The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-20 00:00:00

THE EMPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1867.

Inspector Thomson maid—l was ordered by Sir R. Mayne
to p to the House of Detention and inform the governor that
information had been received of en intention to under-
mine the wall of the exercising yard of the prison, and
release Burke and Casey. I went to the House of
Detention about 3 o'clock. I saw the governor,
and told him what I was instructed to do.
I also suggested that Burke and Casey should be exercised
apart from the ordinary prisoners. The governor said as
to the threatened attack upon the prison he was obliged to
Sir it. Mayne, but should be much more obliged if Sir
Richard could tell him the precise time and spot
where the attack was contemplated, but as to
any suggestion as to how the internal arrange-
ments of the prison should be conducted they
were out of place. These matters the governor thought
might be put down in writing, and he would consider
them. The governor further said that Sir Richard Mayne
might attend to his own department outside of the prison,
and he (the governor) would take care of the inside of the
prison, the control of which belonged him. He said if
Sir Richard would give the same protection to the outside
of the prison es to any other building it would be quite
sufficient. I went back to Sir Richard Mayne, but I did
not tell him this word by word because I considered the
governor bad been vet y insolent.
The Coroner said there had been a meeting of magis-
trates where they had actually complimented the officials
of the prison—their own officials, in fact. He had therefore
been anxious to get what independent testimony be could,
Several jurymen expressed to each other their condem-
nation of the conduct of the governor of the prison.
Inspector Thomson—l may, perhaps, add to what I eat *a
before, that the governor said he rather hoped he should
live until the walls were blown down—in that case he
should live to an old age.
A juror—Yes, that's it. He seems to have been an-
tagonistic toyou entirely, and to have pooh-pooh'd the
important information you gave him. (Hear, hear.)
Thomas Knowles, a constable in plain clothes, said he
was set to watch the prison on the day of the explosion,
and was told that an attempt would be made to undermine
the walla. He heard no particulars, however.
The Coroner said it would be important for the jury to
find out whether the explosion might not have been pre-
vented altogether. At present there seemed to be grounds
for believing that the governor of the prison had not
acted exactly as he might have done. Perhaps the best
course would be to send up information that certain im-
putations had been made against him, and that if he chose
be might come and say what he liked respecting them.
A jaror—Perhaps Inspector Thomson would go?
Inspector Thomson—Thank you, I'd rather not.
(Laughter.)
Mr. McLean, house surgeon—Since Tuesday I have
made a post mortem examination of the bodies. Clutton's
ribs from the 2nd to the 7th were broken in several places,
and the lung beneath was much torn. The left ventricle
of the heart was torn. Thome injuries were no doubt
caused by the fall of a heavy substance. Mrs. Hodgkinson
had a cut from the right cheek and ear half way down her
neck. The veins were cut, and there was a clot of blood
in the windpipe. She died partly from suffocation and
partly from loss of blood. The little girl Abbott died from
• shock received from the concussion. All the patients in
the wards are now suffeiing from shocks to the system.
Mrs. Evans, who died yesterday, was a weak old woman,
and suffered from bronchitis, which was no doubt intensi-
fied by the explosion to such an extent that she died.
This closed the evidence, and the Coroner read over tbe
whole of the depositions, meanwhile a message was sent
to Captain Codd.