The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-16 00:00:00

eoRONER'S INQUIST.

IfitiumaariTr..-Yalski, os Swirl Isik pins,
adjournment from tb• A, bopisiforo nafili 11.41.
Eaq. the Deputy Coque lithe GM
ist tits dr of the rakes, in Suttasessasdis=ig 11.
dinaolution of an sill aseie aimed Wilkie • ask* elk
sister kingdom. whose limb was predated bp • Meng*
The circumstances *seeding the dissatisfies of 1111.1.1 en;
of such a nature (it having been circulated k the isigl
that the deceased had been hurried out of the wail by is vista
and negligent conduct of the individuals will, shwa be IsZ
that the greatest uproar prevailed, and the iavadipithe
1 great injerest.. . . _ -

The first witness AM was examined was David a.s., shorm,
residing in Suetton-ground, Westminster. ife stated, that dame
nine o'clock on Wednesday massing lest he was going down ems,
street, sit. Gila's, when his attention was drawn to the demigod,
who was lying prostrate on the foot pavement, and two or three
standing near him. lie went up and discovered the manta
persona
dying state ; his eyes were risk in his bead, his hps wet,
turned black, and his whole features were distorted, denoting that
the hand of death was upon him ; be was quite speechlem. Tha
people that were round him carried him up alembridge.eaort and.
placed him on the pavement, near the door of a house there, and
in about five minutes after he expired.
Juror—Were there no medical gentlemen obtained to assist die
unfortunate deceased ? Did no person propose one being caged
Witness replied in the negative to both these 9uestions ; adding.
that the deceased was so near his end when be first saw him, ;bat
all medical aid would have been useless. _

Biddy Barry, woman who keeps a lodging house at No. 6. in.
Faisenbtidge-court, Crown-street, stated, that the deceased was an
elderly man, and had slept in her house for fire nights, but did not
sleep there on the night prior to his death. He was a laboulim.
man, and had lately come from Ireland. During the time he ha
lodged with her he had been unwell, and complained of great psis'
in his head, attended with oppressed breathings. Ile had no me.
dial gentleman to attend upon him ; he considered he would ``e;
better without the doctor ; he ate his meals heartily. On Tuesday
evening, about six o'clock, he went away, having previously said
he should for the future lodge at Iles. k lemlnes, which is in the
parish of St. Giles's witness's house is in St. Ana's), as he conti-
dered that parish would pass him to Ireland. Witness went with
him to 11n. Fleming's, in Johnson's-court, Backeridgesureet, to
chew him the way, and on reaching the house she left him.
Coroner—Had the poor fellow no advice whilst he lodged wick
2
yoU •
Witness—He had not ; he never expressed a wish to have a doe-
torsent for.

Jtwor—Vou know very well you could have procured the rind.
once of the parish doctor, upon a proper application to the rise*
without incurring any expense.
Ellen Fleming stated, that she kept a lodging-house for strangers
at No. 2, Johnson's-court, Buekendge-street. On Tuesday even.
ing, between seven and eight o'clock, the deceased inquired if she
had half a bed to let. She replied she had, and asked him to sit
down, whilst she procured him a candle to show him his room. He
said he should only occupy it about a week, and that his son would
be with him. The last witness soon after brought a quart of milk
' for the deceased to drink warm, but he refused to partake of it.
He thee went to bed, and on the next morning (Wednesday) he
got out of bed and dressed himself with her assistance. He corn.
plained of being very ill, and said he would go to his son, who was
at the house of Mrs. Barry, the last witness, and would have a doe.
tor. Witness got two men to assist him there, as he could scarcely
walk, and on getting near the Crown public-house, in Crown.
street, he became very faint ; two other men came to his assistance,
as did also Ms son. The deceased became wane, and was carried
into Faloonbridge-court, where he died on the stones.

Juror-1 ou say the deceased got out of bed by himself, and at
his own wish ; now, didn't you insist on his getting up and leaving
your house immediattly, and was he not forcibly dressed ?
Witness protested moat solemnly that what she had stated in evi.
device was strictly true.
Coroner—lf it can be proved that the unfortunate deceased
was removed against his Inclination, at • time when he Was
in such a dreadful state, and that removal was the cause of death,
the parties concerned therein are liable to be tried for murder.
This appeared to astound the witness, who was desired to leave
the room.

William Hagan, the son of the deceased, was next examined....
Ile said that his father was a native of Bsgnigge Town, is Ireland,
from which place he had lately arrived in this country. He came
by the steam-packet to Liverpool, as a deck passenger. He had a
very bad passage, it having rained incessantly ; and be caught a
violent cold. 'fitness considered his father was dangerously 11l on
Tuesday evening, and he went for his sister, who was in service in a
gentleman's family at the west end of the town. About half an
hour before his death, he (witness) went to him at his lodgings at
Mrs. Fleming's, and found him in bed. Ile was rejoiced at seeing
him, but was very ill. He asked for some tea, and witness went
■way for the purpose of procuring him some at Mrs. Barry's; but,
before it was prepared, a report came that that he was very ill in the
street, and he ran out to meet him, and assisted to bring him Into
the house of Mrs. Barry, in Falconbridge.court, but he etied before
he reached there.

By • Juror—Witness considered the deceased (when he saw bins
in bed as aforesaid, at 3lrs. Fleming's) so ill and weak as sot to be
able to dress himself.
Edward Dury, who lodges in Mrs. Fleming's house, stated, that
about eight o'clock on Wednesday trimming, when he went home
to breakfast, a man named Thomas Straw, another lodger, told
him that the deceased had got the rattles in his throat. Mr. and
Mrs. Fleming went into the room, where be was lying In bed.
feitness was in the room adjoining, mid beard both insult co the
nesold's getting up. In about a quarter of an bow afar, he
(witness) went into his room, and he was then standing op- The
man na:ned Straw was also thine, and also the landlord and land.
lady. The eyes of the deceased were sunk in his lual, Isis lips
were black, and he could not speak. At the desire of Mr. and
Mrs. Fleming, witness and another man assisted him. He was
unable to walk almost even with their help. He gambled very
much an the way. and they were obliged to stop several times, until
they got near the Crown public-house, when he became quite sense.
leas, and so remained until he died.
Mr. William Jennett. of No. 28, Gerrard-street, apothecery,
stated, that he had seen the body of the deceased, and had examined
him from head to foot ; no outward appearance of violence was
visible. - . - -

.—(sM;ner—Can you say that the remoeid of the deceased muted
his death

Witness—Undoubtedly not.
The foreman suggested the propriety of the depositions being
read over to Mr. Jennett.
Mr. Jennett said there was no occasion for that proceeding, es
the jury would net be more informed than they were at present.
The Coroner asked whether the removal of a person in the last
stage of existence would not accelerate death ?
Witness--Most certainly it would; and persons who would urge
such removal must be highly culpable.
William Macdonald, living ►t No. 2, Johnson's.eourt, stated be
was in the house of Mrs. Fleming, when the deceased applied for
a lodging on Tuesday nit. Witness slept with him, and, woo
after they had gone to bed, the decensed complained of pains in his
head, and his lower extremities were quite cold. Witness arose
about five o'clock, and went to work, leaving the deceased in bed
asleep. Ile saw no more of him.

William Straw, another lodger in Fleming's house, stated, that
he went into the deceased's room about eight o'clock, and heard
him choking. He called Mrs. Fleming in, saying, •• For God's
sake come in, the man is dying !" She went in, raised him
up in bed, put on his shoes and stockings, and afterwards desired
hum (witness) and Dury to assist him out of the house.
Foreman—Did Mrs. Fleming seem anxious to get rid of him ?
No. . _

Juror—Where was you desired to take him to t—To Fakes.
bridge-court, to Mrs. Barry's.
Foreman—Didn't it strike you it was very improper at remove
him whilst in that bad state ?

‘Vitness—l thought they were going to send him to a Esetee's.
The Coroner here again remarked upon the inhumanky ',sack
a proceeding ; he assured the witness he was very lucky, for if it
could have been proved that the death of the deceased was predated
by the removal, you, your friend Dury, and Mrs. blessing, would
have been tried for murder.
Mrs. Fleming was again called, and asked what was bat abject
in getting the poor man out of her house.

She said that she wished him to be with his son, soondioi to
his request.

—We should not hesitate in believing you, bad you not
tolelWl;adle you lived in Compton.atreet, instead of JOiIIOOOD
court. You must have been afraid of something, and that you was
conscious you had done wrong.
Mrs. Fleming endeavoured to explain, but she was interrupted
by the Coroner, who told her she was a very bad woman, and had
acted with the greatest inhumanity. She had had a very narrow
escape. She then retired.
The Coroner recapitulated the evidence, remarking upon the
inhumanity of the woman Fleming, who he had very little doubt
had forced the poor fellow out of her house, but that fact could not
be proved by evidence. It would be for the Jury to return their
verdict according to the testimony that had been brought forward.
The Jury, after a short consultation, found averdict, that " The
dammed died a natural death, which was accelerated by the inhu-
Inaa conduct of Ellen Fleming, who was highly blameable in
allowing him to be removed while in a dying state.