The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-05 00:00:00

FOUND DEAD IN A POLICE CELL.

A very lengthy inquiry took place last night -
before Mr. St. Clare Bedford, the Westminster coroner,
in St. George's Vestry-room, in reference to the death of
Samuel Dymond Evans, 65 years of age, who was found
dead in • cell at the Cottage-road Police-station.
Inspectors Rolls and Howard, B division, attended to
watch the case on behalf of the police, and four sergeants
and a number of constables were present to give evidence.
From the testimony of numerous witnesses, the follow-
ing history of the case was deduced :—The deceased was •
cabinet maker, and formerly in a very influential and
wealthy position ini Arabella-row, and Stockbridge-terrace,
Pimlico, but having given way to drink, his patrons left
him, and he then retired upon his accumulated money,
which he spent with great rapidity. At 20 minutes past
11 on Saturday night last, the deceased was found
by • police-constable lying in an insensible con-
dition in the Victoria-road. His face was on the
ground. By the assistance of a second constable he was
conveyed to the Cottage-road station, where, after rallying,
he was placed in a cell as a drunkard and watched and
visited at frequent intervals. He spoke very frequently
and offered his snuffbox to the officers. He was supplied
with tea, coffee, and bread and butter, but no spirits or
beer, as that was contrary to their regulations. De-
ceased wished for some such stimulant, and was told
that he could see the doctor who would order it if neces-
sary, but he refused medical attention. When deceased
was locked up his clothes were damp from the rain
but not wet through, or they would have been taken off
anil dried. He was well known to the police, owing to his
former position and residence in the locality, and was
therefore treated with every kindness compatible with
duty. He complained of cold, and was then taken out of
the cell and placed by the fire. The thermometer at
that time was at 105 degrees, but orders were given
to increase the heat. Between 9 and 10 o'clock on
Sunday night deceased was visited by his friends
who left to obtain bail, but were unsuccessful. About.
3 o'clock he received refreshment, when he looked like a
man suffering from the effects of drink. He wanted
to be let out, and said he knew his friends had gone
for baiL He again refused medical assistance, and
shortly afterwards he was found dead. The police had
no other idea than that he was recovering from
the drink, or they would have sent for the doctor.
The divisional police surgeon, Dr. Lowe Webb, was called
in immediately after the death. He made a post mortem
examination, and found extravasation of blood or a diseased
brain. The liver weighed Ribs. los., whereas if it had been
in a healthy condition it would have been between 3 and
41bs. That condition was produced by drink. The cause
of death was disease of the brain caused by habitual
drunkenness.
The jury thought that a person being locked up for
thirty or forty hours, exhibiting. such symptoms as the
deceased, should be medically visited, as in such • case
the administration of stimulants might save life. They,
however, took into consideration the offers to send for the
surgeon, and the refusals by the deceased. and thereupon
freed the police from all blame. They found a verdict,
" That the deceased died from disease of the brain and
exhaustion from intemperance."

The funeral of the late Roman catholic primate
on Wednesday, at Dublin, was a grand and impressive
ceremonial. The remains were laid out in the new cathe-
dral, a magnificent edifice, which is nearly finished, and
which was crowded on this occasion, a large number of pro.
testants being present. Archbishop Cullen and eleven other
prelates took part in the ceremony. Two hundred priests
walked in the procession, followed by the students of the
St. Patrick Seminary, the Christian Brothers' Schools, the
gentry, and townspeople in large numbers, without dis-
tinction of creed, while the shops along the line of the pro-
cession were all closed. The remains were interred in a
small cemetery connected with the convent.
At the meeting of the Royal Society, on Thurs-
' day last, the list of selected candidates, recommended by
the council for election into the society, was read. The
I names are as follows :—J. C. Bucknill, M.D., Rev. F. W,
Farrar, W. A. Guy, M. 8., J. Hector, M.D., J. W. Kaye,
Hugo Muller, Ph. D., C. Murchison, M.D., W. H. Perkin,
the Ven. Archdeacon Pratt, Captain G. H. Richards, R.N.,
T. Richardson, W. H. L Russell, Rev. Dr. Selwyn, Rev.
R. Townsend, and H. Watts, B.A. Three of the 15 are
mathematicians, four are of the medical profession, and
three are chemists. Dr. Hector is Director of the Geo-
Ilogical Survey in New Zealand, and Archdeacon Pratt
resides at Calcutta. The election is fixed for the ith
I of June.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. —The With annual
meeting of the above society was held last evening in Exeter-
hall ; Sir Frank Crossley, M.P., in the chair. Dr. Davis,
the secretary, read the report, from which it appeared that
during the past year the society had published 60 new
tracts, 17 books for adults, and 24 books for children, inde-
pendent of the regular issue of its five illustrated periodi-
oda, including The Leisure Hour and The Sunday at Home.
Free grants of tracts had been given to 627 applicants.
value 1,635/. ; and 630 applicants had received grants of
tracts at half price, to the value of 8581. Grants had
I also been made to the Paris Tract Society and Sunday
School Union, to the Toulouse Book Society, and
to the Genevan and Belgian Evangelical Societies,
amounting to 9621., exclusive of 900/. paid towards the
debt of the Paris Tract Society. Grants had also been
made to various tract societies in Germany, Holland, Russia,
Sweden. Italy, and other countries to the value of 2,4601.;
also to India, Ceylon, China, the West Indies, Australia,
Africa, and British North America, to the value of 2,8401.
The total value of the grants in money, paper, and publi-
cations amounts to 14,5751. 7s. 2d. The total receipts for
the year'amount to 107,2551. Bs. 5d., and the total payments
to 105,8841. 10s. 5d., leaving a balance of 1,3701. 18a. Of
those receipts only 9,3791. were benevolent contributions,
and 9571. legation. The total eirtulatioa of the society's
publications for the year have been 46,00/1,000. The Rev.
• Mr. Burgess, Rev. S. Martin, Rev. T. Vince, Rev. Mr.
• Pennefather, Rev. Mr. Craig, and others having addressed
i the meeting, the report was adopted, and a vote of thanks
. to the chairman concluded the proceedings.