The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-31
Case OF Parental C.u.l.y-Grat unsrhe.

lff' III me BOettn Itevoilef. AUGUST ~
Coroner Smith is holding an inquest on the body
OF John Fleming, who died az Deer Island on the DAY
aiter bei1g removed from tie cellar Of his iather'd
house, Lucas place. The testimony in this casd
shows that the deceased Was evidently in the LAST
stages Of consumption bat that he experienced treat
neglect from those who should have smoothed Ithel
than accelerated his progress to the grave, girl
named Martha Collins Who lived ii the same nous(
with deceased, testified that the deceased came II
the house about eight weeks ago; he walked nth
crutch ard said that he had been in the poor hous)
for three years; she was in the entry Of the house
week ago last Monday, when tie deceased called Il
her; she vent into the cellar where he was and hi
asked ler to give him some salt fish; he stated tn Al
he had been sick abont five weeks, and had been al
that time in that room which previous to his coMinl
rsed as place for lens; she afterwards yisiteS
him several times, and carried him cakes, peached
&c. and never found any one with him; on TIL
afternoon Of the 18th inst, (Thursday) she carried
him pie when he stated that he had had no hin
to eat since Tuesday afternoon (tEo days.; he sate|
that his step.moher had nat visited him since hi
WIS sick; he said that his father tolG him th 1t hI
shou'd have mnce pie before he died; he oftej
complained Of the danpness of the cellar, AMI
he advised her not to stay long 81 time ~ TIL
mir was bad; the windows were closed every tint
she visited it; size carried oil and trimmed his lamp
heard the father of deceased use abusive languag|
to him the day he was removed; heard Mrs. FleH}
ing (hs motherin law say he was "nO good;
should ju6ge he suffered for want Of od; from l71
inst. to Esd, the day he was removed, saw no fool
bors; think none was carried in by his family.
Other witnesses testified that on visiting decease|
he complained that he WAS yet cold ard filthy; tha
the cellar was dark, dirty and damp; he asked for
shirt, as the one lie had all in ga he askee
for something to wet bis lips, as be SO parche
that be felt as if he should die; he hell up
arm, saying "you see what . sufferer have been :
water was then dripping II ON the bed, and had RI
across the floor; gr0ans had been heard procesdiu
from the house for several days previous.
VIM N. Ball testified that he visited the house a
the morning of the day when the deceased wa
taken away he describes his condition as awfu
be laid on cot with nothing but PILLOW next
the sack. The atmosphere was so foul that it vi
almost impossi Die for person to breathe in it; r
ported the facts to the chief OF police and retarne
when he found the father weeping out the room
and making such dust, that the son cried out
For Gods sake don't sweep, you're smotherin
me- but the father still kept on When strange
came into tire room, and tue son began 10 ia
with them, the father cried out "Shut up "
blackguard hold your tongue you ought to hay
been dead long ago. and repeated it hall a dos
times.
Another witness testified that iu his opinj n
death was fastened by neglect aud starg alton. 4,
The ply sicians Eh0 examined the BODY are
opinion that he was suffering from fatal dseas
which wa FASTENED in It's course by the suiIerii
and priyatOn which he experienced from bis r
rents.