, 1863-05-21
A SAD INQUEST.


The Coroner held an inquest yesterday, the
surrounding circumstances and evidence Of
which develop a condition Of abject misery
and rice almost incredible in this city Of ciyi-
nzation md refinement, Of wealth, churches
md mission schools. He was notified on
Tuesday afternoon that the body Of little
child only three weeks Of age, named john
Cayanaugh, had been lying in house in an
alley near the corner Of Rush aud Moth
Water streets. a visit to the spot revealed o
rickctty, tumble down shanty. Forcing his
way In, no person was visible in the lower
room. The floor was covered with dirt and
offal, and the walls with besmeared strips of
paper. a few broken remnants ofa chairaud
table we're all the furniture, while an old hat
and a bunch Of filthy rags crammcd into the
window, supplied the place Of absent panes.
The Coroner nscended aladder, which reached
By hole in the ceiling, the apartment above.
Here we're q broken down chair, pine table,
with broken crockery, crusts Of black bread,
and 1 whisky bottle, series Of shelves con.
taining one or two bits Of crockery, stub
pipes, whisky bottles, and mutilated copy
Of the Boston Pilot, . large red chest and
bed, with scanty coverings in tho rllest state
Of filth. Upon the bed were three persons,
Mrs. Cayanagh the mother Of the babe, Mr.
Prcndergaet and Mrs. Prcndergast, all in q
state Of beastly intoxication, and Inscnsible
even to the presence Of the Coroner. Upon
the chest lay the body Of the infant, already
commencing to decay. The body was bitten
by ycr1nin and rats, completely covered with
large aud deep ulcers, and upon the right
wrist and hand a most terrible wound. the
result Of fire, both hand and wrist having
been burned to the bone. The stencil was
almost intolernb1e, no air or light being ad-
mitted to this den Of misery, except through
the hole in the ceiling. The Coroner suu,-
moned policeman, who with difficulty
aroused the miserable brutes upon the bed
from thsir drunken stupor. 1nterrogatorics
were useless. Their only reply was vacant,
Gstless stare. They were at once removed to
the North Market Police Station, and locked
mp to recover from their debauch, the Coro-
ner in the mean time taking charge Of tho
body.
Yesterday morning the Inquest was held.
The only witness upon whose testimony any
reliance could be placed, was bright little
snA e'A 3sSAe y. ~ss' o~'ehlel u ene "setched
unnatural mother whose offspring had died
| 80 terrible death. She testified, with tears
- ".t cses, 'ia' nes parents were drunk all
'ne 'nne' enc "'e aot At Aolae Huco. Is sne
could not get any thing to est there She
WAS obliged to beg from door to door fer
enough to sustain life. On Sunday morning
the mother Was drunk and with ber bahe IN
nef a1ns was IN 1fonl o. Inc store when she
staggered FORWARD ana her dress took fire.
Ant olne1s III Iue room managed 10 c3tinguish
H. out noI before Tue poor Infants hand and
"f'st we're terribly mo1natea. Death relieved
49,. 49, s a.,.. e,as 10 :. .' ~ uou!
ana all the "felcheo Gre" plied themselves
VAN liquor oas1i tneY "efe osas'1s lneo1''
c"'eo' 'ne 'S's auu 'si"'a ~, ~ tne u,es'a'in''
ptes'ps upou tus 1oo,' -, .n,s 10, "As .us esvpe
u 'ue .eet1uon,' "Au .ae Aeso.uso q
sero'e, III accordance VIA 'as iAcls Set'.nss
1ot1n 'ne oec1uen1 anu eeneEA aes'ect % 'ne
e'usss VI oealn. Inc "1seraoao lflo were
'aAen 10 INC romeo court, "nefe tney re-
eea'eo slats Gays each IN the City brldcweu
as punishment for crimes which ought to
hare sent them to the peniteutiary for the re.
nainder OF their worthless lives, or out o1
cxistance entirely. How true 1t is that one
lives! The most vivid imagination cou,d
hardly depict more terribly wretched acent
than this which was enacted in 4, city f,l, -
opr,cuce and refinement and Christian cnari
ties. Would It not be we'll to omf. Ror;o
boo1a Cha for = time and send miss;onaric,
within onr own limits. There il m smn},