The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-12-12 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUESTS.

A strange and affecting circumstance was the subject
of investigation on Monday, and again by adjournment
on Tuesday last.
What gave rise to the inquiry wii the following ano-
nyntotte letter, which Howell, the eurnottaing officer of
M4ry.la.honne, received on Sunday. who instantly co.n•
menced an inquiry.
The letter; flit thus,—
" Sir—Will you have the gnodness to call at 65, Mary-
la-bonne-lane (at Mr. Keene s, farrier), it iii concerning.
a young woman that is dead, and there is very great rea-
son to apprehend that the Medical Attendant (41 accol-
cheur) has enndected the young woman• throngh her
labour improperly; it is necessAry that it he attetstleti to
immediately, as she is to be buried this aftersoon.
" I am, &c.
" AN INIIARITANT OF THIS PARISH,
And have done this as an act of humanity in case at
inquest is requisite."
" Sunday, nue o'clock."
Howell stopped the body of the unfortunate young
woman, as the mournful procession was about to proceed
to the place of interment. accompanies/ by the fattier and
brother of the deceased. and on hie marring the room
he was surprised to find that the body of the infest of
which the woman had been delivered, was given to a
surgeon in lieu of money, and he likewise found the
body of another deceased, an old woman of 71, lying in
the room, who he understood had bred found dead the
day previous.
The Parish Officers directed a Coroner's Jury to be

to inquire into tbederithe pf Lary Pole. -
Esther Plucalik, aged 71, which sat until P.t.
Monday night.
Elisabeth Keene, wife of William •Keeni, padding at
No. 65, Diary-hs-konoe•lane, the mune house in which the
deceased persons misled, stated, that the deceased,
Esther Plumbs, tented lodgings in her haute, and had
done so for some years; she some time ago asked wit-
ness if Mary Pale could lodge with her, to which pro•
possl witness objected ; nor did she knout she was there
until she was taken in labour; witness went into Mrs.
Ploushe's roam, on Monday learning, and saw Mary
Pole lying in the bed, who said in a faint yoke, she had
no use of her limbs; witness, with some difficulty,
straightened them down in the bed, and likewise her
arms ; previous to that time the child was born which
she saw, and inquired lilt was still-born; Esther Pinsube
said it was, bat witness did not ask the mother. Tactile.,
evening witness went op again. and Inquired about the
child, when else was informed the Doctor had it; Mary
Pole lingered until 12 o'clock at night, when she died.
Witness could not say what had become of the child,
but understood the Doctor had it Land that it was the
agreement between Mary Pole and the • Doctor be-
fore it was born, that be should have the child ; Mrs.
Plumbe had been very ill, and continued Rowell till last
Saturday, when she died; had no doubt sin died a na-
tural death.

123, 's4
,'dock on

Prudence Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, was aerinaint.
ed with Mary Pole, who formerly lived at Dr. Harvey's,
at Stanmore, but left there in November last; her en-
gagement being then up, and went to lodge with Mrs.'
Plambe about a fortnight since.—Sunday se.naight the
deceased was delivered of a stillborn child • previous to
this the deceased (Mary Pole) bad informeiher, that she
bad agreed with the medical geatlemao if the child was
still•horn he should have it, and lay her for nothing;
and if not, she was to pay him one guinea and a week's
medicine. _

After examining some other witnesses, the !arrest
was adjourned till next day, and Mr. Cusack. of Der-
ner's-street, who hal the child in his possession, was
ordered to be summoned to produce the child.
Tuesday afternoon, at two o'clock, the Jury again
asseteild ed. Thomas Stirling, _Esq., Coroner.
Dr. James Harvey. M.D., of Ne.lB, Percy-street, Bed-
ford-square, stated, that deceased Mary Pale bad been
his servant, but lie had not seen her for some time be-
fore her death; hec died at Mr. Cusack's. who abewed
him the child, and told him that belied mule the con-
tract with the woman after the child was born. Witness
never heard of such a bargain, and he thought it by DO
means a usual contract.
4 The Coroner said, he considered it a most shameful
thing, and one that ought never to be practised.
Mr. Cusack intimated that if pupils had notexperience,
we should have clumsy surgeons ; be, however, sent for
the child.

Ale. Christopher John Cusack, Surgeon and Lecturer
on Anatomy, stated that the child was brought into hie
house on Monday last ; it was stillborn, perfect,. and
sound in every respect; since then it had been mutilated
for the purposes of teaching anatomy; lie was wail
aware it was never alive, as,the lungs were not inflated.;
be did not rive any thing for it, as the medical gentle,-
man who brought it was to learn from it. Witness slicsidt
have hesitated in making the contract, but he would nut
hesitate in taking it, had it been still born. Them was no
pressure on the head to occ mion death. •
During this witness's examination the child wag
brought and examined by the Jury, audit wu ordered
to be detained.

Several Surgeons insisted to know upon what audio.
rity they could detain it.
The Coroner said. the supposed for the sake of pabihs
feeling that Mr. Cusack would leave it : this he .
rented to d'o. and it was subsequently delivered to the
brother of the deceased for burial.
.

Tile AiAiitant to Mr. Cusack had sees the bode. awl
there wort no external or internal marks of ti-oloaco
on it. •
Mrs. &shit was again called, and *cognised the
bild brought ►y Mr. Cusack as the same that was taken
away.

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