The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

SUICIDE IN COLNEr HATCH ASYLUM.

Yesterday. Mr. Breot held an inquest at the Coke',
Hatch Asylum on the body of Eliza 1. eller, as inmate of
that institution, into which she was Admitted lest Sep-
tember.
Acn Lesgo, one of the nurses, stand that she bad been
five years in the asylum, and that the deceased was under
her care in No. 18 ward. Witness had had charge of her
from her admission. She was not violent, bat noisy, and
had beta reported as having a suicidal tending, for whieb
she wee anordingly watched. Winess saw her last 'live
on Tuesday evening, the 28th ult., about 20 minutes
or a wiener before eight o'clock, when she ap
peered in very cheerful spirits. She was then
piag to bed, end witness, as is the rase
with patients of that class, took away her day clothing.
Wilms. heard no noise daring the night, but on examining
the dormitory melt morning, a little after six o'clock, the
doomed was found wrapped round in the bed clothes in a
peel of blood, and her direst dreadfully gashed. The wounds
had been fainted by a knife used is the attendant's depart-
ment, but how the deceased became possessed of is, or what
ward the knife came from, witness was usable to say. The
ward in which the slept was occupied by four other patients,
and if there had been a noise during the night amongst
them witness mar have hurl it, as her own dormitory was
nearly opposite.
Margaret Minim, a patient, was next examined, and she
gay- a very good account of the effete duress the night,
adding that the:disarmed had had some words with Marihs,
another patient, about the mien', Martha tiling her to
ilaish nest end promising to be the next.
Mr. W. 0. Manhall, the medical superintendent of the
female department, stated that the deceased was received on
the 23rd of Septemter from the Marylebone Workhouse,
wader certifies:l signed by Dr. Joseph, and a warrant ulster
the signature of Robert Tubbs, Esq., one of the asseistrates
fel Middlesex. She was fast improving at •he perioi of
her death. She was iodised to suicide, having previously
attempted it. He was called to her se soon as she was dn•
covered, and she was thee quite deed sod cold. He thought
she must have destroyed herself early in the night. He saw
her himself that evening, and at twelve o'clock the watch
nurses reported "all quiet" in the place.
In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Marshall stated that the
night nurses, paned through the place every hour, and if
they heard anything wrong they would be sure to notice and
report upon it. He could rot say bow the deceased became
possessed of the knife by which the wound was inflieted. It
was (cued afterwards in the bed.
Frances Stokes, the nurse of 16 ward, was examined and
*ewe the knife, but she knew nothing of it.
Miss Sophia Collin, one of the deputy matrons having the
snipervision of the wards alluded to, was called in, and at the
sleet of the Coroner she instituted an inquiry amongst the
ammo cab whose ward the knife belonged, bat was unable
dleseme that feet.
The Coroner said that as the knife was sot a patient's
knife, it was very desirable to know how the deceived came
by it; but after examining other minions, no satisfactory
mesh was arrived at.
The jury having been sitting nearly three hours, retuned
She anal verdict of suicide during insaaity, coupled wi.h a
reenneeendation to have all the twins numbered according
to the wards, sad apertures made over the dormitory doors,
with a view to facilitate the nurses hearing asp noise daring
the night.