The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-21 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT LORD BELIIIORE'S.
Yesterday evening an inquivition was taken at the Turf Tay,
Tattetvall'a, before Taos. Limos, Eq. on view of the btody of
Richard Spooner, who cane t Ids death under ibc fullowing dread,
ful circuniviarecs.—

Lucy Hoy, Perron! In Lord ftelmrtre, stated, that there is a wen
of grew depth iii the kitchen in his faardship's house, which ti.
some time pest has been dry. About a week ago a bricklayer 'lt
employed to dig the weft deeper. It was ascertained that a quart.
lily of foul air was in the well, which rendered the (Imre' tr.,
dangerous. Aboit one o'clock in the afternoon, however, the d;.
ceastd volunteered to gn down the well ;he was lct down it a opt,
which he very imprudently untied on reaching the hotfoot. f.;,,ft
after he ass down he mode no reply to the inquiries et theft 40,e,
whin h s b other, who was on the spot, became !homed ter Int
safety, and having placed a rope round his body, he was lit cos,,
to see what hat, happened. Not long after his docent, he call• i
out in a stifled voice to be pulled,up ; Isis was done inso,G;ty, az]
on his reaching the tcp he wax quite insensible. Ott his eitmlog 1„
himself he sa;d that he had laid hold of his brother at the bailor,
of the well, and continued to creep hint firmly till his reuse!. art,.
overpowered, and he then left his hbld, the et ceased falling to etc
bottom. Afterwards the Accreted was taken cp by means re
books attached to cords, abrut eight o'clock in the evening. fir
appeared to hove been de ul at steal hours.
The Jury returned a verdict—,Aecirtrntally sr Cleated.
The :tit-Teased was only 24 years of age, arta has Taft a wife anl
1 three children.

DEATH FROM THE BITE OF it Doa.
On Tuesday evening an Intrtest was held by J. W. UNWIY,
Coroner, at the London Hospital, on the body of ‘Villiath
Taylor, who expired at that Institution on the previous evenic,t,
from the effects, as alleged, of the bite of a dog.
Richard Hirtwitistle casmined.—l am a pupil of this hospiul.
OR the 2d of last month the deceased was hrought into this
tutlon with a lacerated leg. He said that en that day, 'ldle walk-
ing near the hospital, he passed a man who was bleeding a
there was another dog with him, which ran at his leg. and tore it
in a most frightful manner. I dressed the wound, which was very
extensive, aid considerably inflamed. !Symptoms of martiftestiou
subsequently appearing, it was ciniaideied adtisable to have the
lower part of the limb amputated. The operation was performed on
Saturday last, and the deceased expired on 3lt•nday evening. whi.e
alive, he enmtlained severely of the danger of permitong such
vicious animals to go at large without beirg muyied. The dilaa
lotion of the deceased was, in my orinion, caused by the injuries
lie bad sustained from the hitt.

I{i hard 'i.;ayiutexamined—l am the non of the deemed, sad
lived with him in Weyer-street, Whitechapel. 1 Raw him ekw
second day after the ac, ident, at the hospital. I hav slate seen
the owner of the dog, whose name is Hemmings; he lives in
Albion-street, l'unimercial.road, and is a dog doctor. I mentioned
to him the state my father was in from the furious attack of the
animal. He acknowledged that it was his favourite dog, True,.
worthy, that bit hill ; and, with much indifferecee, expresaed his
surprise at his doing so, as he had fed him only a short time before.
Ile also sail that Trustworthy had hit himself rot long since,
very severely, in the leg, front the eft: c!s of which he had not meat
then recovered Ile concluded by sayirg. I am sorry for the old
gentleman. %Vanes% ale.. stated that liu had. on inquiry, lower.
Wheel that Hemmings was a regular dog and badger lighter, and
kelps a number of ferocious animals of both these descriptions, for
that purpose. .

- . -
The Jury here proceeded to the dead-house to view the body. It
was much discoloured, and the amputated limb presented a most re-
volting spectacle, both front the extent oil the wound, and the rapid
progress of mortification. On their return the foregoing evklenze
was read over, and the witnesses were about being sworn to its on,
metrics., when one of the Jury, lir. Hairs' remarked that it ap-
peared most extraordinary that a month and upwards should bay,
been permitted to interven: without the necessey amputation being
performed. From the present state of the limb, couplet) with the
eircunistanzes of the man's dying in two days after it waW'taktn
oft; it struck hint that a longer period than was pr -dent had been
allowed to pass, and th it if the operation bad linen immediate, the
deceased's life might have been preserved. (To the Pupil)—Was
it you, Sit, who perforated this weeders
The Pupil—No. Sir. It was performed by Mr. Andrews, ore
of the !louse Surgeons.
111 r. Holes—Then that gentleman should have been in attendance
to give his evidence.
The Coroner (to the Pupils—Bur you were present when it was
performed? The Po was, Sir.

Coroner—Olt ! thai is all the same thing. [Theo, tuning to
Mr. Hales, whose wish fur information did not seem very pa-
latablel, I had to complain of you before, Sir. I seek is your
wish to attack the surgeons of this institution, if in your pewee.
Mr. Hales—l am aware of your having complained of me be-
fore, but for whet possible reason I cannot discover, wiles% it be that,
when 1 am called on perhaps several times in one week to inquire
into the very numerous cases of death which take place at this in-
stitution, my conscience will not permit me to countenance the very
shameful rapidity and negligence with which the enoceedinge are
conducted. This I suppose it is that has incurred your displea-
sure; but that to toe is a nuttier of perfect indiffitence. I am a
householder of this parish, and am not to be deterred from an
honest discharge of my duties as a Juror; and I again repeat it, iik!
House Surgeon should hare been present, and this business
thoroughly inquired into.
Coroner—lf you have any complaint to snake against me, you
may do so in the Court of King's Bench, and there I dare say I
shall be able to answer you.
Mr. Hales—The shamecul manner in which inquests are con-
ducted here is well knewn in the neighbourhood. lam astonished
it has not already, through the press, reached the ears of the public.
I see a reporter now present; and if he does not discharge his duty
by giving a full and impartial account of this day's very extraor-
dinary proceedings, I shall do so myself.
The pupil, in answer to some further questions from the Jury,
slid that subsequent to the deceased's being brought to the Hoe.
pital, and long previous to his death, a consubet ion was held on his
situation, the result of which was, that his constitution was consi-
dered Soo feeble to undergo the ettputation. At length, as an ul-
terior remedy, it did take place ; and it was his opinion, that if it
had not been performed the deceased would not here survived so
long.
A Pier ripest deal of desultory conversation, in which there ape
peered considerable discrepancy of opinion as to the cause of the
deceased's death, whether arising from the bite, or the delay in
amputation,
The Coroner desired the foreman to bring the question to issue
by a show of hands, which being done, and there appearing a ma-
jority in favour of the former, a verdict of " Died by a late of a
dog" was recorded.
The question of deodand was next to be determined on, and a
letter was handed in by a person present, expressing a hoe (ha:
such a one would be imposed as wonitl either lead to the destruction
of the fetoeious animal, or teach .its master that be could not with
impunity permit it to roam about, endangeriog the lives of his Alto
jestr's subjects.
'I he Coroner observed that the law of eleedand wet not applicable
to the canine species, and consequently he could not comply with
the request. He would, however, give directions to the be tole to
call nn the owner and see that the reimal was destroyed.
Mr. Hales again differed with the Coroner. The law of deodand,
he remarked, according to its own express terms, was, " Thet any
thing moving or appertaining to the death of an indivi.lual" was
liable to the imposition ; and he contended that it was just as apple
able to the dog as to a horse. 3lr. Hales. however, lieding no sup-
port, the subject dropped ; after which the finding on the inquist.
tion was handed round for signature, but on its reaching Me Ilaies
he declined attaching his name to it.
Coroner (in a tone of irritation)—What are the reasons, Sir, of
your refusal ?
Mr. Hales —They are of a twofild nature : in the first pisee;
am of opinion that the unfortunate man died, not from the injuries
he originally received, but from the delay in die amputation, and
its being performed at an improper time; and in the tweeted place,
the surgeon who performed it rot being in at:et:duce, we are de-
prived of the evidence the case requires, and what has beeu offered
does not justify the verdict.
Coroner— Pray, Sir, what is your name, and where do you lire?
Mr. Hales—My name is Hales. and my house is opposite White-
chapel church.
The Coroner minutely took down both the name and address,
but for what. purpose it is impos4ble fur us to determine, so we
leave its solution to the public.