Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-20

FURTHER PARTICULARS oF THE DEATH
OF T. A. WALToE.-We copy from the South
amptOn Times the following additional par
ticuIars of the melancholy death of our late
fellow citizen Thomas A. Walton. This ae-
count is part of the evidence given before
the inquest, which was held on the body:
Alderman Polk was then sworn as a wit
ness, and deposed, in a brief form, to what
he had before stated at greater length He
also said that Mr.. Walton had been a com
mission agent at Cleveland, Ohio, and added
that when he (Alderman Polk first arrived
at the baths, Mr.. Walton was able to speak
spasmodieally, and complained of violent
pain over the liver He was perfectly sens
ible, but never made a full inspiration after
he was taken out of the baths"
The statement alluded to by Alderman
Polk, is the same that he made in his letter
which we published a few days since.
90 Frederick HansfOrd deposed lam en-
ployed as attendant at Stevens baths. I
saw the deceased come to the baths at about
twelve o'clock on Wednesday, and enter one
Of the bath rooms. A few moments after
wards 1 heard an awful noise in the water At
l was sitting on the form outside, and Mrs.
Stevens told me to go and see what it was.
l did so, and then saw the deceased with his
head beneath the water, and the water
bubbling up from his mouth. I jumped in
and got him to the steps, and kept his head
out Of the water. Mr.. Stevens ran for help,
and Mr.. Nurse came, and be obtained more
assistance, when We got him up the steps,
carried him into the room, and got him some
brandy and water and blankets. We then
sent for the doctor, and DR.. Cooper arrived
in a very short time, and soon afterwards Mr..
Polk and DR.. Polk came. There was no one
else in the bath at the same time. Where he
was when 1 first heard the noise, the water
was about iour feet in depth. The first noise
heard was as if some one was kicking the
board which leads out into the baths, and
directly afterwards heard the noise in the
water.
"Dr. Ashley Cooper depOsed = About
twelve O'Clock yesterday I was sent for to
Stevens baths to see the deceased. I went
Immediately, and found the deceased sit
ting in a chair wrapped up in blankets, and
people round him giving him brandy and
water. had him conveyed to another room,
and some more blankets brought, and direct
ed him to be placed in a horizontal position.
had warm bottle put to his feet, and
tried friction to induce increase Of tempera-
LuT6g anu L EluGdNOIGQ 70 EDuEB DuL ne
seemed past being reused. asked him who
he was, but he answered the question very
imperfectly. On examining his pockets 1
found Mr.. Alderman Polk's card, and was
going to send for Alderman Polk when that
gentleman came in. then ordered the de-
ceased to be removed to the Dolphin, where
continued to attend him, together with DR..
Polk, till his death. My father also came in
about half an hour before his death which
took place at about four o'clock. I have
made pOst-Biortem examination which sat
isfes me that the deceased was suffering from
fatty degeneration of the heart. The
lungs were also gOrged, which was probably
caused by the water which had been imbibed.
Persons suffering from fatty degeneration Of
the heart are liable to sudden attacks Of
fright. I attribute death to immersion as the
primary cause, and to the diseased state Of
the heart as the secondary but immediate
cause, the two causes combined inducing
congestion Of the lungs. I don't think that
under any circumstances tio deceased would
have lived many years. may also add that
the liver was very considerably enlarged.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect
that the deceased whilst bathing in the South
ampton Water, was suddenly seized with
spRsms Of the heart, and in consequence of
immersion his lungs became gOrged, and
congestion ensued, which produced death,
the heart having previously beeen diseased" Z"