The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-12-20 00:00:00

DEATH OF CONSTANCE GERALDINE PENNINOTON.

The girl, Constance Geraldine Pennington, who
was recently committed for trial for stealing money
and other articles, at Sherborne, died at the Prison,
Dorchester, on Saturday night. She had been ailing
for some time, and on her admission was found to be
suffering from chronic ulcer in the throat. On the Bth
she was taken with inflammation, and was admitted
to the hospital, but gradually grew worse, and not-
withstanding every attention was paid her, she died
on Saturday night.

- - -
The inquest was held at the Prison this (Monday)
morning, before G. Symonds, Esq. (Coroner), Mr. B.
A. Hogg, being foreman of the jury.
The jurymen having vie wed the body.
Mr. G. J. Bell. chief warder in charge, in the
absence of the Governor, Captain Frith, asked the
Coroner if a post-mortem was necessary.
The Coroner said it would depend upon the evidence
which might transpire.
Witness continuing, said the deceased was in custody
awaiting her trial for stealing money and other
articles, the property of Mn( Lynes, at Sherborne. The
warrant was dated 12th of November, and she was
received here on the 14th. Deceased appeared very
delicate when she entered, and had been in a very
delicate state of health ever since. Witham had seen
bee daily since her admission. She had complained to
him of UI health, but not upon any other subject. He
learnt from the prison surgeon on the 10th inst, that she
was mooch worse, in fact in a dangerous condition, and the
surgeon enquired of him if she had any friends, and
he at once telegraphed to her solicitcr, Mr. Watts, of
Yeovil, stating her critical condition, and requesting
him to inform her friends of her serious state.
Deceased had been furnished with food other than the
prison diet at her friends' expense— to the best of him
moollestion sho had had extra dinner. for 12 day,. He
had written to her friends, but neither had visited her.
On the strength of his message@ one person came to
the prime, but dammed declined to see him. She
oradeally grew worse and on Saturday evening, about
I w edgy mi antes to nine the matron called him to see
leer, and he went Immediately. She was then gone
beyond speaking, and, altos a slight twitching of the
spe, she died in his presence.
A juror: How long after admieskin was it that she
was admitted to the infirmary ?
WlLDeall: She was received here on the lith Nov.,
and admitted to the infirmary on the Bth inst.
The Coroner: Had she money of her own, or was
the extra food provided for her?
Witness : Provision was made by friends to the
amount of 16s.
Beeest Gold, surgeon of the prison, said the
&mooed came under hie notice on the 14th of Novena-
jeer, when she was admitted. She was suffering from
a chronic ulcer in the throat. Nothing elm. This had
edlected her general health. She was placed in the
sena part of the gaol set apart for prisoners awaiting
OW, and he saw her nearly every day unto her death.
De prescribed what in his opinion he considered
Reoessary. and orderd the beet diet of the prison and a
pint of milk daily. She hat that and the extra dinners.
Up to the Bth Decamber she improved, but she "Me
Wren suddenly ill with very violent pain in the bowels,
and she then kept her bed and received medicine.
She did not rally, and on the 9th she was received in the
inenneey of the prison. She remained there till her
death, which took place on Saturday night. He saw her
twice a day, and gave her everything that was likely
go do bergoed, but she got worse. The ulcer only yielded
a little to the treatment ; it continued to the time of
bier death. The violent pains she complained of were
dee to acute Inflammation. This continued till she
died. He saw her about two hour. before she died.
• first thought her condition critical the day after
Abe was received in the infirmary. Front that day
▪ geadostly ant wore*. and he anticipated her death
yew before it took place. She was in a very gold
onaZitton when received into the prison, but since her
Weer she had become very emaciated. The intism.
medals of the bowels created vomiting, which caused
the emaciation. He attributed death to inflammation
Of the bowels, which caused obstruction, and thereby
ocossionlog collapse. When he saw her two hours
before her death she was perfectly mosible. She had
salver Made any commit of anyone. [here was
..abinc to show she had been destitute of ordinary
searkilunent when she WM admitted, but she did not
appear to have taken care of herself. She appeared to
haws led • gay life, but did not appear to have suffered
from drink.
A Juror : If she was suffering from ulcer in the
throat when admitted, why did you not receive her
into the hospital at first ?
Mr. Cord: Because I did not think it necessary.
Her condition at the time did not, in my opinion,
warrant her being sent to the infirmary at once.
A juror: What was the cause of the ulcer?
Mr. Good: It was due to syphilis.
03. Foreman : To what do you attribute the in
Sauk-nation?
Mr. Good: I could not tell you.
A jus or: Being awaiting trial she had no work to
do?
Mr. Geed: Nothing at all.
A Juror' What was her diet before she went into
the hosOtal ?
Mr. Good : The ;sus' hostital low diet, and four
ounces of braorly a Jay extra, two pounds of ice, and
one pint of milk extra.
Tbe low diet is eight ors. of breed, 20 ozs. of arrow-
root made with milk, 15 ore, of tea made with milk,
and 10 oss. of milk. On the Ilth when she could not
retain the brandy she had a pint of champagne. On
the 13th she thought she would like oranges and they
were procured for her: on the 14th she had sponge
cake and baked apple., she having expressed • wish
for them; on the 16th she thought she would literals
water, and she had two pinto. She could have had
any of the things he ordered and se much as she liked.
Ski also had white bread in lien of the brown bread of

the prison.
Biles Basil, the matron, said the deceased came
ender her charge on November 14th, and was so up
till December Bth, and in the infirmary stew
that Lin). no till her death. When she first MUM in
she was planed upon :i,d clam dietary. When admitted
to the infirmary she had everything that Mr. Good
ordered up to the day of her death. Sbe remained
coercion. till the last moment. On ti.e day she cam*
in}bes enquired if ehe could ham a doctor, as she had
been under medical treatment. ad had always been
very delicate. She told her she would. ime one in the
seeming and smile if necessary. She ba4l never 0001.
=qf 'blithe* to her. On the 18t11 of November
ter champed the dlet—ehe had coma instead of

gruel. as she did not like it. She expressed herself
satisfied wi h her treatment in every way. She
told the chaplain she had been treated most kindly.
The Coroner briefly stated that all the jury bad at
pr neat to consi let was the immediate cause of death,
and had nothing whatever te do with preceding cit.
cumitancee. He did not think a post mortar' win
necessary, as nothing could be gained by it.
Without any hesitation the jury returned a verdict
that death was caused by inflammation of the bowels and
I consequent collapse.
They also expressed the opinion that the deceased
had received every attention both medically and other..
wins.