The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE IN PESTONY IL LE

PRISON.

An inquiry of a melancholy character waa insti-
tuted by Dr. Lakeside Let evening at the Pentonville
Model Prism, relative to the death of a pneoox Valen-
tine 13anibrick, aged 28 yews, who wee found dead and
hanging in his cell on Friday evening last. Last week a
similar inquest was held.
Mr. Charles Lawrence Bradley, medical officer of the
prison, said he had been told that he Iprieoner) fretted, as
he was being unjustly punished for a crime of which be was
not guilty. His mind was no doubt impaired, sod he had
suffered from delirium tremens. A letter was written on •
slate by deceased, which might be worth the attention of
the jury.
On the production of the slate the Coroner read the fol-
lowing letter :
My dear dear Friend. and Family,—Becoming quite
tired of my ;rule miserable existence, I am about to rash
into the praise°, of my Maker uncalled and awaked. To
you I appeal for forgiveness and pardon for all the unhap-
piness I have ever caused you. I dare not ask for mercy of
God. lam doing that which admits of no pardon, but if
He will hear my prayer, I pray to Him to grant you conso-
lation in your hour of affliction, for I know that, notwith-
standing all my faults, that love which you always mani-
fested towards me is not withheld yet, and therefore the
news of my unfortunate fate will make time sorrowful.
Pray for your unfortunate see. " Vat. Bausuce."
" P.B.—Before I die, I protest solemnly my entire inno-
cence of the charge for which I was punished, all but the
Result, and that was due under the circumstances before
mentioned to you in my letter.
"God bless you all. Love to all my relatioes. Pity
even while you condemn • Pooa Vat."

John Potter, a prisoner, said he was in the next cell to
the deceased. He did not know until that afternoon that
he was dead, when the deputy -governor sent for him and told
him. He only knew deceased by his number. C 21. De-
aseesd bad spoken to him twios. The first time he said,
" I have sent out alspecial letter, and I expect to be dis-
charged." The second time he said he was an innocent man.
The Coroner—Have you any complaint to make of the
diety have riven to you ?
ri:oter—Mo, sir ; I have meat every day.
A juror—When the dspirty•governor called you down,
did he instruct you as to what you were to my here?
Primmer—No, sir.. _ _

The foreman: referring to the statement made by the
prisoner they bad just examined, wished to keow whether
that 'postal letter had been forwaredtothe friends

Captain Craig (the governor who had been sent for) in.
formed the jury that on the 26th of February. the crimper
applied to him for permimion to write •special letter. and
as he was a well-behaved man he granted the application.
Prisoners were only allowed to write • letter on their entry,
and then one every three months. The deceased was
not entitled to writs until this :moth. That
special letter was forwarded to his family directly.
A petition followed, and there was no doubt that
if • certain woman bad been found the deceased
would have obtained his release. The deceased mine from
Winchester Gaol • the governor there, feeling highly inte-
rested in the prisoner endeavoured to get a commutation of
sentence. Hii.cousidered be was perfectly innocent, as did
also he (Captain Craig). The deceased was charged with
stealing a Victoria Cross and several medals from • soldier
who had created a disturbance in • brothel at Aldershott
with • prostitute. The woman screamed "Murder,"
and the dewed (who was also • soldier) went
to protect her. He thrashed the other soldier,
during which his medals fell off. Deeemed picked
them up and put them on the mantelcimlf. They were,
bower, lost, and the demeaned wm accused of the robbery.
The deceased also had • Victoria Crow sod medals, and
• pension of 101. a year for life ; the latter was, however,
forfeited by the conviction. While the deceased was in that
prison an order from the Secretary of State arrived, direct-
ing that the Victoria Cross which had bees obtained by
the dewed should be also forfeited, and this also affected
the dewed.
_ _ _

A juror willed to know if= of Qs letter on tho slate
would be forwarded to tbe

Captain Cm* replied that so tranowipt would be made,
but the original became their , acid would be
forwarded to them with the decision of miaow's jury.
The body could either be buried by them or otherwise.
After some remarks on the very inalsnaholy chanter of
the ease,
The
under u jurynsound retume
mind d a verdict of "Suicide, while labouring

AN EXECUTIONER MALTREATED BY A MOB.
The Northern Whig thus describes a scene which
occurred after the execution at Gwen as Monday :—" About
12 o'clock, an extraordinary some occurred, which, by the
indiscretion ofleconie one connected with the pol, might
have developed itself into the execution of the elem.
timer. The train starts about that hour from Gavin,
and the individual who iu the moss* performed the
last dread function of the law wee observed shortly be-
fore that time walking coolly along the street to the
railway station with no companion except • turnkey.
Instautly a shout was made of ' The hangman ! the
hangman !" Murder the ruffian Kill him l' The
groan and booing were terrific. Some polio* who were
in therailway station rushed out, sod it was with the
greatest difficulty and exertions on their part that the crowd
were prevented from tearing the executioner to pieces. He
trembled violently, and hi knees shook together. Women
cursed him, &area pelted him, and men endeavoured, if
partible, to get even an blow at him. He is a pro-
fessional executioner, having now put seven or eight
through his hands, and be never yet _ placed • man
on the scaffold in a state of such abject fear as he
exhibited in the streets of Given. Pale and livid with
terror at the awful yells and groans which met him on
every side, he crouched into the dance in the midst
of • file of policemen. Here he was to encounter, if pos-
sible, • still worse reception. The platform and train
were crowded with between 200 and 300 seen and women,
some of them emigrants for America, and the other
their friends waiting to see them off. There wen • truly
Irish and affectionate parting going on. Some were weep-
ing and others were embracing those they loved nearest and
dearest. However, all this was given up in an instant,
onus they heard there was a hangman among them.
If the people outside would have torn the fellow to pieces,
those inside would have pulled the rope to bang him. He
was groaned and yelled at most dreadfully. In the midst
of the police be was jostled from one platform to another.
The crowd would not permit him to enter any of the car-
riage*, and he was about to be left behind, when a happy
thought occurred. Eight or tea policemen ran down -the
line about half a mile, dragging him along, so that the train
might pick him up on the way. This course wee adopted,
and he was accommodated in • luggage waggon with about ,
half a dozen police as protection. When the train arrive at
Clouse the passengers change carriages, and here the unfor-
tunate law finulier was in another tx. There were no
carriages to change to except than in which there were
passengers, and no one would allow him to ride with them.
He pitifully implored' for God's sake' to be ' stuck in nal
luggage,' for he would be killed. He got into a truck as
luggage—the policemen being still with him, and he left
the train at Armagh, of which place he lea resident. There
was an amount of indiscretion approaching to lunacy in the
opal manner the executioner was brought to the train,
sod it was very fortunate that a serious riot wee not the
result."

Fivg‘ttitte ELserrote.—Before the standing com-
mittee of the liberal party at Markineh on Monday, Sir K.
Aostruther made s brief statement of bin political opinions.
and on the motion of Mr. Steobouse, seconded by Sir David
Baxter, it was unanimously resolved that he was a fit and
proper permit to represent the county in parliament ; and a
second resolution. moved by Admiral Bethune, and seconded
by Mr. R. Ilutchioaon, pledged the meeting to use every
exertion to promote his return. Sir Robert Ananutber
stated that be would not issue Ilia address until after the
funeral of Mr. Wernyes, which takes place this day (Wed-
nesday). At a meeting of 000ssrvatives held yesterday at
Cupar-Fife, it was unanimously resolved to present a requi-
sition to Captain Anstruther Thomson, of Charletoo, Lord
Loughborough having spin declined to stand.