The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

'EBROARY 23, 1864.

the constitution of the Admiralty, which he regarded as a
political jobbing office.
Sir F. SMITH, in a discursive speech, brought under
notice a variety of topics connected with naval expenditure,
ship-armour, and artillery, concluding by an inquiry on
what grounds the Admiralty had declined to apply to Par-
liament for a grant of money in aid of the erection of
church and schools at Brompton.
Mr. FERRAND narrated incidents in Davenport in
support of a charge against the IV hig Boards of Admiralty,
of political tyranny exercised over elections in the dock-
yards. To substantiate his charge ho read extracts from
the evidence taken by the Royal Commissioners, and com•
mented at much length upon the facts disclosed in his evi-
dence, mingling with his comments strong censure upon
individuals.

After a few words from Mr. DALGLISII, the house went
into a committee of supplyproforma.
The LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to bring in a
bill to make provision for uniformity of process in summary
criminal prosecutions, and prosecutions for penalties in the
inferior courts in Scotland; and a bill to provide for the
alteration of the circuits of the Court of Justiciary in Scot-
land, and for holding additional Circuit Courts.
The house adjourned at half-past 10 o'clock.

The Exhumation of the Body of a Gentlemn
at Stoke Newington,

Last evening Mr. Humphreys, the Middlesex
coroner, resumed and concluded the inquest upon the
body of Mr. Joseph Hankin, aged 64 years, at the
Rochester Castle, Stoke Newington.
Mr. Beard appeared on behalf of the Read family,
and Inspector Langdon watched the case for the
commissioners of police. The court was crowded.
The deceased was a retired builder, living with a
Mrs. Read, at No. 2, Union-court, Newington. He
died suddenly on the 26th November last. He was
placed in a coffin on the 27th, and he was buried on
the 28th. The doctor who gave the certificate had
not seen him for a fortnight previously. After the
death his relatives were told by Mrs. Read that he
had no money. The relatives knew that he had
been possessed of £5OO, but nevertheless they could
only find £l4, and they had to make a shirt to
him to be buried in. Subsequently it was ascer-
tained that notes to a large amount had been
changed by the Reads at the Bank, both before and
after deceased's death. Other circumstances also
conspiring to render the case one of strong suspicion,
the body was exhumed a fortnight ago, and then it
was found that the deceased had no shirt on, but
was naked in the coffin, with the exception of a bit
of calico laid on his chest.
Upon the resumption of the case,

Mrs. Maria Read was called and sworn—She said
that the deceased had lodged and boarded with her
for about 13 months. He paid her 12s. a week.
She did not expect his death, but ho was ill. She
had not denied him to the district visitor or the
clergyman, but he did not like to be seen. He used
to stay in bed a good deal. He was buried within
two days merely because Mrs Vickers, his relative,
suggested it, and witness had to pay for her son's
lodging out of the house while the body lay there.
Ttie Coroner—A shirt was put on him for burial
but none was found when the body was exhumed ?
Witness said she did not know what became of
it.

Coroner—Did you possess yourself of deceased's
money ?
Witness—Mr. Hankin gave me acme prior to
his death.
Coroner—How much ?

Witness, by desire of Mr. Beard, declined to say ;
but she admitted that in July she had changed a
note for £2OO at the Bank of Eflgland. She also
said that herself and son had since then changed
other notes to the amount in all of £390. They
were all given to herself and her family by
deceased. She tqld Mrs. Vickers that deceased
had no money, but that was because the deceased
directed her to do so.
Miss Ada Sewell, district visitor, and the Rev.
Mr. Jackson, proved calling to see the deceased, and
not being permitted to de so. Miss Sewell sent him
relief at the request of Mrs. Read for wine, &c.
Dr. H. Letheby made a careful analysis of the
contents of the stomach of deceased, but found no
poison. There was great emaciation, and death
apparently arose from want of nourishment. In
the absence of poison, he thought death arose from
congestion of the lungs from want of clothing and
warmth and food.
The Coroner having summed up,

The Jury returned a verdict—" That deceased
died on the 2Gth of November from congestion of
the lungs, accelerated by want of proper nourish-
ment and by privations, and the jury are of opinion
that the conduct of the Reads has been most unsa-
tisfactory throughout."