a steam-engine, by which no less than seven workmen were instantaneously killed, and many others severely wounded. It appears that the workmen employed by Messrs. John Elce and Co., machine and tool makers, of Jersey-street. Ancoats, Manchester, repaired, as usual, to their labour at an early hour, six o'clock, and, as they were waiting for the arrival of the remainder of the men, they assembled in the engine-room, which, of course, is much warmer than any other part of the building. The firm usually employ from fifty to sixty men, but on the morn

ing of the accident not more than half that number had arrived when the occurrence took place. The engine employed is of six-horse power, and the boiler attached is equal to ten-horse power. The engineer arrived a few minutes before six o'clock, and is supposed to have lighted the fire as usual, and supplied the boiler with the usual quantity of water, and was conversing with the mechanics who had arrived, before he fully set the engine to work. Suddenly a crash was heard, and was instantly followed by an explosion, which stretched twelve of the men on the floor, knocked several of the others down, destroyed the whole of the machinery, and completely blew away one end of the building, besides shattering every window frame to atoms and displacing the whole of the roof of the building. As soon as the effect of the shock had subsided, those of the men who were uninjured moved forward to the scene of destruction, and here a most horrible and heartrending spectacle was to be seen. The engineer was found with his head severed from his body; the workmen were dashed in every direction, and scarcely the features of one near the engine could be recognized. On a further search four others were found in a most mutilated state, quite dead, some of them with their heads literally blown into a mash, others without limbs, and many with the lower extremities of the body completely laid open, so that it would seem the various parts of the engine had struck them either in a sitting posture or in the act of rising to effect their escape.

15. POLICE. A young countryman, named George Howe, was brought before the Lord Mayor,

having given himself up to a policeman on the preceding day on a very serious self-accusation. The policeman stated that the prisoner walked up to him at three o'clock Thursday, and said, "I have done something wrong, policeman, and I wish you to take me into custody." Witness asked him what he meant, and he replied, "You know what Blakesley did. I have done something like that—I have murdered my mother." Witness did not believe there was any foundation for the statement, and wanted the prisoner to go home, but he insisted upon being taken to the station-house. The Lord Mayor.-Well, prisoner, where is your mother, whom you say you have murdered? Prisoner. - I was drunk, my Lord; I never murdered any one. The policeman said it was evident the prisoner had been drinking. The Lord Mayor (to the prisoner).Where is your mother? Prisoner.

At Walthamstow. I live with her; and there she is to be found. The Lord Mayor.—When did you see her last? Prisoner.-On Saturday last. The Lord Mayor.Well, you have given yourself a very bad character, and you must bring forward somebody to remove the impression caused by your own description before I part with you. Prisoner.-I assure you, my Lord, it was nothing but drunkenness. The Lord Mayor.-How am I to know that drunkenness is the only offence you have committed? No, no; you must bring forward some more credible person. If you suffer any inconvenience and are an innocent man you have to blame yourself for what you undergo. Policeman.-He told me his mind was very uneasy on the subject, and it was his anxious wish to be

taken to the station-house. Prisoner.-I do assure you, my Lord, that my mother is quite well, and I never thought of such a thing. It was nothing but the effect of drinking. The Lord Mayor. When you get somebody to attend and prove to us that you have been accusing yourself wrongfully you shall shall be set at liberty; but I cannot think of letting you go merely because you now think proper to deny your first statement. The prisoner, who appeared to be greatly annoyed at this unexpected result of his drunken frolic, and who endeavoured to prevail upon his Lordship to consider him as innocent of his mother's death, in a very earnest appeal, was then removed from the bar. Subsequently a gentleman, who resides in the neighbourhood of the Mansionhouse, and was acquainted with the prisoner and his family, waited upon the Lord Mayor, and stated that the foolish fellow became a great deal more foolish by "putting the enemy into his mouth," and that he was a young man of very good character. The Lord Mayor thought another night, under a good strong lock and key, would be of service to the prisoner's memory, and prevent him from giving unnecessary trouble to the police.

EXECUTION OF GENERAL LEON. -"OCTOBER 15. Quarter-past two, P.M.-General Leon is shot! At one o'clock to-day he was taken in a coach from the Convent of St. Thomas, in which he had been confined (the barrack of the National Militia of Madrid), and conducted outside the gate of Toledo (the usual place of military execution, beyond that of Bilboa, being too far from his prison), where, at forty-two minutes past one, he

was shot by a platoon. A strong force lined the great street of Toledo, and prevented the populace passing through the gate to witness the execution. However, a gentleman who had been on the ground from an early hour, and who witnessed the scene; declared that he died like a soldier. He wore his uniform as a cavalry officer, and addressed his guards in a firm voice, nearly to this effect:-Camarades, ,I am accused of being a coward and a traitor! I am neither. I have served Spain well, and I do not regret it. Viva Isabella Segunda! Viva la libertad! Adios Camarades! He embraced his Advocate-General, Roncali, and the Fiscal, who presided at the execution of the sentence, and then turning to the soldiers, gave the signal to fire. One discharge sufficed, and he fell dead instantly. The Fiscal took charge of the body, and the mass of the troops of the line and Nacionales returned into the city. Diego Leon was the best cavalry officer which the constitutional army possessed during the last war. acquired his promotion and his title of Count of Belascoain on the field of battle. Lower Navarre and Arragon were the principal theatres of his exploits, and in all the battles fought in those provinces he was distinguished for his clear judgment and impetuous valour. A bold and brilliant cavalry officer, and still young (he was only thirty-seven years of age), Diego was of so noble a nature that he was beloved both by officers and soldiers, a circumstance the more extraordinary, as the Spanish privates seldom attach themselves to their officers. Diego Leon was known to the army by the name of the Spanish Murat,

He

on account of his bravery and his rich and dazzling uniform. He wore, through choice, the hussar uniform of the Princess's Regiment, even when he commanded the Royal Guard. His shako was always ornamented with a streamer, by which he was easily recognized on the field of battle. Espartero was intimately connected with him until the events which occurred at Barcelona last year. From that period all intimacy ceased between them, and the subsequent events still further separated those men, so different in feeling and opinions. Maria Christina, who justly appreciated Diego Leon's devotedness, had recourse to him when abandoned by Espartero; she endeavoured at Valencia to allay the storm, and form her last Constitutional ministry. She appointed him Captain-General of Madrid. Diego repaired there forthwith, against Espartero's will, who who wished to keep him at Barcelona, but he only arrived at his post to witness the defection of the troops and the downfall of the Queen Regent's authority. He remained at Madrid, where Espartero authorized him to reside, in order the better to observe his movements. The details of his arrest are not known, but his tragical death will no doubt deeply afflict his brothers-in-arms, who so long admired his noble disposition and his bravery at the moment of action."

DEATH OF MUNAGORRI.-"SAN SEBASTIAN, OCTOBER 15. The revolutionary expeditions of Munagorri are for ever at an end. The unfortunate man was shot yesterday about half-past two o'clock, near the iron foundry of Zumarista, between Oyarzun and Lesaca. He had engaged with

about fifteen or sixteen followers to conduct Carrequiri, who was proceeding to France, across the mountains, and after having seen him safely enter the French territory, he was in the act of making his way back, when the wellknown Elorri got information of the direction he had taken. In order to make himself more sure of his prey, Elorri pretended that he came to join the party of Munagorri, and immediately shouted out, Viva la Reina Governadora, y vivan los fueros!' The ancient Chapelgorri soon came up with the person he was in search of, who was, at the moment, in company with ten or twelve of his partisans, three or four of whom only were armed. The moment Munagorri caught a sight of this new convert to Fuerism, he guessed that the object of his visit was not friendly-he knew that his doom was sealed, and he saw that his only safety was in flight. Those who had no weapons immediately fled, and the few who possessed arms were soon deprived of them, and made prisoners by the Chapelgorris. Munagorri himself was mounted, and on seeing Elorri, he clapped spurs to his horse, and made an attempt to escape. his vigilant enemy was not thus to be baffled. One of his followers caught hold of the reins, and clung to them until he was dragged some paces onward. Elorri called out to him several times to surrender, but Munagorri still tried to escape with all the desperation of a man who knew that he had no mercy to expect. Elorri took his aim, fired, and wounded the horse on which the other rode. The animal reared, and then fell heavily, with the rider under. The whole troop then delivered

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