The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

A HORRIBLE STORY.

Mr. Sydney Hodges, Secretary of the Royal
Cornwall Polytechnic Society, in a letter to a con-
temporary, dated Falmouth, December 7, says :
For some years past rumours have been current
that the brother of a mason named Porter, living in
comfortable circumstances, had been kept for many
years in close confinement in a small room at the
back of the premises in which Porter and his family
reside. Heartrending cries and howls have been
repeatedly heard by the neighbours, especially on
cold winter nights ; but, although the sympathy of
many was aroused, no one deemed it his duty to in-
quireinto the circumstances of the case, not dream-
ing, probably, of the horrors that were to be revealed.
Rather more than a year ago Dr. Byrne, a well
known medical practitioner from the county of Dur-
ham, now residing in this town, was compelled to
seek the warm climate of Flushing for his health,
and incidentally heard these rumours. Not satisfied
to allow the matter to remain nninvestigated, he col-
lected all the evidence he could, and was so satisfied
that the case was one demanding a strict inquiry
that, with a most praiseworthy decision, he com-
municated the facts to the Home Secretary, who at
once appointed him special commissioner, and sent
down two other commissioners, who, in com-
pany with Dr. Byrne, went to Porter's house on
Thursday last and demanded admission to his
brother. Porter himself was absent, but, after some
little parley with the other inmates, Dr. Byrne,
who had obtained some insight into the plan of the
premises, led the way through the house across a
yard and up a flight of steps, where, concealed from
view round a corner, they found a door, which ad-
mitted them to the den in which the lunatic was
confined. The sight which met their gaze was too
revolting to be described with all its horrid details.
The place consisted of four bare, wet, plaster walls,
with a small window on one side, and the door by
which they had entered; a doorway opposite, for,
merly communicating with the house, was plastered
up, so as to cut off all communication, except by
the flight of steps at the back. In one corner of the
room was a wretched truckle bedstead, with cross
pieces of wood, rotten with filth, about six inches
wide and the same distance apart. On these bare
boards was crouched a being more resembling a
baboon than a man, drawn and cramped, from long
exposure and suffering, out of ail form of humanity,
stark naked, and with only two old rotten bags for
a coverlet. I have said like a baboon, from the
peculiar form into which the limbs were drawn;
the knees almost touched the chin, and were pressed
close down upon the chest, I imagine for warmth ;
the feet close together and bent down one over the
other, also I imagine for warmth; the hands
clinched and brought up close to the chin ; the arms
closely pressed against the sides. The knee and hip
joints were anchylose; the elbow joints were also
stiffening. The floor and the walls were one mass
of accumulated filth, the flour rotten with it, the
stench horrible ; and there are other circumstances
of the case too dreadful for publication. For up wards
of 20 years the tender mercies of his nearest relatives
have consigned him to this living tomb—not a rag
to lie upon, not even a wisp of straw; nothing but
the naked board, and the two old bags to cover him.
Would a raving maniac be consigned to such a
doom ? God forbid ! What, let ns ask, is the
mental condition of this poor wretch ? Simply im-
becile. A most mild, benevolent expression of coun-
tenance, a childlike submission to all that is done to
him, no symptom of violence or even anger of any
kind, and strong indications of intelligence in many
things, even after these weary years of neglect and
cruelty.

Yesterday, in company with Dr. Byrne and some
friends, I visited the poor creature, for the purpose
of getting a sketch of the remarkable position in
which he had remained for so many years. The
arrangements being then completed, two intelligent
keepers from the county asylum washed, dressed,
and took him away to that admirably conducted
estabiisbment at Bodmin, where we fervently hope
that both his mental and bodily condition may soon
be improved. Of all the moving incidents of the
case, not the least was the scene on emerging from
the house. Many hundreds of people were col-
lected round the conveyance, to which the keeper
carried him in his arms like a child. "My God !
Can that be a man " " God bless you, Dr. Byrne !"
were the exclamations that burst from the lips of
the multitude. Few eyes were dry, especially when
some who had known him is a strong intelligent
youth pressed forward and shook him by the hand.

I am told the Commissioners stated that in ail
experience of forty years they had never met with
a case so awful. I trust, Sir, Sou will give it pro-
minence in your columns, for the terrible reflection
forces itself upon us, when we see of what
humanity is capable, that this ease may not be
singular. Are there any other similar rumours of
cruelty that demand investigation ?

Alleged Negligence of the Police in the

Case of Mr. Law,

Yesterday Mr. John Humphreys, one of the Mid-
dlesex coroners, resumed at the Panther Tavern,
Hope Town, Bethnal-green, the inquiry relative to
the death of Mr. Charles Law, aged 45 years, a
surgeon lately practising in the east end of the
metropolis. _ _

On - last Saturday fortnight the deceased was
arrested while in the act of surreptitiously disposing
of the dead bodies of two newly-born children in
the Kingsland-road. While in custody he mani-
fested symptoms of insanity, and on the Monday
evening, when he was liberated on bail, his
intellect was so completely gone that he could not
be made to recognise any of his family, and he spoke,
or rather raved of fairies dancing about him, and of
birds and fishes. I-Ie died in that condition on Wed-
nesday morning of delirium tremens.

It wart, alleged that his gaolers procured him no
assistance while in custody. They declared that he
was " only shamming," and it was said that they
never called in any medical man to ascertain whether
the insanity was feigned or real. When the inquest
was opened, Dr. Wallace gave it as his opinion that
if the deceased had upon the outbreak of the attack
while in custody been attended by a medical man,
and had received the necessary nourishment and
stimulants, he would, quite possibly, be now alive.
The coroner adjourned the inquiry to the present
occasion for the purpose of investigating this serious
charge against the police.
Inspector Webster, N division, said that he was
the acting inspector at the Hoxton police station.
On Sunday fortnight he relieved Sergeant Smith at
9 o'clock in the morning. The deceased, Mr. Law,
was then in the cell. Another prisoner was in the
same cell. Mr. Law made no complaint of illness
whatever. He got breakfast, dinner, and tea, which
were brought to him. Beer and other stimulants
were not allowed to prisoners. Witness was relieved
at night by Sergeant Kimburn, who had charge of
the prisoners till Monday morning.

SergeantKimburn said that he visited the deceased
six times during the tight. He was awake each
time, but spoke quite rationally. He was taken to
the police court on the Monday morning, and then
appeared not to be incoherent.
Inspector George Waldie said that he saw Mr.
Law on the Monday morning, before he went to the
police court, and he then did not appear irrational.
John Bendall said that he was gaoler at the
Worship-street Police court. The deceased was
given into his custody after 11 o'clock on the Mon-
day morning. The prisoners were not given into
witness's custody until after the magistrate had dis-
posed of them. In the course of the day witness
noticed the deceased appeared very nervous, and
waa apparently much absorbed in thought. When
the deceased's bail came deceased said that he could
not go out as there was a river of water before the
door. Witness said, " Come, come, Mr. Law, there
t 9 no such thing—take my arm, and step out." He
was then bailed out. Before that deceased had
always Spoken rationally when roused from thought..
Mr. Albert Phillips, 18, Weymouth-terrace,
that be knew the
police court. deceased and saw hir 'said
:, at the
Ile saw deceased as he (-
cab. Witness told him to ask _cane up in a
be put off until his attorney ' tha4
.. his case should
not appear to know wh,. 4ame. Deceased did
thought he was not " was said, and witness
iipoihic and ''n h s right mind. He did not
or rationally, On Sunday morning

witness had been to the station-house and saw a

policeman, to whom he said that Mr. Law had been
accustomed to a great deal of stimulants, and that
if he was not supplied with some he might sink
under it. The policeman said that they would not
let him have any, and, therefore, it would be use-
less for witness to see the inspector about it. Wit-
ness told Mrs. Law that, and she asked him to re•
quest that bail might be taken. He went back to
the station-house, and was told that the inspector
could not take bail.
Police-constable Williams said that he took de-
ceased to the police court, and by the permission of
the inspector he went there in a cab. Witness did
not require him to walk to the Ciirtain-road, saying
that "he was the same as another man." The cab
was only obtained there. Deceased spoke ra-
tionally, and said that his friends were going to
get a barrister to defend him, but that would be
only a waste of money, and an attorney would do
as well. Witness was not present at the station
when anyone said that if stimulants were not given
to deceased he would sink. If witness had heard
that he should have sent for the police surgeon and
acted according to his directions.
The Coroner summed up, and said that the evi-
dence showed that the deceased would no doubt be
alive if he had had proper stimulants and medical
treatment ; bat he . had not been refused these
stimulants by anyone that was responsible. If
Mr. Phillips had made application to an inspector
instead of being satisfied with the answers of police-
men, the case would be very different. Under the
circumstances, no blame could be attached to the
conduct of the police authorities. The inquiry was,
however, necessary, because there was in the first
instance a strong suspicion that the deceased had
committed suicideatud that an allegation was made
by the family which seriously affected the police.
The Jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased,
Charles Law,died from the mortal effects of delirium
tremens, caused by excessive drinking."