The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-03
"G-dd--d, let him be SICK" or, something


Mr.. Wren: Well, perhaps it was; don't
very we'll remember. f.'s .,-
The witness (Mr. Wren): then went to
nv bed and Mr.. Briggs went to his. Some
time afterwards Mr.. Briggs awakened me
and said The man was dead. The prisoners
are frequently very noisy at night. Mr..
Briggs has been sick nearly all the time since
| have been here-yery sick.
O. Are there any hospital accommodate
tons in the Jail? ..,, .....t 80,
4. None that know OIL would not like
to come here if / was sick.
THE UPSTAIRS ROOMS. ....-
In answer to other questions Mr.. Wren
said he could not tell why deceased was taken
down stairs. Very few prisoners, unless
they are welt known, are allowed TO remain
upstairs. Did not consider deceased dan.
gerousfy sick, and when be went down
stairs he seemed great deal better than
when he came TO the Jail. He walked with
out assistance, though slowly. He told wilt
ness that be seldom got ou spreeS, but when
be did could not get off them unless confined
in an asylum or Jail. a. ........
MR.. MoNTGoMERY's TESTIMONY. g..
James B. Montgomery "a prisoner) dep6sed
iail from the Police Court. Deceased said
be wanted TO 90 in "No. g." l occupy cell
No. 8, and took him in with me. Soon after.
wards be was called from my cell upstairs.
Soon alter ) O'Clock deceased was brought
back TO the cell. Between ) and O'Clock
he said be wanted some chloral. Mr.. Briggs
brought it in to him. There were three of
us IN the cell. SickleS was delirious; said
people were throwing water upon him, and
he wanted to 90 asleep. told him that it was
raipjng out of doors, and not 10 be afraid. He
continued in distress, and gave him some
water. He told me to wake Mr.. Briggs;
he wanted whskey, morphine, or some
thing. I asked Mr.. Foote, prisoner who
had charge Of the yard, to call MIR. Briggs.
He did so. Shortly Afterwards tabout y the
window was raised and | told. Dir. Briggs
the man was Ill. MIR. Briggs,S reply could
not hear because Of dcceaSed'S SroanS. 1De
window was soon lowered, and | waited for
some time, thinking perhaps Mr.. Briggs was
coming down. He rolled, and rolled. and
could not 60 to sleep. | gave him water
when he wanted it,. He said, - want
something TO eat, if | can get nothing TO
drink" l told him l was sorry had no.
thing.
HORRIBLE DEATH-SCESE.
Soon afterwards he became rather more
quiet. and | put out the candle and tried TO
Get nap. About half an hour later deceased
again became very I'll and commenced ,Inl-
Ting at the tbrout, ard | lit the caudle,
rapped on the cell.door with my tin cup,
and called out that the man was dead. Mr..
Briggs came down with a darky. / think
Sickl,ss was dead before Mr.. Briggs got there.
Mr. Briggs closed his eyes, and Strengthened
bis Ice>. | made two Efforts to" get Mr.
Brigos-one about 8, the other about IL
O'Clock.
SECURITY AGAINST FIRE.
Q. Suppose fire should occur; how would
you give the alarm:
A. We would have to halloo to Mr.. Briggs,
and halloo from one to another in our cells.
There is no guard awake at night, to my
knowledge.
Sergeant Cook: There is no guard fur
n,shed for the night. The city furnishes one
for tue daytime (Mr. Franklin), but none for
the night.
Coroner: Is what Montgomery has been
stating about the guard correct:
Sergeant Cook Perfectly.
.. What is the general treatment of the
prisoners by Mr.. Briggs!
Witness (Moptgomery): Heis always kind,
and shows 4 disposition to do what he can
for the comfort Of the prisoners. All OF
them do.
MR.. FERGUSoS'S ACCOUNT.
Thomas c. Ferguson, who was confined
in the cell with Sickes and Montgomery, was
next sworn: / was put here rs a vagrant. !
am a paralytic, and | was turned out the
almshou>e because l would not allow myself
to he imposed upon: heard Montgomery 5
evidence it. is correct in the main. heard
what MI. Briggs said when first called. II
was. Let the man 90 to h--ll. Pm sick my.
scn"
Q How does Mr.. Briggs treat you?
a. AS wei! a> any Of The rest.
q. How good is that:
"a As good H. he can. He treats me very
civil. think he treats me as we'll a> crcllm-
stances allow. But in the fast place don't
deserve any punishment. There was one
statement made against me ut the Police
Court --.
Coroner: Never mind. We have nothing
to do with that.
Witness Well, the last words Of deceased
were IL haven't, travelled all over the
globe"
Coroner: Well, that don't throw any par.
ticuar light upon this investigation.
MIR. Montgomery recalled: Ferguson
Knocked at the door for Mr. Briggs, when
stopped to attend 10 the wants OF deceased
Mr.. BR1GGs's DEPOSITION.
Mr.. y. Il. Briggs, deputy sergeant, sworn
Yesterday (Monday) afternoon about 3:5o
alter returning from the Hastings Court,
nv attention was called 10 Sickles, who was
then on the upper floor, in the room adJoln-
ing mine. Mr.. Wren told me the Doctor
said he (Sickle9 must have some stmulants.
| gave him some Jamaica ginger. had DO
whiskey or brandy in the Jail. was after
wards shown note on my tab!e from Dr.
Coakley, addressed to me. The note
stated "Give the. man in the next room
twenty grains of chloral at bedtime. About
) O'Clock went in and gave Sickles some
more jamaica ginger. He was then sitting
up reading newspaper.
TINE FOR DECEASED TO GO.
told him that the time had arrived for him
to 90 down stairs; that 1t was out Oh my
power TO allow him to remain upstairs any
longer. lie got up and put on bis shoes and
went down stairs. l did not consider hlm IN
a dangerous condition. | thought be was
all right. Before going down l told him |
would give tim some chloral, which ne was
TO take at 8 O'Clock He went down by him"
self. When | went down to lock up at
hult.past O'Clock then gave him the
chloral. MIR. Montgomery said he took it
soon afterwards instead Of at 8 O'Clock.
! will further state that Mr.. Wren
informed me that the DIR. said this was
nat very serious case. Shortly alter 9
O'Clock MIR. Wren came into my room and
walked me, stating that there was ter
rible noise down stairs. | got up imme-
diatcly and went 10 the window, thrust my
head out, and asked what was the mat
ter. The reply was "there is something