The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-23 00:00:00

CORONERS' IN QUESTS

Last evening at five o'clock an inquisition was taken by Mr.
Payne, the city Coroner, in the medical students' room of
Guy's Hospital, Southwark, on view of the body of George
Osbourne, aged 40, who died in that institution under the
following somewhat extraordinary circumstances.
The inquiry was attended with considerable interest, it
being alleged that the surgeons of the hospital had ill used the
unfortunate person, and adopted improper medical treat-
ment. The jury-room was crowded with the students of that

institution.
Mr. William Frank Babington deposed, he was the house
surgeon of the hospital, and attended the deceased imme-
diately on his admission, on Tuesday evening last ; he was
labouring under lock jaw, which had arisen from the bite of a
dog ; he was in a very dangerous state, and died from its ef-
fects yesterday forenoon. The bite was in the thick part of
the left hand, and the wound, though slight, was perceptible.
CORONER—Does lock jaw generally proceed from such in-
juries ? Witness—Very frequently.
Anne Osbourne, who was very much affected, stated that
she was the wife of the deceased, who had been a fellmonger,
and resided in Russell-street, Bermondsey. On Friday
week last, in the morning, her husband told her that he had
been bit by a little dog, while playing with it on the night
previous, and at the same time showed her his left hand, say-
ing it was very painful. She asked him how the dog was
at the time ; his reply was, " Oh, it was snappish because
I teased it a little." She knew that he was rather in liquor
at the time, but not seeing the circumstance, could only
state what the deceased had told her. Some days after
he complained very much of his hand ; it became swollen,
and blood came from the wound ; but not thinking that
it would lead to anything dangerous, he did not apply for
medical advice. She (witness) up to Saturday last applied
bread and water poultices to the hand. On Tuesday last de-
ceased said to witness he was worse, that he had a violent pain
at his back, and found his neck very stiff; so much so that
he could not move his head. Two surgeons were then sent
for, and they prescribed for him medicine, &c. In this state
he continued till Tuesday, when he exclaimed, " Anne, I
find that my jaw is locked, and am afraid of something dange-
rous," upon which the surgeons were sent for, and they or-
dered his immediate removal to the hospital, where he died
yesterday forenoon. [The poor creature, who is left with a
large family totally unprovided for, was absorbed in grief while
giving her evidence.]
A Juror—Did you know what kind of dog it was that 1:k
him ? Witness—Yes, it was a small terrier, which was given
him by some friends.
CORONER—Was it in a rabid state at the time ? Witness
—No, Sir, it was not. Since the event I have destroyed it.
After her examination had concluded she asked the Coroner
whether she might be allowed to say a few words on the
conduct of the surgeons of the hospital ? On being replied to
in the affirmative, she said that a few minutes previous to her
husband's death, she went to see him, but, on going to his
bedside, was ordered away by the surgeon, who was going to
perform an operation, unsanctioned by the deceased, who
prayed " For Heaven's sake not to do it ;" but he did by
force, and killed him instantly. He even prayed to have five
minutes' conversation with her, bat it was refused him; in
fact the words were stifled in his mouth by the operation.
He died instantly the operation was performed. A beast
could not be treated worse than he was. All that he (her
husband) wanted was a minute's conversation with her, as
he was aware of the near approach of death. Mrs. Osbeurne
added that Mr. Babington was the person who performed the
operation.
The CORONER to Mr. Babington—What was the nature of
the operation ?
Mr. Babington replied that he wished to explain all the
circumstances detailed in the last witness's observations, in re-
ference to his conduct. When the unfortunate man was con-
veyed into the accident ward his case was hopeless. He was
then in a starving condition. He ( Mr. B.) did all in his
power to relieve him that night, and on the following day
(yesterday), one of the principals of the institution Dr. Black,
saw him. He gave directions to let him have nourishment as
much as possible. To accomplish this, to get it into his
mouth, one of the front teeth had to be taken out, in order to
introduce a tube to supply the nourishment, which he did, and
he died from the effects of drawing the tooth.
CORONER—He prayed for a few minute's conversation with
his wife, which was refused.
Mr. Babington admitted that it was necessary to per-
form the operation immediately, to give him support, but he
(Mr. B.) denied using any violence whatever. He
told the deceased, when he refused to allow the operation, what
would be the consequences, explaining to him that he could not
survive long, and at length the deceased submitted.
CORONER—But the operation was attended with instant
death ?
Mr. Babington replied it brought on spasms, which were
,he cause of dissolution.
Mr. Stocker, apothecary to the hospital, was of opinion
:hat the proceeding of Mr. Babington in the case in ques-
ion was perfectly correct, and he should have acted the

same way.
The Jury, after some further discussion, exonerated Mr.
Babington of all improper treatment, or ill-usage, and re-
turned a verdict of .‘ Accidental Death."
On Tuesday afternoon an inquest was Sold at the Horse-shoe
and Magpie, -Bridge-street, Westminster, before Mr. HIGGS
and a very respectable jury, on view of the body of Mr. John
Fester Thorpe, a respectable tobacconist, residing at No. 3,
in that street, who committed suicide under the circumstances
stated in the following evidence :
Jelin Vincent Edsell lived as shop-lad with the deceased
for eight or nine months; he was in an extensive way of busi-
ness, and latterly kept very late hours. His master left home
yesterday morning on business to the city, and returned in a
cab about half-pest one o'clock. He then appeared to be much
excited, and in about half an hour witness heard the report of
a pistol, and found that his master had shot himself with a
horse pistol through the head, as he stood by the side of his
bed. Medical assistance was immediately rendered, but it
was of no use, as the shot had instantaneously proved fatal.
The deceased had a short time before been speaking to his
broker, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Smithson, a solicitor, who were
consulting, with him on the state of his affairs, which appeared
to be very embarrassed.
Mr. Walker and Mr. Smithson both stated that the affairs
of the deceased were much embarrassed, and that his brother
had come up from the country with a view to settle with his
creditors, which he had effected by offering his acceptances at
the rate of 10s. in the pound. This seemed to annoy the de-
ceased, who considered " his honour to have been compro-
mised" by such an arrangement ; and although he affected
subsequently to think better of it, and be quite reconciled, it
produced such an excitement in his mind that he blew his
brains out. His creditors were perfectly satisfied with the
arrangements which had been entered into, and nothing could
be more kind than the treatment he had received from his
mother and brother, who, although the heaviest creditors, con-
sented to forego their claims, in order to enable him to pay
his other creditors. The deceased had latterly been associated
with idle characters, keeping late hours and being frequently
in a state of intoxication, to which causes his insolvency was
to be attributed.
Mr. Eubel, a gentleman who lived in the upper part of the
house with the deceased, stated many instances of the irregu-
lar hours kept by the deceased, and the indifferent character
of the persons who constantly visited the shop of the unhappy
man.
Maria Painter, the servant of a tavern in the same street,
which was much resorted to by the deceased, stated that he
was perfectly sober on Sunday night when he went home.
Several of the jury who were neighbours of the deceased
corroborated the witnesses as to the bad character of the asso-
ciates of the deceased, to his late hours, &c. ; and that there
could be no doubt that his embarrassments were occasioned
by his intemperate habits.
Verdict—Temporary Insanity.
Yesterday evening an inquisition was taken before Mr.
Stirling, in the Board-room of the Middlesex Hospital, on
view of the body of a foreigner named M. de Ghessele, resid-
ing at No. 15, Upper Charlton-street, who committed self-
destruction in a very determined manner.
It appeared that the unfortunate man, who was a profes-
sor and translator of languages, had been for some time past
in a low desponding state of mind, and on Sunday afternoon
was observed deliberately to open the window of the third
floor front room in which he resided, mount the sill, and preci-
pitate himself into the street. He was picked up insensible,
and bleeding profusely, in which state he was conveyed to the
Middlesex Hospital, where he died shortly after.
Verdict—" Temporary mental derangement."