The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-16 00:00:00

SAD DEATH OF A PRISON MATRON.

In London, on Friday in last week, Mr. A. Braxton
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Mayne, aged 55 years, chief matron of the prison, who
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said the deceased had, been in the service thirty years,
and was in charge of the female convicts. On the
day of her death she had a prisoner named Elizabeth
Johnson under her charge. That person was now in
court. She wasunder a sentence of penal servitude for
five years, having been convicted at the Middlesex
Sessions on April 7 of this year, and was received at
Millbank on the 25th of the same month. Since her
reception she hod never been punished, nor had she
ever been reported. On Tuesday in last week the
deceased reported Johnson to witness for quarrelling
and assaulting another convict, and witness proceeded
with the deceased to the prisoner's cell. Upon arriv-
ing there witness found the prisoner locked in her
cell, the outer door being open. Johnson stood up
behind the bars, there being present the matron of the
infirmary and Ur. Alexander, of the Colonial Police,
who was qualifying for the Prison Department. The
prisoner was excited, and threatened the other convict.
Witness told her to be quiet till he had heard the
charge, and she became quiet. Witness took the evi-
dence of Matron Kerry, an in the result he awarded
the prisoner bread-and-water diet for one day. She
said she did not mind the punishment, as she cculd
not eat her food, and therefore should not miss it.
Witness and Mr. Alexander then withdrew, being
followed by the deceased. Hearing the prisoner
scream he turned round and saw another matron
open her cell door. Immediately afterwards
Johnson rushed to the railings of the corridor,
which were thirty feet fror':. the ground, and had
actually mounted them, apparently with a view to
jumping over, when Matron Kelly seized her, and
witness, the deceased, and Mr. Alexander rushed to
her assistance, the prisoner meanwhile struggling very
violently. Had it not been for Mr. Alexander the
prisoner must have fallen to the stone flooring below.
The prisoner was replaced in her cell, still struggling
and shrieking most violently, and witness signalled for
a warder to bring handcuffs to restrain her. As he
did so he heard some one say, "Miss Mayne has fallen."
Matrons Kerry and Packer and Mr. Alexander
were in the cell with the prisoner, and the deceased
was lying on the floor by the door. Witness raised
her, and she gave a sigh, and Mr. Alexander threw
some water in her face. The prisoner was still
struggling violently in a corner of the cell. At this time
Chief Matron Bragg arrived, and the deceased was re-
moved to a ward and placed on a mattress. Dr. Car-
penter then came upon the scene and pronounced life
extinct in Misa Mayne. The prisoner continued to
struggle until the handcuffs were placed upon her.
When she hoard that Miss Mayne was hurt, she said,
"I would not hurt Miss Mayne." Her object in
struggling was evidently to throw herself over the
railings. Colonel Garcia added that the deceased
was actively engaged with the prisoner for about twq
minutes. It was voluntary on her part; it was not
her duty except for humanity's sake. The further
evidence .was corroborative of the above statement,
and the medical, testimony was to the effect that
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