The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-27 00:00:00

CORONER'S I NQU EST.

INQUEST AT THE GENERAL PENITENTIARY,
MILBANK.
YeNterday afternoon an Invisition was taken by Mr. GEL 1.,
the Deputy Coroner for the City and Liberties of Westrninater,
anti a respectable Jury, at the General Penitentiary at Milbank,
on the body of &young man, named Hodges, a convict
confined in that prison.
Mr. Benjamin Chapman, the Governor of the prison, stated
that the deceased was tried at the Old Bailey Sessions on the
15th July, 1824, for stealing a quantity of woollen el,)th, and
convicted of the offence, for which he' was sentenced to seven
years transportation, which, however, was ultimately commuted
to five years imprisonment in the Penitentiary. The deceased
continued in good health till the 24th July last, when he was
sent to the Infirmary, complaining of violent pains in his 'side,
and swelled glands in the neck.
ConoNEß—Pray, what was the general behaviour of the de..
ceased front the time he was admitted into the prison till his
dissolution ?

Mr. Chapman said he was one of the best behaved prisoners
in the establishment; he was always ready to oblige, and to
abide by the regulations which are laid down.
Juror—Then I suppose there was never any oeoasion to place
the deceased in the black-hole ?
Witness—None whatever. We never punish a convict to
such an extent as putting him in the black-hole, without he it
very refractory and stubborn.
Mr. James 'Wade,. the surgeon to the prison, stated, that the
deceased became an inmate of the Infirmary on the 24th July
last; he was afflicted with violent pains in the side as also
swellings In the glands of the neck, Witness attended him
daily. The pleurisy in the side got well, but the swelled glands
turned to a scrofula' which increased, notwithstanding all his
efforts, and on the 24th instant he was seized with erysipelas
about the face and head, which terminated in his death on
Friday last; the immediate cause of the death was the ery,
siptles.
CORONER—Pray, Sir, did any other medical gentleman at,
tend the deceased besides yourself t
Witness—Certainly ; Mr. White, of Parliament.street, and
Medical Superintendent of this establishment,
Juror—fled the deceased every thing he wished for during
his illness ?

Witness—Most certainly he had.
Juror—From what period did you consider the deceased's',
case hopeless ?
Witness—From the time the erysipelas came on.
Juror—Mutt was the general diet of the deceased ?
Witness—Previous to the erysipelas coming on, he drank a.
pint of porter daily, and lived upon the best meat and vege.
tables. This diet is appropriate for the scrofula, it requiring
every thing strengthening, but when the erysipelas chewed
self, the deceased bad beef tea, arrow root, tapioca, saso
indeed, every thing was done for him, us much us it lie had.
been a man of fortune.

CORONElt—ilati the deceased any signs of scrofula on his
being admitted here
\Witness—Not that I am aware of.

The Governor was now questioned as to whether any of the
deceased's friends visited him during his, illness, when it ap.
peered that an aunt that had brought hint up from a child
frequently came to see him, upon which the Jury expressed a.
wish, if site was in attendance, to have her brought before them:.
having made her appearance, she gave her name,
INlary Davis—She stated that the deceased washer nephew.
That during his illness she had been in the habit of coming to
see him. Witness is perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Ali.
Chapman, the Governor, the Chaplain, as also the Iflettictd
Gentlemen attached to the Establishment, and is convinced that
he was well treated during his illness, and indeed, at all rimier
Witness is certain that the deceased died a natural death.

Juror—Did the deceased at any time complain of nut being
properly attended to ?
Witness—At no period whatever; but, an the contrary, be
said, he had every thing he wished for.
Governor—l believe Airs. Davis you called some time about
Christmas last. Be good enough to relate what passed between
you and the deceased at the time. _ _ _ . _

IVlrs. Davis said, that the conversation alluded too took place
on the 20th Dec. last, when she told the deceased that she in.,
tended to bring him in some roast beef and plum pudding, on
the following day. The deceased replied, that he did not wish
for it, as he had had plenty on Christmas Day. Upon every,
occasion, he slid, he wanted for nothing.
The Jury now said, that they had heard enough to convince.,
them the deceased had, during his illness, been treated with she'
greatest consideration and attention, and returned a verdict--
•• rhut the deceased died by the Visitation of God, from natural
causes."