The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-30 00:00:00

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PRISON LIFE.

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On Thursday afternoon Mr. Bedford, coroner. for/
,Westminster, and a higbly-respecta,ble.juryi.,Wore
occupied several hours at Millbank.Penrtertias in
investigating the cause of the death cif EV-vard Okay,
34, 'formerly a commercial traveller, and more re-
can tlY.ateacher of mathematics, but at the time of
-his death a convict in that establishment, who died
in the infirmary under circumstances of a most ex-
traordinary nature.
Capt. V. Craig, deputy-governor of the prison,
deposed that the deceased was tried for obtaining
money under false pretences at Bedford, on Nev. 9,
1852, and sentenced to 7 years' transportation. His
'health was stated to be good. He had been punished
while in the prison for bad behaviour. His conduct
was desoribed on the book as follows :—Millbank,
very bad ; Dartmoor, very bad ; Pentonville, des-
perately bad ; Portland, very bad. His punish-
ments since he had been in this prison were :—On
Sept. 26 was reported for refusing to work; 27th, the
same ; 28th, for loud talking and improper language
to Dr. Baly, for which he was sentenced to six days'
confinement in the refractory cell on bread and
water, third day full diet. On the 29th for attempt-
ing to assault an officer in the refractory cell he was
sentenced to 7 days' bread and water ; the fourth
full diet. On the 11th Dec., for dirtying his cell
and improper conduct in chapel, two days locked
in refractory cell, and one day bread and water.
On the 12th, for shouting and insolence to the offi-
cers, fer which he was 'removed to the dark cell.
On the 16th, for tearing up the prison rules, and
breaking 30 panes of glass, three days in the r
i-
fractory cell, on full diet. On the 25th Dec., for
improper language to governor and others, and as-
saulting prisoners, 24 hours handcuffed, and 6 days
in the refractory cell, on bread and water ; the 4th
full diet. On the 28th, for making a noise, 30th
for shouting at the top of his voice, 24 hours hand-
cuffed. On the 2d Jan. lees- for tearing up his
clothes, the bekiclothes, and breaking 24 panes of
glass, 21 days in his own cell on bread and water ;
every third day full diet, and 16s. 4d. of his money
confiscated to the public. On the sth, for shouting
and climbing up the ventilation shaft-, placed in a
canvass dress (strait-waistcoat) and handcuffed for
au hour and a half. On the '7th, for throwing his
topcoat in the officer's face, 24 hours handcuffed.
On the Bth, for making a nuisance in his cell and
47estiriying the Won: property,- 24 -hiku.cs.4a hand-
cuffs. -On the 17th, for destroying- his 'shirt and
threatening to hang himself, handcuffed. On the
25th, for destroying 3 blankets, 2 sheets, and 1 rug,
24 hours handcuffed. On the 26th, for allowing
another prisoner to read a letter and using insult-
ing language to Dr. Baly, not punished. On May
7, for abusive language to the surgeon, shouting
from his cell window, breaking 48 panes of glass,
destroying one ft:rick and 9 pairs- of drawers, and
throwing a pint of gruel over an officer, for which
he was placed in handcuffS for reStraint," and referred
to Capt. O'Brien, one of the directors, who ordered
28 days in his own cell on bread and water, with
such intervals of full. diet as the surgeon thought
proper. While in his cell on May 9th, for commit-
ting a nuisance., not ,punished.- On the 10th, for
destroying his shirt and tying it round his neck, and
threatening to commit suicide, 24 hours in handcuffs.
On the 20th, for throwing a pint of water over the re-
sident-surgeon, not punished. On the same day, for
breaking 20 panes of glass, 24 hours handcuffed. All
the furniture was removed from his cell. On the 24th
May he niptured ,himself, and an-operation was
performed, and he died on the 26th. Did not think
he was insane. .

A Juror—You say he was not mad, Do you
not think the torturing course adopted by placing
him in irons, with only bread and water, was
enough to drive him mad ?
Captain Craig—Certainly not.
The Juror—l have a different opinion.
The coroner said the jury might ask any questions
but not give opinions till they returned their verdict.
Thomas Stanmore, principal infirmary warder,
proved that at about I o'clock on Sunday he saw
deceased hanging to the bars 'a his cell window by
his hands, and calling to witness by.name with an
opprobrious epithet. At 4 o'Clock in the afternoon
witness heard that he had injured himself, and he
was admitted into the infirmary.
By the Jury—When deceased was looking out of
his window he was seven ?feet from .the floor. He
could have got up there by standing •on the ham-
mock-hook. - There was no furniture in the cell ex-
cept a bucket for him to sit on.: Witness thought
he was doing it with the intention to make. a dig-
turjoance.
William Turner, warder, proved having charge
of the deceased, and he. had witnessed some of the
punishments. On the Sunday he received a report
that he was sick, and went to the cell and removed
him to the infirmary. Witness mentioned, among
other punishments,' one for attempting to commit
suicide on the day that he was admitted.
Captain Craig explained that he had overlooked
that in the book in giving his evidence.
Turner, in answer to the jury, said that when
under punishment he took his bread and water
without complaining. It was for punishment that
he was handcuffed. _ _

Mr. Joseph Egerton Savory, the resident sur-
geon, said he had had deceased under his charge
ever since his appointment on the 13th May. As
deceased was under punishment witness had seen
him every morning, and never saw any necessity
for altering his diet. He was on bread and water
on the 28 days' punishment.
By the Coroner—The allowance of bread was
16 ounces per day to a penal-class man, and a
pint of water. The witness then went at great
length into E everal matters in which deceased had
said he had diarrhoea and other complaints, which
turned out to be false. Deceased was not at all
wasted in body. When deceased was brought
into the infirmary be was also seen by Dr. Baly.
Deceased was suffering from strangulation of the
intestines. He said he did not know how it was
done, but from inquiries made of the officers he
found that deceased had hung by his arms to thri
bars to look through the window, and there was no-
thing more likely to cause the injury thandoing so.
Witness was told that in the presence of deceased,
and he did not deny it. There was no extetnal
bruise, except a swelling across the hernia. Wit-
ness used every remedy to reduce the swelling, but
without avail, and, after a consultation with Dr.
Baly, it was decided to perform an operation. This
was done by Mr. Henry, of Middlesex Hospital ;
but, although port wine, brandy, beef tea, egg pud-
dings, and other nourishment were administered,
he sank, and died on Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock.
He LIM opened the body, and found death had.
arisen from inflammation of the bowels and perito-
neum.

By the' Coroner—The injury must have been
caused by some great violence.
By the Jury—He could subsist2B days on bread
and water.
Captain Craig, in answer to a juror, said the 28
days' punishment was given by the director.
The juror thought the director had not the
power.
The Coroner read a clause in the prison rules,
framed on the Act of Parliament, showing that a
director could, after hearmg matters on oath, give
a prisoner punishment not exceeding 21 days, or
corporal- punishment.
Captain Craig said deceased bad never received
corporal punishment in the prison. He bad at
Portland.
The following verdict was then recorded :—..
" That the deceased died from inflammation of the
' bowels and peritoneum caused by rupture. ''

i o Mayn— 2vvlaprneesewntebdlabcky
contribution by a select por-
tionsillTEgfiT:vtiniFt,:i. Seaftlirlay,at
of his congreg
of the ladies
-r--e result
to the Rev. T. J. Judkin, ALA.,
Chapel, as a testimonial of their admiring esti-
mateable persevering, and beneficial exer-
tions, and out of 1 , in the exercise of
depatation from them . .
aofSninoflolotnhge,
*t •
tione, both .
his sacred pastoral functions.
lADvslaisindsNr.)—slollT AND HEARING.—SPECTACLES„-
POwaßrub Tewiscorac —OPERA, RACE, AND PERSPECTIVB
Grasses.-
avd B. Solomons, opticians, 39, Alba
the York Hotel,
W.—By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and.
marls-street,—Meet,ePssirldSilly, Observe--01,-
p
extraordinary improvements iu the most powerful and bril.
liant Telescopes, Camp, Race. course, Opera, and Perspective
Glasses, to know the distan.ces. These telescopes possess
such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches,
with an extra eye-piece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons,
Saturn's ring, mild the double stars ; with the same telescope
can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles die-
taut, and an obje et from 16 to 29 miles. For the waistcoat
pocket, and aro of larger, and all sizes, with increasing
powers according.ly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—A valu-
able newly-inven te I very small powerful Waistcoat Pocket
Sass, the size of: a walnut, by which a person can be seen
ants known one and a half mile distant. They answer
Houses.
averl
purpose on the race-course, and at the
Countr.v scenery, .sand ships are clearly seen at Opera
They two invalua hie for shooting, d king, yachting,
kp miles.
to 1 4
Ars and tourists, Opera,
to sportsmen, gent lt men, gamekeepers, with wonderful
And E'c.°urses.—...secie Lenses derived Camp, Perspective,
powers. —lnv eat advantage
t newer. The gr
greatest transparent ~
s, that vision impaired becomes pre.
from this invention'
altoblo preserving }—,
I a, and very aged Persons are enabled.
served and strength/311e
~, the most minute occupation—
to employ their eight c".
can see with these let nit
,ire the frequent changes to the
es of a much less magnifying power
—and they do not rep
her powerful assistance. Persons
,of their spectacles in a letter and
dangerous effects of t remote part of the world by send.
can be suited at the mob
, an
lug
one
of
the
from t II e eye they can read small print
who not made use of spectacles by
with it, and these
Deafne a s.—New Disuovery.—The Or.
stating their age-ets out
"
'Vibrator, an extraorai
stating the distance
early powerful, small newly-
inventedni° instrument for deafne as, entirely di
,bent
from all
othera, surpasses anything of tb, a kind that s.,3loejro.
on alto herr
bably ever can be produced,
tne skin, is not perceptible. It ,
, Being
deafof the sum
enablebslies; Mlle Unpleaaant
distinctly at church and at public a
mem
is entirely removed,
sensation of singing noises in the ears
iossibly could be desired.
and it affords all the assistance that 1
.ohoerre_oprosite the
—39, Aliiemarle-street, riomPlY•r-
, York Hotel. W.