The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-18 00:00:00

Medical Attendance for the Sick Poor,

An inquiry was held last Right by Mr. Hum-
phreys, Middlesex coroner, at the Windsor Castle
Tavern, Victor'a Perk, touching the death of a fe-
male child from want of medical attendance at
birth.

Charles Franks, 6, Type-street, Bethnal_green, a
shell-fish hawker, said that at four o'clock on the
morning of Saturday, the 9th of April, his wife
awoke him and asked him to fetch a doctor, as her
confinement was imminent. He went to the work-
house at Bethnal-green, where they sent him to the
house of Mr. William Runcieman, the relieving
officer. The latter positively refused to give an
order for the doctor, but said the woman should
come into the house. Witness said she was too bad
for removal. Mr. Runcieman said he would not
give a doctor's order, but he would give an order
for admission. He gave witness a paper, which he
could not read, and which he believed, on the faith
of Runoieman's assurance, was an order fordode admis-
sion.tor ,Is
Witness took it home, passing the
house, and told a neighbour that his wife eon on y
l l
be taken into the house. In the evening, after the
child was dead, witness took the orderorbdaeerkfotor
the
relieving officer, who said it was An
e
doctor, and asked witness why be did not present
it. Witness said ,g Because you
,told me it was for
gave similar evidence, and said that they
yd
not read.
Mrs. Franks
the house and not for the doctor.'
Mrs. Swam saidg that when last
enwitness
came a
O
by Rvittinlie only take her
•
tm
He in
re,e waith the
pretty us
ga,e
Fitness paper
eneesive
itninissl
into the house.
but for the woman Swainsbury witness must have
lost her life as well as the
h e said
"
child.
Mr. F. T. Gant, surgeon to the Royal Free Hos-
pital, proved that the deceased, a fine healthy child,
died solely from want of medical skill.
Mr. Runcieman swore that he never said to
Franks that he would only give an order for admis-
sion. He did say, ~ If you are so poor as you say
she ought to come into the infirmary." Witness
asked him if he knew the doctor's house, and he
said yes, and witness then gave him the order.
Mrs. Runcieman corroborated this statement ;
and an inmate of the workhouse, a messenger of
Baii;:ieznan't3, corroborated the latter on another
point. _

The Forenito said Mr. Ranckman was free from
blame, but that he had not been so careful as he
might have been to prevent the man from falling
kto error, and thereby the child's life wee sacri.
ficed. _ . _

Verdict, " Deith from want of medical attoid.
tinee at birth."

THE NEW DUTY ON FIRE INSURANCE.—By the
new Customs and Inland Revenue Act just passed the duty
on stock in trade under a fire insurance is reduced to is 6d
per £lOO. The property so insuted is to be distinguished in
the policy, and in existing policies by a memorandum
thereon. The new duty takes effect on and after June 25th.
next.

PUBLIC ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.—The session com-
menced ou Feb. 4, and up to the present only 23 public and
IS local acts have been passed.

11_,[E THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
0041 be had Every Evening of
G. tt. GLICSIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, llyde-park,
•

The Weather—Sun Office, May 18, 1864.

THER3fOM ETER.

- -
This morning" at Nine o'clock
Tta
82
aa7 at Two o'clock

Barometer-30.16.
N E.;
fight breeze, and very fine.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tina Dey..—Morning, 1111. 68-IL—Afternoon, 12- 11:1'
fr)-Nonseevr.-Morning, 1211. 23:n.—Aftarncon, 1211. 44ci.