Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1889-11-30 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A PRISON WARDER.  EVIDENCE BY THE ALLEGED BURY  MURDERER.  Au inquest was held in Strangeways Goal, Manchester, on Tuesday, relative to the death of William Henry Gatoliffe, aged about 35, who was committed on the 20th instant for twenty-one days' impri oument by the Manchester County Stipendiary Magistrate for rioteus and disorderly behaviour while drank. When admitted to the goal it appears that Gatliffe was suffering from , delirium &mom', and the prison surgeons cen. eidered it advisable to place him in hospital. He was strapped to the bed which he occupied to prevent him doing injary to himself. A supernumery watder named Anthony Mitchell, ascariest man about 48 years of age, was on duty in the particular ward where Gatliffe was confined during the night of the 22nd instant and the morning of the 23rd, and it is alleged that during that time he ill-need this prisoner so violently that the man died the next morning. There were three patients in the same ward, one being William Dukes, the man who is charged with the Bury murder; Wm. Chadwick, who will shortly be brought up on suepicion of having murdered the pawnbroker's assistant at Atherton; and Henry Dfcßarney, a prisoner who was sentenced at the Manchester Assizes on Tuesday morning to twelve months' imprisonment for manslaughter. Dukes and Moßarney gave evidence at the inquest, and Chadwick was taken into the court, but the Coroner (Mr. F. Price) remarked that after a consultation with the governor of the prison he did not deem it advisable to examine this man. Dukes, who was dressed in a suit of blue serge, looked pale, but be gave his evidence in a very calm manner. He said he was in the cot to the right of Gatliffe on Friday night last. Cailiffe mumbled moat of the night, and it was evident from what he said that he thought he was at home. Mitchell, Dukes went on to say, approaohed the cot and told Gatliffe to " shut up." Still Gatliffe went on talking, and from an early hoar in the morning till five or six— when he went off duty—Mitchell kept thumping Gatliffe on the chest and ribs, swearing that lie would "break his—ribs," and that he would gig him. Gatliffe died early on Saturday mon)ing. Asked by Mitchell why he did not interfere if he was so violent as was stated, Dukes said he was afraid of the punishment which might ensue. Then Mitchell asked Duke why he did not ring • bell in the ward so as to alarm another warder. Dukes said he understood the bell was to be used exclusively ley the officer in charge of the ward in ease of mutiny or anything of that kind. , Mitchell put farther questions to him as to why he , did not take immediate action, and Dukes replied that he bad not been in prison often, so that he did , not know his duties very well. The medical testi, mono showed the cause of death to be 'shook to the , nervous system, caused by the fracture of the , breast-bone and several ribs. Such injuries, the , doctors stated, could not possibly be inflicted without very considerable violence, and they did , not think it poieible that the man tumid have caused them himself. The jury unanimouely , returned a verdict of "Manslaughter" against the j warder Mitchell, and he will be tried at the next j Liverpool Assizes.