The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1873-11-25 00:00:00

SUDDEN DEATH AT TES couturY GAOL

This (Mooday) afternoon se inotteet was held Is the
Comity Priem, by Mr. H. Lock, Deputy Coroner,
teaching the death of a prisoner named lease Cowerd,
hawker and drover, of Blandford, who wasfound dead
in bed. The foreman of the jery was Mr. Vom. After
they had viewed the body the following evidenee wee
61'..:—
Mr. James Van Dyke Lewis...., Governor of the
prison, sold the deceased was received Into the prison
on the 14th April last, transmitted es a rogue and
vegabond to the Midsummer qtarter Seseioas for
trial, sad meantime to be at hard labour. At the
grittier Sessions hi was sentenced to 12 months'
hard labour. He has been undergoing the *solemn,
and during the time has been subject to It..
On that arseosont be was ordered to grasp in the Learn-
er', so that he might not be in a 0611 br himeelf In orara
amietaaos was required. He sew him in his usual
health on Sunday ofternoon et four o'clook after
&lapel. He Ward notblog of him tdl this morning
whim the Inirmery Warder, Thome. Ad .ms, reported
him deed. He had not had alt for three weeks pre
stonily. Ha most have died in his seep. Deceased
was an habitant drunkard when out of prison.
He had been oonviorad sixteen times for
mi•demeenoure —getting drank, rativing hie wife sod
family. end eci on, nod twice for felony. This was the
19th time. Tbe Governor prodused a letter Pleased
by post from deettased'e sister Jane Hunt, of Bryan-
stone-street, Blandford, which he said weal I have
been delivered to him this morning. In it she said
" I'm sorry you still have fit.; bat I hops please ‘d,
it will be a warning to you ; and I hope If please Gas!
thy.% you will live to trame home and I will do what I
eau for you. Your children are looking well I gave
your letter to your wife and I suppose oho wall &sewer
it or some and see you. So my deer brother, you must
keep up your spirits, and pat your trust in God, and
lie will help you. So goof by., and God bless you."
Thomas Adams, Infirmary warder, said the deceased
slept in the Infirmary at night, beosuse he had It..
In the day he workei at the band wheel. Just before
neves o'clock last night he new the deformed Is bed In
the Infirmary, and then left. Warder Phelps went on
duty all night. At half-past sit this mraning witness
resumed duty. Went tote the room to arouse Coward,
and called him Revered times, P.adlag be give a 55..,.,,
he want to his bed and amok hold of hie leg, whet
he found him stilt He had the gas lighted, and then
eaw he waa deed. &gave leformation to the governor,
and tailed Mr. Good.

Joseph Barrett, :prisoner at the gaol, odd he had
been in the Infirmary shoat sin weeks. lasso Coward
slept by his side, ever slaws be (witness) had been there.
At prayers on Sunday night clammed sat by his side,
and he saw him go to bed. Did not bear anything of
hint after he got into bed. This morning Warder
Adams stalled him three or roar times and he made no
answer, on ...Mob the warder said "hi emit be dead
can he " They went in and roma he was dead, U.
had Its about ono, a fortnight, and then be made a
great noise and manifest two or three to hold him.
Doomed slept in a little room of the Infirmary, but
they isonid bear any of bit movements.
Thomas Hayter, another prisoner, in the Infirmary,
eorroborated.
_ .

Mr. John Hoot surgeon at the prison, uld—vThe
desseasitd was under his *barge. Fr many years pad
he bad been the nabieet of epilepsy, end in sonseqaenee
had been relieved from the treed-wheel, and had slept
In the InGrmary every night He was able to creek
stones, and tarn the hand-wheel oosasiossally. He
had hod satire diet allowed him ever alarm he had been
In the prison. Last saw him alive one day last week
on his usual Jasper:Hoc. Prisoner had many timed
Is his name to see the surgeon, but he had sot
done so lateiy. He inner deceased was subjeet to
leptio It., and that he woe properly token can of.
When he had those It. his was 00411111•114 eel
• end it would take several persons to hold him.
To-day be saw deceased; and from his posture, and
the fact that the bed-olothee were not disturbed,
he concluded that be hsrl died from a 7oplexy, end not
one of his usual Its. When found be had been dead
no doubt several hours. Th. &teased wee putt. that
little room alone becomes be was 11th, in his Imbibe
and In order that be might not disturb the others.
In reply to the Coroner, Mr. Lawrence said the age
of the deceased Wei 44.

The Cxotier said from the evidence it seemed clear
the men died from apoplexy, sod be supposed they
would retaro a verdict to that effsot.
The jury °occurred, cad foued as their verdict
"Death from apoplexy,"