The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-02 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIB DAY.)

BOUTHWAB.IC.

ATIMIPTID 1111/11)1/2 IN EffAItIORD-1171111T.
Patriot Grant, • singular-looking man, with bushy
' whither, aid nioustachioamui brought before Mr. Burnham,
charged with creating a disturbance is No. 60, Stamford-
' street, and attempting to stab Mrs. Catherine Percy, the
landlady.
The prosecutrie said that the prisoner bad lodged with her
off and on for eighteen years, but latterly his conduct had
I been so singular that she believed that his mind was
affected. She bad been very kind to him, and
had taken great care of him, but his violence
about the house was so great that other lodgers
complained. On Saturday night he was creating a disturb-
MOS in the kitchea, vowing vengeance against all in the
house. She quietly remonstrated with him, when he seised
• large table knife, and rushed at her, swearing that be
would have her life. Fortunately at that time the servant
came into the room, when he dropped the knife, and ran
out of the house. A constable name up at the time, sad
she gave him into custody. She really believed that noises
ha woe put under restraint he would carry his threat into
execution.

'!3e prisoner here mid what she had stated was all false.
She !actually stabbed him in the left arm, and his worship
could see the wound.

liraTerrcibiormed his worship that the prisoner opened
the vein himself a few days ago, and had she not detected
him at the time he would have bled to death. It was not
the first time he had done so.
Mr. Bitrchem said that the cut in the arm did not look
like a stab, sad it was clear that it was inflicted as Mrs.
Parer had stated. He Ole prisoner) was certainly not in a
fit state to go at bugs without some one being responsible
for his future conduct. He should therefore order him to
find two *troika in 204 for twelve months, and remain in
prison until such be found.
The prisoner was that removed to the cells.

THE DEATH PROM ALLEGED IMPROPER
ADMINISTRATION OP CHLOROFORM.

INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning the investigation was resumed at
the Dock Hotel, Fiat Smitlifield,by Mr. H. Rates Walthew,
the deputy coroner for Feet Middlesex, touching the death of
Pierre Pelletier, aged 13, a Frenchman? employed in the
gold refinery of Meson Rothschild, in Royal Mint-
street, who expired a short time since under the influ-
ence of chloroform alleged to have been improperly
administered, and whose body was exhumed by order of the
coroner.

Yes. Wingate, solicitor, attended to watch the case on
the part of Nears. Rothschild.
Mr. F. J. Gent, F.RC.S., and pathological anatomist
to the Royal Free Hospital, was recalled, and rid that since
his last examination he found that there was a fistula re-
quiring an operation, which would have been oafs front
the general state of his health. It would be, however,
most hazardous to give a person whose lunge and heart
were so diseased chloroform. He would not have
administered it under such circumstances. He
wished to say that he could not swear that
there was fatty degeneration of the heart; owing to
the lapse of time decomposition had set in. There is an
uncertainty in the administration of chloroform as to the
amount likely to be imbibed, to obviate which Dr. Snow
has invented ea instrument which measures accurately the
quantity inhaled. It was dangerous to adnaioister chloro-
form by slopping it en to a rag as to give opium by the tea-
spoenfuL Hi himself usually gave it by the instrument, but
when he exhibited it by a napkin he always measured the
quantity—a drachm at a time.
By 1&. Wingate—lt is quite • question of skill and judg-
ment as to whether the amount of disease present was such as
to render the administration dangerous.
Dr. Kidd (through the coroner)—ls not chloroform every
day given where there is a feeble and irregular pulse !
Wirer —Yes, and it is given every day most improperly.
Dr. A. Dieudonne was then sworn, and said-1 examined
the cheat and heart of deceased three times before giving
the chloroform—the last time of doing so was au hour
before its exhibition. There were six apnoea present. I
did not examine him with the stethoscope, but with the
ear. Except in special oases, I consider the ear quite as
good as the stn crepe I was in the habit of giving
chloroform in the Paris hospitals while a pupil there from
1849 to 1857. I have also given it in London, and I have
never had • fatal car before.

B 7 the Coroner —I 11;;;I;ard of Dr. Snow's instrument,
but chloroform is in the majority of cases administered
without its aid. It is safe to give chloroform without its
aid. Dr. l'aget does Dot approve of the instrument. The
certificate which was given was not one of "Natural
death," but "Death from chloroform."
Mr. Gent wished to know what restorative means were
need when demand appeared to die.
windoir was opened, his chest was rubbed,
and artificial respiration was attempted. We did sot try
ammonia, for we had none, and we had no galvanic wa-
ratus. The lminonia would have been of no use in such a
CAW.

Witham here put in a letter. giving en account of the
manner of deceased's death, which he had published in the
Lancet on the 17th of last mouth. It stated that the
breathing and the pulse were found " in an excellent state."
Mr. Gant gave it u his opinion that they could not have
been in a good or excellent state while such extensive diseaae
existed.

X. Pierre Demand, foremen of the gold refinery, was
recalled, end stated that he saw Dr. Diendonne place his
eat ta the chest of demand.

Mr. W. Marshall, M. R.C.S., was then swore, and said—
I was present when the chloroform was administered. I
did not see the deceased before, and did not examine the
state of his lungs. I know of Dr. Snow's instrument, but
it is no guarantee that death may not take plum. If the
chloroform is measured, you can easily regulate the quantity
inhaled by the napkin.
M. P. Dimmed' said that deceased had not complained
of difficulty of breathing. Witness had been told that he had
been drinking the morning of his death.
Dr. C. M.D., then tendered himself as a witness for
Dr. Diendonne, end said—l believe that in such operations
chloroform is properly used. I should have used it in this
ems, but I cannot say whether I would have given it in the
same way or a napkin, for I do not see how it was does.
I do not, however, appewa of Dr. Soow's instru-
ment. I differ from Mr. Gent when he says that
there was disease of the heart. It is my strong opinion,
from the results of 150 deaths from chloroform, that the
appearance of the heart mom from the efforts that were
made for the resuscitation of the deceased. Vapour of
ammonia would have been of no use, as it wouldroerely have
tilled the lungs with another vapour instead of chloroform.
Galvanic apparatus might have been useful if the spark
could have been applied to a particular nerve, otherwise not.
The Corouer, in summing up, mid that it was in evidence
that Dr. Dieudonne bad examined the state of deceased
before applying the chloroform. Medical men were of course
liable to make mistakes, but where there had been no negli-
gence no blame could attach to them. This was, however,
a most important inquiry, not Dilly to the medical world, but
to the public generally, and the exhumation of the hoer was
necessary, es death from chloroform was clearly not a na-
, tuna death. No blame was attributable to Dr. Dieudoone.
The jury returned a verdict to the following effect
" That deceased died from the effects of chloroform admi-
nistered at his own request, and that his death was caused
by mieadvisature."

THE LUDGATE-RILL TRAGEDY. —Upon inquiry
this morning it was ascertained that Mrs. Vyse was con-
siderably better--all the symptoms are now extremely
favourable, and it is fully expected that she will survive
the fearful injuries she inflicted on herself. On behalf of
Mrs.Vyse, it is now stated that the poison was administered
by mistake, and that in despair at finding that she had
destroyed her children she attempted her own life. Such,
it is understood, will be the foundation of the defence.
FATAL ACCIDENT FROM WINDOW CLEANING.—
CMS DAT.) —This morning • frightful occurrence took
place at the house 19, Queen-street, Queen-square, West-
minster. It appears that Mr. Richard Macdougall Barrett,
an enrolled volunteer, residing at the above liousae,ne
returned home from attending the drill of his corps, and
took upon himself to clean the second-floor windows, and
whilst so engage) slipped and fell to the ground, striking
the area railings in his descent. He was picked up, bleed-
ing and insensible, sad taken to Westminster Hospital,
when it was found that his skull was ft/dared, and he ex-
pired shortly after his admission. The deceased was for-
merly attsched to the sth Fusilier., and fought with that
regiment at Lucknow, Cawupore, and throughout the Indian
mutiny.
Gortrues IN LI VERPOOL. —Withiu the last few days
an importation has been made to Liverpool likely to prove
of very considerable interest, not only to men of scenes, but
to the public generally. Mr. aB. Walker, • gentleman
for several years resident at the ()shoot; has brought with
him to this country very valuable ren-eins of several @pod-
ia.= of gorillas, partly preserved in spirit and partly in
a dry state, for skeletons. Among the former is • pmfoct
specimen of • young animal which lived in Mr. Walker's
poase'on for some time at the Osborn; and which he had
hoped to bring alive to England, but in which be was dis-
appointed. as the animal succumbed at last to the effects
of a wound in the wrist received during capture. lo strong
contrast to the above, which presents • mild and inoffen-
sive appearance, is the head of au adult male soimaL This
measures fall 14 inches from the chin to the naps, and is
bulky in proportion. The hands and feet of the some
creature are likewise preserved iu spirit, and show in per-
fection one great peculiarity of the species, the close union
of the fingers up to the third joint, as well as the extreme
grasping power of the hind feet. Another skele-
ton, still larger than the preceding one. Is pre
served dry. This animal must have measured fully
six feet in height when in a perfectly upright posture.
This skeleton, as well as the skull and the principal bones
of a somewhat smaller gorilla, have been in the most
courteous and liberal spirit presented to the Free Public
Museum, The head, hands. feet, and bones of the Lugo
animal first spoken of are intended as • contribution to the
British Museum. Mr. Walker, however, has kindly coo.
seated to their being exhibited at the Museum, in William
Brown-street, to-day and on Wedoesday, after which they
will be forwarded to Loados.—Liverpool