The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-11 00:00:00

DEATH OF A PRISONER IN THE CLERKEN
WELL HOUSE OF CORRECTION.

AN ADJOURNED INQUIRY.

Yesterday, Mr. Wakley, coroner for West Mid-
dlesex, opened an inquiry in the Clerkenwell House
of Correction, on the body of Joseph Scott, 22 years
' of age, who was del ained in the above-mentioned
prison, on a sentence of a month's hard labour, con-
sequent on a committal for gambling.
Mrs. Rosetta Scutt, of Branch-hill, Hampstead,
said-1 am the mother of the deceased. He has
been suffering for the last two years under disease
of the heart, and has consequently been unable to
bring in a penny. I saw him this day (Monday)
week, when he told me he had been pretty well
attended to in the prison, and made no coin- -
plaint against any one. He had been in the prison
three weeks and a day, and at the time I sa"
him he was in the infirmary. He had a bad cough,
and spat blood, and for two years had been ill.
not His time of release was up last Saturday, and I
expected now to have had him at home. He was
guilty of the charge for which he was punished.
fir. William Smith, infirmary deputy-surgeon,
said—The deceased entered the prison on the 13th
ult., and was admitted to the infirmary on the 31st
ult. His time was
on t
pneumonia
l e previous
and s day,welupinugn Saturday last, hut he died
He had been suffering from
of the legs. He had not
been put on the wheel.
The mother—He had been put on the wheel
Witness—He might have been for an hour or two
in the morning.
The Coroner—Are we to interpret the sentence
of hard labour, to servitude on the wheel.
Witness—Yes, if of suitable age.
The mother (to the Conn, r)—Have
you, sir, not
seen Some letters?
The Coroner—That will be attended to.

Witn;;;;itinued—On the 14th ult. the de-
ceased complained of a pain in the side, and an in_
quirt' was made as to whether he worked on the
wheel, and I believe he did so for an hour before
breakfast. The wheel did not work every day.
The Coroner—Under what disease was the de-
ceased suffering? Witness—lnflammation of the
lungs and air passages. He had also swelling of
the legs. He was allowed, as may be seen by the
book, gin, arrowroot, barley water, and sherry.
The Coroner (to the mother)—Was your son of
intemperate habits ? The mother— No, sir ; very
temperate and steady. He took a little gin and
water, which was advised by the doctor.
Witness—He was getting better under the treat-
ment, and when I saw him, some days before he
died, he appeared to be getting well. However, a
relapse came on, and he died. I fully believed he
would have been discharged from the prison. At
the time of his entry there was no distinct report
entered outside as to his being unfit for labour.
The mother— Ah, that cell caused his death.
Witness--The cell, why it is perfectly dry.
The mother—We have had good proof that he
was put on the mill.

The Coroner—W' by did you not go before a ma-
gistrate and complain, which you might have done?
The mother—l did not know what to d..
A Juryman —Cannot we see the warder who was
in charge of the deceased ?
The Coroner—You shall see all.

Witness continued—The warder is not now in the
way. Ile has gone to his dinner, but he shall be
instantly sent for.
A juryrnan—Whs the deceased put upon tie
wheel or not? Witness—lf on the wheel at all, it
would. not be more than ha f-an-hour.
A juror—What, after being ill, and reported as
such ? Witness—l never knew that the wheel was
injurious—it was a matter of exercise.
The mother here made use of some explanations
respecting the treatment of her son, which the coro-
ner considered necessary to suppress, informing her
that if she made such observations, she would have to
leave the room, as they had only to deal with facts.
The Coroner (to witness)—'Then this mill torture
was exercised for half an hour? Witness—lf
excused from the wheel, it would be put down by
Mr. Wakefield.

The Coroner—You see, gentlemen, in this case no
post-mortem examination has been made, the notice
referring to the death being such that it was deemed
unnece.sary. That, however, must now be done.
A Juror—l should like to hear what the warder
has to say.

The Coroner—We must have more valuable tes-
timony than that of the warder ; for if he has done
anything wrong, were he here, we could not expect
him to criminate himself.

At this point of the inquiry the Coroner re-
quested the court to be cleared of strangers, during
whose absence letters were read showing the state
of the deceased on his entry to the prison, and his
innocence of the offence for which be has suffered.
After which, it was decided that a post-mortem
examination should be made, and three gentle-
men were named, residing outside the prison, one
of whom should perform the same.
On the re-opening of the court the announce-
ment of an adjournment was made.