The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-10 00:00:00

BRUTAL TREATMENT OF AN
INSANE PAUPER.

Yesterday an inquest, adjourned from Thursday
last, was taken by Mr. H. M. Wakley, deputy-
coroner, at the Elephant and Castle, Camden-town,
on the body of Louisa Grey, aged 42, an insane
pauper in St.lPancras Workhouse, whose death was
alleged to have resulted from the ill-treatment she
had undergone whilst an inmate in the above work-
house.

The evidence of a daughter of the deceased went
P to prove that her mother bad been in the workhouse
near twelve months, and that in March last she was
placed in the insane ward by the surgeon, on the
ground that she was not right in her intellects. De-
ceased made frequent complaints of ill-usage from the
nurse of the ward, and a patient named Ann Bryan.
On one occasion, on visiting her mother, she said she
was a murdered woman, and that Bryan had brutally
struck her over the body and legs with a large stick ;
she was covered with bruises all over; deceased also
said she had been repeatedly kicked by tKo of the
male pauper assistants who came to remove her
from one ward to another. On one occasion she
took deceased some food, when the nurse threw
it, and other things belonging to ber mother, on
the sanded floor. The nurse appeared to be under
the fluence of liquor, and it was remarked by
persons visiting the ward that she was constantly
drunk. Deceased was not right in her mind, but
after the ill-usage she received from the nurse and
Bryan she became very much worse.
Mr. J. Erichson, surgeon to University College
Hospital, said he had made an examination of the
body of deceased. There were bruises on the
shoulder, back, and legs, together with some large
bed-sores on the posteriors and back. On opening
the head, he found the brain much thickened, an ap-
pearance usually found in insane persons. The other
organs of the body were generally healthy. In his
opinion the deceased died from exhaustion, from the
bed-sores, and disease of the brain. The marks of
violence on the body had nothing to do with her
death.

Mr. C. Robinson, surgeon to St. Pancras Work-
house, said he had attended the deceased since March
last, when he bad her placed in the insane ward,
which is occupied by refractory, idiotic, and epileptic
patients. Whilst an inmate of the ward, a quarrel
took place between the deceased and a person named
Bryan, when the latter seized a stick, and struck
deceased repeatedly over the legs. On the occur-
rence coming to his knowledge he instantly removed
deceased to another ward, and had Bryan placed
under restraint. Deceased was afterwards brought
back to No. 1, the insane ward, which contained 26
patients, with three nurses. The nurse of which de-
ceased had complained is named Marlow,and he must
say that she is not a very eligible person to fill the
situation, as she is given to drink. He had frequently
written to the board of guardians on the inefficient
manner in which the duties of nurses in the infirmary
were performed, and the propriety of having paid ser-
vants. Marlow was discharged from her situation in a
day or two afterwards, on account of her conduct. lie
saw deceased daily, and was aware she had some bed-
sores, but_he could not prevent them, not having a
water-bed in the workhouse, which he had frequently
asked for, and the subject was now under the consi-
deration of the board of guardians.
The CORONER observed that there was something
wrong in the management of St. Pancras Workhouse ;
it was quite evident, as incompetent nurses were em-
ployed; and from what had lately come under his no.
tice he thought it high time that a system of paid
nurses was introduced.

The jury, after a short consultation, returned the
following verdict :—" That the deceased died from ex-
haustion, and the jury cannot separate without ex-
pressing their opinion that the deceased has not been
properly treated while in the insane ward ; that she
has been violently assaulted by the nurse, and also
by one of the insane patients ; and the jury recom-
mend the guardians to furnish more efficient nurses,
and a separate ward for the refractory patients, and
also that water-beds should be provided for patients
having bed-sores."