Star.
London, England, 1826-09-19 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.
--4.-

Yesterday afternoon an Inquest was held before J.
Ls PIPRI4 Esq. Coroner, touching the death of John
Fitch, a prisoner, confined within the rules of the King's
Bench Prison.

The Jury were composed of persons within the walls,
whn, after being sworn, went to the late residence of
the deceased, situated No. 10, Crescent-place, Lambeth-
road. On entering the room the wants of the unfor-
tunate deceased were obvious; not a bed or bedstead,
nay, even a chair was to be seen, and the corpse of the
deceased lay stretched upon two deal boxes, covered
with a coarse cloth. The Jury returned horror stricken
with what they had seen.
Mary Barker, widow, sister to the deceased, stated
that the deceased had been in the custody of the Mar-
shal about twelve months, and had latterly been an
outpatient of the South London Infirmary. Deceased
had had medicines, which of late she bad regularly
administered. He died on Sunday morning, at eight
o'clock, in her opinion from want.
Mary Fitch, the vi idow of the deceased, stated that
her husband had formerly been a master coach-builder,
in Apollo-buildings, Walworth, but within the last
eighteen months had fallen into difficulties, and about
twelve months since had been arrested, and confined in
the King's Bench Prison. The deceased was obliged to
sleep on the seats in the chapel for upwards of two
months, with bis clothes on. This was during the win-
ter; and after he got into a room he was compelled to
sleep on the door, for want of a bedstead. He was shortly
after taken ill, and petitioned the Duchess of Buccleugh
for relief, as she had often heard of the repeated bene-
volence of her Grace, she called in about three weeks,
hut her Grace was out of town; witness and her hus-

band were then without common

An in-

flammation of the intestines soon took place, which in-
capacitated her husband from attending to any business.
Witness applied to the Marshal for the rules.gratis,
which was at first refused, but upon a surgeon's certi-
ficate being produced, the Marshal granted the rules.
She then applied to St. Mary's Newington, for paro-
chial relief ; they at first gave her half a crown a week ;
but that being inadequate to their support, she applied
for further relief, and they granted an extra sixpence
weekly ; and this, with the exception of a trifle given to
them, was all they hid to support themselves. She and
her husband had frequently existed upon one penny
loaf and milk and water day by day. Beef had lately
been distributed at the Bench:l)ot the deceased had not
been so fortunate as to get any.
One of the turnkeys said that the deemed was not upon the poor
box, consequently he was nut entitled to the privilege of the donation.
Juror—These who were upon the poor box had 201 b. to their
share, and did not know law to dispose of it.
Witness had sines received a shilling per week from Lambeth
Chapel Society Fund, in Cheyne Terrace.
Juror—Did the Doctor ever intimate to you that your husband
was in want of proper nutriment?—Yes, and the Doctor gave me
half a crown to procure some necessaries, out of his own pocket—
All we have had to raise upon lately has been 4s. per week.
Robert King, landlord of the house occupied by the
deceased, deposed that the deceased came to live with
him on the 12th of January last, and since that period
deceased and his wile had beEn in a state of compara-
tive starvation; indeed, such had been their distress,
that although he was only a journeyman bird cage
maker, with a wife and three children to support, he
could not find it in his heart to press payment of his
rent. Witness now and then, when he could afford it,
gave deceased a drop of broth ; they owed him twenty-
tour weeks' lodging, at 2s. 6d. per week.
John Weare deposed that he had known the deceased
since 1815. Hearing of his distress he visited him, and
occasionally relieved him ; sometimes he took him
something nice, which he ate with the voracity of a
wolf. Deceased, previous to his going into the Bench,
enjoyed a good state of health.
Ewen M'Andrews, physician, said he attended the
deceased about three months, who had laboured under
a disease of the intestines, and an enlargement of one of
the glands of the neck of the bladder, and he had no
doubt the deceased died of that disorder of very long
standing. He visited the deceased generally twice. a week.
The Coroner said, as the evidence was gone through, he awaited
to record their verdict.
One of the Jury said, he thought the wife of the deceased had
been very inattentive. The test of the Jury cried " Shame—
shame ;• upon which the Juryman replied, that he alluded to het
not getting the deceased into an hospital.
The Coroner informed him that that maid not be done ; the de.
ceased being a prisoner within the Rules, it was out of the jurisdic-
tion of the Marshal to send him to an hospital.
The Jury unanimously expressed their doubts as to the testimony
of the physician it had been sworn by several witnesses that the
deceased was in want of food, and without common necessaries.
The Jury returned a verdict—That the deceased John Fitch died
through starvation,.—The Inquest lasted six hours.

Thursday nett (being St. Matthew's Day), according
to annual custom, the Loan MAyoa, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Go-
vernors of the several Royal Hospitas, will attend Divine Service
at Christ Church, Newgare-street. After a Sermon by the Rev
Ginnie Jour( Batmeas, M.A. they will adjourn to the Great Hall
in Christ's Hospital, where two Orations will be delivered ; in
Latin by Bomar JOInI TINDIANT; in English by DAVID HIf.LCOAT
Luautom, the two Senior Scholars of the Grammar &boa
Yesterday, a Court of Directors was held at the East
India House, when Captain ALUANDER NAIRNIC was
sworn into the command of the ship General Kyd, con-
signed to Madras and China.