Widnes Examiner. — 1888-07-21 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

INQUEST. The inquest on Mr. John MandeVille, of Clonkella House, Mitchelstown, was resumed at Mitcbelstown, on Tuesday, at 11 o'clock, before Mr. Coroner Rice. The Mc.Dermot and Mr. Timothy Harrington, M.P., appeared for the next of kin, and Mr. Morphy appeared on behalf of the General Prison Board of Ireland. The Mac. Dermot said relatives of the deceased hoped to prove Mr. Mandeville!s death was due to unreasonable hardship ,put upon him by those in whose power he was.  The Coroneresplained at the outtlet that he held the inquiry at the solicitation of deceased's relatives. Mrs. Mary Mandeville, the widow, said the deceased told her his throat was sore during the whole term of imprisonment It was so sore that he dould not eat his brown bread. The prison doctor did not relieve him, but certitled that he was fit for punishment. He suffered greatly from hunger, and at times his mind wandered from hunger. He had prayed to Heaven that he might die before he went mad. On one occasion a war. der, taking his meal outside the cell, threw in a piece of meat, and deoeased told her he never enjoyed anything so much in his life. One prisoner, he said, tiglitened his waistbelt. He became more and more hungry. Since his release he frequently complained of sore throat and weakness.  Cross-examined by Mr. Murphy Since Mr. Mandeville entered politics he was frequently out from home at night. She only once saw her husband under the influence of liquor, and he promised her this should never occur again. Mr. O'Brien entered court while witness was giving evidence.'  Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., said on the way to the county gaol he had a oceversation with Mr. Mandeville, who said he would not wear prison dress or perform menial work in prison. He urged Mandeville to leave the fight to him, as it would probably be a life and death struggle, and there would be more hesitation about maltreating him than Mandeville, as the latter was.a man of magnificent physique. They would think it safe to experiment upon him and use brutalities with less scruple. If be died, officialism alone would tell the tale. Nothing would induce Mr. Mandeville to promise this. On the second morning in Cork Gaol he saw Mr. Mandeville, who suffered from diarrhcea, and had been deprived .of his clothes by force. When in the train he asked Mr. Mandeville if he ever saw anything more like wilful murder, and the reply was, "I suppose that is just what they are up t 0.7 When leaving Cork for Tullamore he asked for a medical examination, as he knew they were going where there were no witnesse.s. Mr. O'Brien detailed is treatment in Tullainore Gaol, and the attempt to make him wear prison clothes. He met Mr. Mandeville at mass in the prison. and he then appeared unwell. After he was released he met Mr. Mandeville, who was shockingly altered. He was a different man—shrunken. and extremely nervous. Previous to Mr. Mandeville's imprisonment he never saw a more magnificent specimen of a man. When in prison he heard on one occasion that Mr. Mandeville WEiS on punishment diet in Tullamere Gaol. He (16. O'Brien) cautioned the Governor that the punishments to which he could be subjected were defined and limited, and that no rule of the Prison Board 'autliorised violence. Mr. Morphy said he would delin* his cross-examination at Mr. O'Br]en until the next morning, and the court • thou adjourned.