The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-11 00:00:00

DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

Last year 12,002 persons died in 120 public institutions
in London, constituting about a sixth part of the total
deaths of the metropolis. In other words, of every
1,000 deaths in London in 1867 no less than 170 occurred
in one or other of the public institutions ; and of every

1,000 of population in London 3.9 were inmates of these I
institutions at the time of their death. Of every
1,000 deaths 63'4 occurred in one or other of the
36 metropolitan hospitals—viz., 3.291, or 46'6 per 1,000
in 16 general hospitals ; 929, or 13'2 per 1,000 in eight
hospitals for special diseases ; 82, or I'l per 1,000 in
four lying-in hospitals ; and 177, or 2.5 per 1,000 in eight
military and naval hospitals. The mortality of London
is not unduly augmented by the deaths of persons in the
metropolitan hospitals who came from other parts, or
contracted diseases in the wards, as those cases are com-
pensated for by the residents of London who left it
consumptive to die elsewhere. There were also three
hospitals and asylums for foreigners, in which 100 deaths
occurred, being in the proportion of I'4 per 1,000 of the
total deaths ; 147 deaths, or 2.1 per 1,000, took place in four
military and naval asylums. In the 19 lunatic asylums
357 deaths were registered, being in the proportion of s'l
to every 1,000 deaths. It may be stated that two large
lunatic asylums—llanwell and Colney-hatch, in which
many London lunatics die—are beyond the limits of the
metropolis. In the 46 metropolitan workhouses there were
6,829 deaths, or 961 out of every 1,000 deaths in London
occurred among the inmates of workhouses. Ninety deaths,
or I'3 per 1,000, were recorded in 12 prisons. It is note-
worthy that of 154,602 inmates in 853 public institutions
of England and Wales, returned at the census of 1861,
32,437 inmates died in that year ; and assuming that the
average number of inmates is represented by the enume-
rated population, the mortality was at the rate of 20.98
per cent., or 210 per 1,000, while the mortality of the popu-
lation of all England was at the rate of 22 per 1,000 of the
population. The mortality of the public institutions of
the country was therefore ten times as high as the mor-
tality in the population generally. The annual rate of
mortality per 1,000 average inmates was 190 in 690 work-
houses, 569 in 106 hospitals, and 111 in 57 lunatic asy-
lums.

THE ATTACK ON A LIVERPOOL
MERCHANT.

At the Liverpool Police-court, before Mr. taffies,
stipendiary, John Wilson, clerk, and David Harris, clerk,
were charged under the 24th and 25th of Victoria, cap. 96,
section 43, with a felonious assault on Mr. Adolph Kusel,
wine merchant, Tower-buildings, Liverpool, in his own
office, on the forenoon of the 24th of February last, with
intent to rob ; and Walter Ford and Henry Jackson, clerks
with the said Adolph Kusel, were charged with being
accessories before the fact. The case is already well
known. Wilson, dressed as a young woman, and Harris went
to Mr. Kusel's office at half-past eleven a.m. on Monday
morning, when Mr. Kusel was alone, both his clerks,
by collusion, being out of the office at the time. They
attacked Mr. Kusel with the loaded end of a whip, and
beat him savagely about the head. The prisoners, however,
who arc both slim youths, could not prevent Mr. Kusi',l
reaching and opening the door, when persons from the next
office got in and secured the prisoners. A loaded whip-
handle and a chisel a foot long a ere found. Mr. Kusel was
so severely injured that he has since been in the hands of
the doctors. His right arm was broken, and his head was
much cut. Mr. Kusel now states in evidence that he knew
not ing,- of the prisoners who attacked him. He had £lOO
in the office at the time, and Jackson must have known it.
Some corroborative evidence having been given, the
prisoners Wilson and Harris were committed for trial. The
case against the prisoners Ford and Jackson, charged with
being accomplices before the fact, was then proceeded with.
No new facts were elicited. It was proved that all four
prisoners had met frequently at places of amusement, and
that they had concocted a scheme for emigration to New
Zealand. They were in want of cash, and therefore deter-
mined to rob Mr. Kusel. Saturday the 22nd was originally
fixed, but Wilson was unable to get away from his business,
and Monday the 24th was fixed. It was arranged that
Jackson and Ford should be out of the office at the time
fixed, and that Jackson should follow Harris and Wilson
upstairs and lock the door on them. Ford was arrested
soon after the outrage, but Jackson absconded, and was
caught in London-street, Paddington. Letters were
found upon him clearly shewing his connection with the
outrage. He now affected to treat the matter as a joke,
and said that he never expected it would go so far. Ford
and Jackson were then also committed for trial on the
same charge.