The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-11-08 00:00:00

'STAT BS MAN.

NV

INQUEST.

THE RATTLE-SNELL.

An inquest was held, on Monday last at the
Swiui public-house, Piccadilly, by A. GELS., Esq.
on the body of. Thomas Scatter, who did on Su-
turday last, at St. George's Hospital, by the bite
of a rattle-snake.

Mr. Thomas Maynard, one of the assistant
surgeons belonging to the above Hospital, stated,
the deceased was brought to the Hospital on Tues-
day, Oct. 17, about three o'clock in the after.
noun ; he examined the wound, which, he was
told, proceeded from the bite or sting of a rattle.
snake ; it appeared like the prick of a pin be.
teeeu the fingers of the right hand. The wrist
and baud were very much swollen, and in less
than two hours the swelling had extundeal above
the elbow. Thu man complained of the most ex-
cruciating pain, and his strength failed him. He
contiuued in that state, without hopes of recove-
ry, until the following Saturday, when there ap.
peered a favourable change, and strong hopes were
eutertained that he would recover, until last
Thursday, when a mortifibation took place, and
be died at a quarter before four on Saturday af-
ternoon, with his arm greatly swollen up to the
exalts. The arm, body, and bead, were opened
on Sunday, in the presence of witness, who Hid
it was his opinion, and that of the Surgeons, that
his death was occasioned by the bite of the rattle.
snake.

Mrs. Mary Womberwell said, on fhe 17th of
October last the deceased came to he( house about
12 o'clock, rather intoxicated ; be went away,
' saying, he would go home to dinner, and bring
his wife to tea. Witness came down stairs, soon
afterwards, to answer some customers, during
which time the deceased returned, saying, he had
forgotten his utnbrclia, and accordingly went np
stairs for it. Some time after, he came down,
shaking his hand carelessly, and saying, that the
snake had darted at him, and his band was bleed.
ing. Witness ordered a coach, and took him to
St. George's hospital. He told witness that he
broke part of his rule in tenting the snake, and
•had opened the door of the cage, to take it out.
At that time his wrist was swollen very much, and
he was in great agony. The deceaseil was well
acquainted with the nature of the snake, and
knew the danger; and, had he not beet, intosi.
cated, he could have got his rule out by means of
' the double door.

'The Jury consulted for ten minutes, and,,by
the description of the cage, given by Mr. May.
nerd, and corroborated by the last witness, were
of opinion that no blame could he attached to the
proprietor of the snake, it being well secured ;
and returned a verdict that the man died by the
bite of a little-snake, and a dcollenid of ono shit.
ling on the snake.

The German Papers say, that 106,000-of the
Grand French army will proceed directly loSpain,
and that the Officers of the Imperial Guard have
beat Informed that they would be allowed to re.
main only three days at Paris.
A serious affray took place on Monday in the
neighbourhood of Brun.wiek.square, between
two soldiers and three police-officers, who had
gone to apprehend a deserter of the name of Ma.
hots'', at a public-house. The deserter attempted
to escape by the back part of the house, but he
was apprehended, and shortly after a general at.
tack was made by a body of Irish labourers, who
succskaled in rescuing the deserter. The party
who had the man in custody were beaten in a
dreadful manner, and one of them is not expected
to lire.

On Thursday last, Vice-Ad:atria A‘ltner, to Frances,
yi tiniest daughter of the Rey. T. H. Pearson, of Quceu-
Camel, Somerset.

At Wariu►m, Norfolk, in his 73d 3enr, Captain fmac
Warren. ffe was a volunteer I►► the siege of Quetwe, and it
was his solemn ta►k to support rim the rock, and witness the
last moments of the icas►ertal Wolfe.