The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-14 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY IMP
ALUTATIONS AGAINST A
MEDIC MAN.

Yesterday, Dr. Lankeater, coroner for Central
Middlesex, opened an investigation at the Angel Ins,
High-street, Highgate, on the body of Mr. Richard
aged 80 years, which had been exhumed from the grave in
which it had been interred in the Highgate Cemetery by
order of the coroner, after a coninitation with the Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, under somewhat

extraordinary circumstances.
The Coroner having taken his seat,
Dr. James Part. of Camden-road, Camden-town
attended, accompanied by his solicitor, Mr. Thomas Beard,
of Baainghall-street.
The Coroner said that the body, which had been ex-
humed from the Highgate Cemetery, lay_ in • place where
the jury could conveniently view M. He would just re-
mark that this body had been interred since Christmas
last. He bed been induced to hold an inquest in conse-
quence of certain representations made to him of the neg-
lect of this person at the time of death, and of other cir-
cumstances, which made him think that, for the safety of
all y..rties it would be best to have a public inquiry. He
had ordered a 'Post-mortem examination to be made, and
also an analysis of the stomach. lie could not say, how-
ever, if the result would be ready at that time, but they
could have it at another meeting of the court.
The jury having proceeded to the cemetery to view the
body, on their return, at the request of Mr. Beard, wit-
nesses were ordered to retire.
Mr. William Booth, upholsterer and undertaker, of
Camden-road, was called to prove the identity of the body.
He said—l buried the deceaaed, Richard Golding, in the
Highgate Cemetery on the 2nd January last. I received
my instructions for the burial from Dr. Part, of Camden-
road, who I understood was the executor. He was to be
buried as a respectable tradesman. The body viewed by
the jury this morning is that of the same person.
Frances Southgate sworn—l reside at3,liswley-crescent,
Hampetead-road. I knew the deceased, Richard Golding,
who lodged with us for 24 years in Eve-terrace. He
left us to live at 17, Stebbington-street, Oakley-square. He
was an independent gentleman, and had been an artist or
an engraver. We used to visit him at Stebbingtor -street,
and I used to see him about once a fortnight. About •
week before his death he was ill with a cold ; that was on
the Thursday after Christmas-day. Hs was buried on the
fifth day after his death. I saw him on the Wednesday
weekbefore the Thursday, and on the Christmas-day, when
he was in bed with a cold. I wished him to have a
doctor, to which he objected, and he said, " I wish
to make my will," and told me he was going to
leave me and my mother • handsome sum of money,and he
did not want • doctor. On Boxing-day he, being no bet-
ter, said he would see Dr. Part, and. I went and fetched
him ; and he cams on Boxing-day about 3 o'clock. I
was there when he came, and although I was not in
the room, I heard him Five Dr. Part instructions for his
will to give to • solicitor. He gave him the pictures,
plate, and portfolios, and I heard him mention my own
and my mother's names. He said, " Frances Southgate,
widow, and FrancesSouthgate, jun." I did not hear that
was said because of the noise of the children, but I heard
him tell Dr. Part that he had received great kindness from
my mother. Dr. Part said to me at the door, " Mr. Gold-
ing has left a legacy for you and your mother, and at your
mother's death the whole will come to you." Dr. Part
promised to send a nurse, but none came. The deceased
seemed better in the afternoon of Boxing-day, and the
day after he seemed much better, and ate two rounds of
toast. I think I was there the whole day. That
afternoon Dr. Part brought his solicitor and Cap-
tain Brooker, who was his son-in-law. He did
no. tell Mr. Golding that Captain Brooker was his son-in-
law, but he called Mrs. Part " mother." I never heard
the will read. I did not see Mr. Golding sign the will,
but he told me all about it when they were gone. He laid
hold of my hand and said, " I am glad I have made my
will, Fanny. I have left your mother 7001., and I have
left you 7001., and I have left Dr. Part my pictures in the
portfolios and 501. He is well paid. He has got my
will, and is executor." Dr. Part promised faithfully to
send a nurse, or I should not have left him. And deceased
said he expected • nurse. Before I left he took one dose
of medicine, and afterwards became very drowsy, and said
he would go to bed. I went very early next morning to
see him, about half-part eight oclock, when to my sur-
prise and horror I found him in convulsions, and no nurse
bad been sent. I sent for Dr. Part, and when he came he
administered some sherry and water. This was about
three hours before death, and deceased threw up his arms
and drew up his legs. Dr. Part came very soon after I
sent for him. My. mother came, and complained to Dr.
Part of his promising to send a nurse and not having done
so. He replied, he should have enough to do to find nurses
for patients. Mr. Golding died et about 20 minutes to 2
o'clock. Mrs. Part came while Mr. Golding was dying, and
told me and my o•other we might go away. When Dr. Part
left he took away a pocketbook with 401. in notes in it,
and two silver watches. This was two or three hours be-
fore death. When deceased died my mother and myself
arid Mrs. Pert and her son were present. Mrs. Todd, the
landlady, attended to deceased, and took up his breakfast
the morning he died. After Dr. Part came first on the day
of death, he gave him two pills. When deceased died he
had gone to bed in his trousers, and Dr. Part said he
siiould bury him in his trousers. My mother said he
ought to be laid out properly, and Dr. Part said he was
executor, and he could send the body for dissection if he
liked.
The witness was here proceeding to make a statement of
what occurred after death, when the coroner said he
thought they could not go any further. Her complaint
was that the body was placed in the coffin, and that neither
she nor her mother was allowed to see it, and the lid was
screwed down as soon as the coffin came. She asked the
landlord, and he said the lid was screwed down, and no
one was allowed to see the body.
By the jury—Mr. Goldingwasnot well knowntoDr. Part.
He had met him once at a friends, but he never visited
Mr. Golding at my house. Dr. Part was sent for because
he is surgeon to the Artists' Fund. Mrs. Part told me
on the day of the death that I should never hear Mr. Gold-
ing's will read. Mr. Part told me himself there was 401.
in notes in the pocket-book he took away.
By Mr. —Deceased left our house aboutAug.,lB64.
He left because our time was up, and I visited him when
he left. On the day I called in Dr. Part there was a very
had tire in the room, but there was one to the best of my
belief. I recollect Dr. Part saying something about it, and
making the room warm and comfortable. Deceased cooked
for himself. Before he died he told me to go to the
drawer and I would find some money for expenses, but I
did not go that da7. I have ascertained from the will de-
posited at Doctors' Commons that there is a legacy of 1001.
left to me, and 1001. to my mother. When Dr. Part told me
that deceased had left me and mother • legacy he did not
say the amount. After deceased was dead be told me
to my surprise that it was 1601., instead of 7001.
On the day before the deceased's death I should not
have left him bad not Dr. Part promised to bring in a
nurse. I did not think deceased bad enough to have •
t arse before Dr. Part came. I cannot recollect that it
was Dr. Part who suggested the nurse. No one sent for
me on the morning of deceased's death. I sent for Dr.
Part as soon as I saw deceased was in oonvukions. I don't
know that I mentioned the convulsions to Dr. Part. Dr.
Part sent him some boiled turkey and beef tea. I did not
take that boiled turkey home to my mother's. I never
touched his food. Mrs. Part did not ask me to go down on
the day of his death to fetch Mrs. Todd, the landlady, up
to lay him out. I was not asked to lay hitn out, nor do I
know that my mother was asked. On the day of deceased's
death I went to the drawer where the deceased's money
was kept and took a bag out of it. Dr. Part demanded
the beg of money, and I gave it up to him. Deceased told
me to take it the day before, but I did not then do so. I
did not tell Dr. Part that deceased told me I might
take the money. I left the house before Mr. Golding 's
death, and while he was dying. It was because I was taken
ill. I did not give Mrs. Part any reason for leaving
the house. I told her I wanted to go 110111 e and get some
refreshment. She offered me some sherry and sandwiches,
but I refused to take them. I did not go to put away
money I had taken out of the drawer. I had not • shilling
in my pocket.
Mr. Beard—Did not Dr. Part complain to you that there
was a great deficiency in the money'
Witness (bursting into tears)—Yes, after he had taken it
all away himself.
Mr. Beard said that Dr. Part found a deficiency of 110/.
in the money, and the reason he put these questions was
to show that although refreshment was offered witness by
Mrs. Part she would go out. The inference was she bad
taken the money missed away to secrete.
The Coroner really thought these points had nothing to
do with the cause of death.
Mr. Beard contended that, inasmuch as this witness had
charged Dr. Part with ransacking the house and taking
away silver watches and money, he bad a right to show
her conduct in the matter.
By the Coroner—l wrote the letter to you, as coroner,
shout this death at my own suggestion, and not at the
instigation of any one.
By Mr. Beard—l know a Mr. Budd. He never recom-
mended me to take steps in the case. I will swear that.
The Coroner here remarked that he thought they had
heard enough of this part of the case.
Mr. Beard wished it to be understood that Dr. Part
courted the fullest investigation, so as to meet this most
scandalous charge, which ho would be able to rebut by the
most conclusive testimony.
Profeassor Julian Edward Desboro Rogers was next exa-
mined. He said—l am professor of medical j
urisprudence
in the London Hospital Medical School. I was not pre-
sent at the disinterment of the body of deceased, but the
exhumation took place in such a way as not to interfere
with my inquiry. I made a post-mortem examination of the
body. Externally it was much shrunken end decomposed,
but not apparently in an active state of decomposition.
There were no external appearances likely to throw any
light upon the case. I did not examine the head. I
simply removed such portions of the body as I thought it
necessary to analyse, and I am not at the present time in
a position to give you any of the results. The lungs west
shrunken, and there were deposits of lymph. The heart
was healthy, as well as the valves, and there was • little
blood on both rides. I removed the stomach and opened
it. It was empty and shrunken. The intestines were
very much glutinated together, which I believe to be the
result of interment. The liver was very small and
shrunken from the same cause. I have nothing further to
say than to request an adjournment—if it suits your con-
vulse°, Ithadd say fora week, as it is most sisaitahle