The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

Yesterday an inquiry was held by Mr. Wakley, at
the County Lunatic Asylum, as to the death of Mr.
William Parsons, thirty-three years of age, and formerly
butler in the service of Mr. Frederick Woodbridge, who
resided at Wavendon, near Newport Pagnell, Bucking-
hamshire.

William Digby, a gardener in the service of Mr.
Woodbridge, deposed that on the Bth of October Mr.
Woodbridge said to witness, " Parsons is in a very
curious state, and I wish you to take him to Tilley's, in
London." Tilley lives at 18, George-street, Portland-
place. Witness and Parsons started in the course of
an hour or so after Mr. Woodbridge had given his in-
structions. Witness told Parsons he was going to
London, and he said " Very well ;" but while they were
on the road Parsons remarked that if he thought Digby
was taking him to London, he would proceed in a dif-
ferent direction. Witness had been with Parsons all
the previous night, as he was sleepless, and rambled
and talked a great deal. He complained of being bad
in his head. They arrived at the Euston Station a
little before three o'clock, and went directly to Tilley's.
Tilley came out, and shook hands with him ; and on
Parsons stating that he wished to go out to see some
friends, Tilley asked witness whether he thought it
would be prudent to allow him to go alone. Witness
said he thought it would, and Parsons then went out
without any attendant. He returned in about half an
hour. Parsons particularly wished him to send for his
wife, a nurse in the employ of Mr. Pollock, the son of
the Chief Baron, and added that he did not care what
expense he incurred, so that he could see her. Some
medicine was procured for the purpose of inducing
sleep, and he took it cheerfully. Tilley took a bed for
deceased in the next street, and thither Parsons accom-
panied him about eight o'clock. After the deceased was
put to bed he became composed, and went to sleep,
upon which witness proceeded down stairs, to get some-
thing to drink. He had not been out of the room
more than ten minutes when he heard a great noise.
He ran up, and found Parsons out of bed, and com-
plained loudly of being left alone. Some more of the
medicine was administered to him, and shortly after-
wards he had a sort of fit. He pulled his bedclothes
about with violence, and complained of palpitation of
the heart. Witness knocked for assistance, as Parsons
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doctor I doctor !" but witness was not then aware that
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he wanted a doctor. About 10 o'clock that night Mr.
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Ayling was sent for, and at once attended. Parsons
wanted him to bleed him, as he said he suffered at his
heart. A wet napkin was applied to his head by the
medical gentleman, who said it was a dangerous case,
and thought the best thing that could be done would be
to get a cab and take the patient to Middlesex Hospital
as soon as possible. A cab was got, and witness pro-
ceeded with Parsons to the hospital, on reaching which
he was seized with a fit. He was then taken to a ward,
and witness never saw him again.
Mr. William Tilley, 18, George-street, Portland-place,
coffee-housekeeper, said deceased frequently lodged at
his house ; but he knew little or nothing more of him.
He received a letter from Mr. Woodbridge, stating that
Parsons was labouring under strong mental excite-
ment, and that he would be sent to witness on the
following day, as Mr. Woodbridge was unable to ascer-
tain who was his friends. Witness went to the Middle-
sex Hospital on the Tuesday following with Mr. Pol-
lock's servant. He saw the physician at Middlesex Hos-
pital, but he was not allowed to see deceased. On the
following Friday he was removed from the hospital to
Marylebone Infirmary. He saw Parsons on that occasion
at tie Middlesex Hospital, in an underground room, one
of the most miserable in the place, and in a line with the
dead-house, strapped down to a bed. That was enough
to drive any one mad, if there had been no previous dis-
position that way. There were no other beds in the
room. Mrs. Parsons was then with him and a nurse.
He shook hands with witness, and spoke to him calmly.
He said five fellows had been chasing him round the
room, and had then knocked him down and fell on him.
He said he was very sore from being strapped across the
chest, and complained very much of the treatment he
had experienced in that respect. He said he did not see
any occasion for strapping him down, as he did not wish
to run away, and if he did, it would be quite suffi-
cient to fasten him by the leg. He appeared to be
rational and quite collected. The authorities of Middle-
sex Hospital would not keep him any longer, and he
was then taken to Marylebone Infirmary. He knew
every place as he passed, and told witness, who accom-
panied him, what time it was as they passed All-Souls'
Church, Langham-place. He appeared very comfortable.
He was very glad to leave the hospital, as he said they
used him very badly there ; in fact, he said they used
him worse than a pig. He knew the Marylebone Work-
house when he got there, and made no objection to
enter it.