The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-04 00:00:00

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gent/emen, With di 8

Dr. WitiTen, in replf to the Coroner repeated his forma r ,
effect of the floggigy, It vi'as a difficult and a dangerous
opinion, and coesidered that the man did not die from the
question to answer whether the Jean would have been
nown
t have nutallowed,
ifhe
in an unfit state of health. Lad no instructions from any
had not
tobbeetien og figt„Z gieid ie had considered him lie certainly wouM.
quarter as to how he should He 'wished to state• that
flogging was a most painful thing to witness, and he should.
be very happy if he had never to Ate.
ed another.
Dr. Hall was next called, and adhere' to his former testi—
mony, and added a lengthy statement, in whichhe attributed
the condition of the lower-layer of muscles on White's back, .
and on which Dr. Wilson grounded his opinion that the -
punishment had caused the man's death, to decomposition,
and not to any other cause.
Dr. Reid attributed death to inflamation of the heart and
pleura, produced rather by atmospheric changes than any-'
thing else he had beard; but he was strongly of opinion that:.
the flogging had noshing whatever to do with the cause of
his death.
Pr. Day said inflammation of the membrane of the
heart and lungs was the cause of death, produced by the
usual cause, cold; flogging inigtht ha ;re indirectly caused his
death.
Dr. Erasmus Wilson said—The cause 1.1 the :van's death
was unquestionably the flogging, and its cOnsoquelaces upon
his health. Death from flogging was no uncon•imon occur-
rence, and the disease which attended flogging generally
corresponded with that which existed in the case of yhite.
lie held abstracts of opinions in his hands, in whilch his
opinions were confirmed by the greatest men in t...`le
country—Sir H. Hardinge, and Drs. Marshall, Hamiltsle,
&c. Painful injuries to the skin are likely L'O
cause disease to the organs the stomach, the'
heart, and lungs, and the kidneys, so that the
irritation of the skin in this case was liable to: cause such
diseases. Such cases are constantly taking place in the hos-
pitals ; so thatwhether he looked at the primary or secondary
causes, he eaw the danger of death. But the pulpy softening
of the muscles was another cause of producing disease to the
internal organs. It frequently happened in the hospitals
that persons affecte,i with dangerous internal diseases were
desirous and able to perform some light work. No doubt
some of the veins were .injured by the flogging, and conveyed
matter from the skin into the interior of the body. He did
not entertain the slightest doubt as to the cause of the man's
death. .4
The evidence having been &eight to a conclusion,
Mr. WAKLEY shortly after 10 o'clock proceeded tuaddreaa - -
the jury. In the outset he begged thmirto dismiss from tlieir
minds all they had heard, all that had peon reported to therm
on the subject of the inquiry, and to arrive at a deliberate de-
".
cision on the evidence they heard. Their aft.ention had been: 1k
diverted from the real object of the inquire' by matters
foreign to it, but they must nevertheleis do their
best to dismiss from their minds all irrelevancy, and
to come to a decision on the merits of the case.
They had had to encounter great difficulties at the
outset by the desire of the authorities at the barracks -4
to prevent the bolding of an inquest. He did not say there
was a deliberate attempt to suppress an inquiry into the
cause of the deceased's death, but that there was an apparent
attempt to prevent one being held, and he hoped this case
would be a warning to others, w;:io adopted so pernicious an
example, that they would find the law too strong for them,
and that justice was not to be perve.-ted. Having compli-
mented the Rev. Mr. Trimmer for tbe, decisive and proper
course he had adopted, and commented on the extraordinary
and contradictory statements made to the !ley. Geiatleman,
to the registrar, and to the constable, who was
sent to the barracks by him (the Coronet'), he
went on to say that, nevertheless, the statement of
Dr. Warren to the constable as to the cause of the
deceased's death in no way differed from the statemenfli
had made before them. He never should forget the expTV,-
sions on the faces of the jury when they first visited theft
body, when it was in a high state of decomposition, and
found that a large piece of skin had been removed from the
back. Reports very uncreditable to the officers of the regi-
ment for humanity were plentifully spread, and some
greatly exaggerated, not from any wilful motive, but en+
tirely owing to the irregularity on the part of the authoritiert
of the barracks. They found, however, on inquiry, that the
skin had been removed for the purposes of the cross-'
examination by two staff doctors, so that a medical inquiry
into the death of the man had been set on foot, but no de-
finite or at all satisfactory statement was n"eade, except its
the House of Commons, twelve miles away. suspicion was.
the ground of action in that court, and it had been neces-
sary up to that moment to pursue their inquiry du suspi-
cion, and on suspicion alone. The body having again been
examined by military surgeons, the jury thought it right to
have the post mortem examination completed by Mr. Day;
but he having arrived at the opinion that a disease of the
chest was the cause of the man's death, thought that a gets- -
tlefnan from London, Mr. E. Wilson should be selected
to complete it. He did not hesitate to fix upon Mr. E. Wilson,
whom he was bound to state was a gentleman of high re-
putation and of unimpeachable veracity. He was, in addi-
tion, a first-rate anatomist, and had written one of the best
hooks extant on the ‘• Diseases of the Skin." In saying
this he did not detract in the slightest degree from the re-
putation of the other medical gentlemen. He therl referred'
to the law, and said he might state, without the slightest
hesitation (and he did not say whether it was a
cruel
,or a I akier punishment) that the punishment
was strictly legal, as it was authorised by' Act
of Parliament, which specified that no man was
to receive more than 150 lashes. Whether the
punishment was a low, vulgar, or brutal punishmenfi or
whether it was a humane punishment—high and exaltotie
and moral and effectual ih its object—they had not to in-
quire into, as these matters were foreign to their inquiry, but,
whether his death was caused by natural circumstances, or
from violence received from the inflicton of the punishment,
But if that punishment had been improperly. inflicted,.
or if one stroke more than the authorised num-
ber had been inflicted, they might be guilty oil
manslaughter, and even of the higher crime of murder, and'.
every one present would be liable to be so ch. rged. The.
real question they had to determine was, did Whit.% die from
natural causes, or was his death caused froni the effects of the
flogging which he received on the 15th of July? There
coul.l be no more fallacious test than the examination Of a
man by a medical man, for the purpose of discovering the
state of his health, because diseases of the stomach, of the lives",
and of the heart might exist, and yet not one of them, not
even the most celebrated, might be aware of their existence.
Then the skin was Bo bNiutifully formed, and so exquisitely
eensitive, that the prick of a pin in any part of it caused
considerable pain ; but what c.'isease might not he communi-
cated to the internal organs h) the shock caused by the
lash? There were numbers of cases on record of disease,
being communicated internally from ti.e skin. The man'e
skin might have been healed ; but the most dangerous dis-
ease might have been communicated within, and more slowly
causing the death. He then referred to the medical evidence'
and considered, from the evldenee, that inflammation existed at,
the time he was punished, to the pleura and lining membrane
of the heart; and if he were to ask Dr. Hall the question, he
was sure he would be of his opinion. (Dr. Hall ,;ay, from
the appearance of the part, that it must have existen at the
time White was punished). After referring to the evie:ence
of the medical men, he went on to say that if they consider,'"ai
White had died from the effects of the punishment, they
must state so, but in law their verdict would lie-
what was called "misadventure," or excusable homi-
cide • or if from natural causes, from inflammation in
the pleura and lining membrane of the Ii ,art and left lung.
The carelessness with which so horrible a punishment was
inflicted, showed a disregard of human suffering which was
utterly unpardonable, as they found five cats srhich dif-
fered in size and strength. They found the Colonel, and the
Adjutant, and Surgeon, Dr. Warren, standing close to the
man while suffering punishment. That the surgeon did not
feel his pulse, or make any attempt, except looking at hie
back, to discern the nature of the sufferings within the
agonised frame. The articles of war expressly stated that the
punishment should not affect either " life or limb:Vie hoped
that they should hear no more of such a species of
punishment. It was far from him to brand the unfortunate
persons who were compelled to carry out the sentence; rather
let it fall upon the abominable system itself, and if it was
continued, let its denunciation be left to the popular yule*,
which in time would, he sincerely hoped, work its abolition-
He then dismissed them to consider their verdict at half-pAst
eleven o'clock.
The jury returned into court at a quarter to one o'ciOVlEr
and delivered the following verdict :
" Thejary do say that Frederick John White died on the 1 lth
of July, 1846, from the mortal effects of a severe and
cruel flogging which he received on the 13th of June,
1846, in the Cavalry Barracks at Heston ; that the
said flogging was inflicted under a sentence passed
upon him by a District Court-martial, composed of
officers of the regiment of the 7th Hussars, and duly con-
stituted for the trial of the said Frederick John White; and
that Jdmes Lowe Warren, the surgeon, and Colonel Whyte,
the commanding officer of the said regiment, were
present at the flogging, by which the death of White was
caused ; and in returning this verdict, the jury cannot refrain
from expressing their horror and disgust at the existence of any
law among the statutes of this realm which permits the
revolting punishment of flogging on the British soldier;
and the jury implore every man in this kingdom to
join hand and heart in praying the Legislature
for the abolition of every law, order, or repletion, which
permits this disgraceful punishment, which they gonsider is
a slur upon humanity, and upon the fair name' 9f this
country."
Applause greeted the conclusion of the verdict.
After a pause,
Mr. WAKLIIY said he heartily and candidly concurred hi
the verdict. He had felt it his duty to make some inquiries
of the deceased's brother as to the state of his (the deceased's)
mind ; and the information he then received, and the
letter he had received that day, strengthened him in the
opinion that the deceased was in an insane state of mind at
the time he was punished. It was a fearful thing to consider
that an insane man had been flogged to death.
The worthy Coroner seemed much affected.
The jury then separated at one o'clock, after an investiga-
tion of nearly 16 hours' duration.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—A CARE OF • SHATTERED
CONSTITUTION CURED BT HOLLOW/01*S PII.Ls.--111sS Glover, age
twenty-tour, daughter of Colonel Glover, 15, Broadway, New York,
had an enlargement of the liver, a constant palpitation of the heart,
besides being dropsical, was never tree from cough, aceompartleci
with much expectoration. She was so bad as not to be able to leave
her chamber. The first advice in the country had been obtainedfr
her, but to no purpose, as she daily got worse, and kept her bed
altogether. In this hopeless state the Colonel sent to' Toronto for
twenty dollars worth of Holloway's rills, which had the effect of
completely restoring the young lady W health in about Wfae weeks.
Sold by all druggists, and at rrofessor Holloway's Establisliaent,
244, Strand, London.
" HocuELAGA."—The name cf the new Book of
Travels, which Mr. Warburton, the author of "The Crescent
and the Cross," has just introduced to the public. is the In-
dian title for the ricer St. Lawrence, and the object of the
work is to afford a faithful picture of " England in the New
World ;" which the anther has accomplished in a manner
singularly inviting. The whole of the anglicised portion a
the American continent—more particularly Canada and the
United States; the institutions of the country as well as the
manners of the people— has been sketched odin a style as re-
markable for its vigour as for its fidelity. In short, Mr.
Warburton has furnished his readers with a work derived
from personal observation, the interest of which is only •
exceeded by the ta!ent that has been devoted to its pro-
duction.
CONSISTENCY.— On Friilav, the 24th instant, Lord
William Powlett, of this city, took the oaths and hiss seat for
the small borough of St. Ives ; and on the same day voted
with Lord George Bentinck on the Sugar Duties Bill, and,-
of course, formed one of the minority of 38. On Tneklav
last he again voted with the minority on the same Bill. This
is admirably consistent with the declaration of his Lordship
on the hustings at St. Ives ; " I am a sincere advocate for all
artices of foreign import being introduced into this country
at the lowest possible duty." This is the man the Tories
to.represent Bath,—what a pity it is the Liberals, won't
agree wilh their proposals. —Bath Journal between the
The contemplated matrimonial n
allire.atarcy b
ates
War, and
Right Hon. Sydney Herbert, la.t,. Sec
re is e.trecte4 to be
disc A:Court, niece to Lord lieyr.ce
E 4011114041 Al the am Of the mouth.

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lion of Dr. *ertot to withdra
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