The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-07 00:00:00

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER.

After our report left yesterday,
Wes. Jerrold, assistant pauper keeper in the lunatic
ward when the deceased was admitted, said that deceased
smelt of drink. Witness saw bruises on the back of the
hoed, the left ear, the right arm, and the right leg. Wit-
ness only mentioned the bruises on the 14 to Dr. Harris
when he came ; he forgot to tell him about the others.
Witness did not tell Dr. Harris anything about its being
a drinking case. Dr. Harris put his head in at the door,
smelt the drink;' and said, "Oh I I will see him to-
morrow." Dr. Harris afterwards told witness to put
deceased's head high, and give him certain nourishment ;
broth, ice. Deceased could not take the nourishment.
Deceased was put in the room for refractory lunatics ; for
witness considered that it wee •delirium tremens case, and
that when he revived a little he might be violent. There was
• latch on the door ; there was a bar to the door, but wit-
ness could not swear he put it up. If it wee not up
about thirty lunatics in the ward could get in to the
deceased, but witness was there to mind them. The paid
lunatic keeper was absent on a holiday for 11 days, and
witness and another were doing dnq for him. 'Witaeas
never before put a man in the padded room on his own
Wben witness took off deceased's oast he
did not observe the blood on it. On Thursday afternoon
Dr. Harris ordered deceased to be removed to the sick
ward. On that occasion witness noticed again the injuries
to the neck, end told Dr. Harris of them. Deceased get no
medicine up to Wednesday afternoon. These saw no
mud m deceased's coat.
Charles Franklin, helper in the lunatic ward, corrobo-
rated last witness, and said that deceased had blood on his
right ear when admitted. He smelt of drink. There was
no mud on his coat, but there was blood on his waistcoat.
The door of the padded room was on the latch ; it was not
locked against the other lunatics. Witness, as well as
the last witness, was elways in the ward. When the de-
ceased first came in there was a gurgling in his throat.
Crosa-esamined by Mr. Bradberry—Last witness reported
to the doctor about the gurgling in the throat, bat witness
did not hear him. Witness showed last witness the blood
on the deceased's ear. It appeared to witness as if de-
ceased had had a severe blow with a weapon under the ear,
and so he told Mr. Dillon, deputy keeper of the lunatic
ward. Dillon said that it was a very nasty blow, and he
did not like the look of it. That was on Thursday. Dr.
Harris had not seen deceased that day, but he had seen
him twice on Wednesday. When the doctor saw the in-
jury afterwards he said he did not like its appearance. The
doctor remained about two minutes and a half.
Louisa Mullocks, paid nurse, said that she received the
deceased in No. 15 sick ward on Thursday. He was in-
sensible. She examined him and found a large bruise
behind the left ear, and others on the right elbow and leg.
There was a little blood, as if from a scratch, on the right
ear. He died between eight and nine o'clock on Thurs-
day night. The doctor saw all the injuries, and gave di-
mations ;he cut part of the hair off. HA said abet the
deceased was in a dying state.
Jane Farrell, pauper nurse in the sick ward, said that
Dr. Harris saw deceased immediately he was brought into
that ward, and ordered wet cloths to his head, stimulants,
So. It was then about two o'clock. The doctor did not
see him again till after death. What the doctor ordered
was done.
Tire Coroner said that the case must be adjourned again,
as be had other appointments, and it was then after three
o'clock. He could not examine the medical witnesses
then.
The proceedings were accordingly adjourned.