The Express. — 1862-09-02 (London, England)

THE SUICIDE IN LANCASTER GAOL.  The inquest upon the body of the unfortunate man Wilson Moore, who committed suicide just previous to the bourlixed for his execution for the wilful murder of his wife, as reported yesterday, took place on Saturday afternoon. The first witness called was William Hayhuist. He said —1 am • warder in the gaol. Wilson Moore was is ins custody bat night. lie was a markt under sentence of death. 1 think he was about 35 or 36 years of age. I was in his cell last night with the convict and James Bray. Bray is a prisoner. Bray was sleeping in the cell in ease I wanted any assistance. I went on duty about twecty minutes past six this morn. jog. leaving Moore in charge of Isaac Smith. a warder, aid James Bray, prisoner fur misdemeanour. I left them in the celL Dowelled was awake at the time I left. I shook hands with him. He seemed in good spirits. He seemed to be perfectly sane ; be wished me good morning, shook bands, and said, " I suppose you will be coming up about ten in the morning." 1 have been on with him since his conviction, and persons being in charge of him. He was to have been executed to-day, at twelve o'clock. I considered him perfectly sane all the time. Isaac Smith was the next witness examined, and he said I am a warder in the gaol, and moue on duty at a quarterpast six this morning. I was left by Hayhurst in charge of eight convicts, along with a prisoner named James Bray. Moore remained in the cell about ten minutes afterwards. He then went into the convict-yard. lie could not get into the chapel-yard that he usually exercises in, on account of Mr. Liddell and another gentleman being in at the time. He remained in the inner yard from half-put six till five minutes past seven. lie then went to the chapelyard, where be has taken exercise since his sentence. He had no handcuffs on • he was quite free. There were myself and James Bay with him in the yard. He wished to go into the yard, and spoke of receivmg the sacrament. He went into the closet &bout four or five minutes after going into the yard. He said he would go into the closet for a minute. He had been into the closet frequently. The closet is a very narrow one. The door works with a , spring, and doom of itself. At the end of the closet is , snider°, about six or seven feet high, and perhaps two feet from the upper portion to the ceiling. The cistern is two or three yards in length, and about a yard in breadth, and supplies the water-closets. There was about three feet of water in it this morning. Moore was out of my night two minutes ; certainly not more. At the end of that time I opened the door, and found he was missing. He had left his clogs and cap upon the seat. His clogs he bad kept untied alone Sunday. On looking into the closet after a minute or two we found the place vacant. I ran to the door and called for the other officer, and Peington came to my assistance. Bray then got into the water-closet, and another prisoner named Beaks. Peington got into another closet and assisted, and together we got the body out. The prisoner had to climb to get to the cistern. There would be great difficulty in getting into the cistern in any way except head first. It took Bray a minute and a half to get into the cistern. Moore's body was found in the cistern. In answer to jurors the witness said—When Moore was in the closet the other days he stood and talked to him. I spoke to him when be was in the closet this morning, and he did not answer. That was the reason he entered. From the top of the cistern to the root of the closet is about 18 inches, and through that opening the prisoner must have gone. Immediately after the recovery of the body the surgeon to the gaol was sent for, and in the mean time we rolled the body about the yard to get out the water, and also applied hot water to the feet.  Several other warden gave similar evidence. At the end of the investigation, at the suggestion of the coroner, a verdict was returned that the man Wilson Moore died by his own hand, and while in a sound state of mind.  The greatest excitement is caused throughout North and Fast Lancashire by the occurremm' and no doubt is felt that some inquiry will be instituted by the Home-office. At present Lancaster Castle is without a governor, in coos.. quenoe of the death of Captain Hsnabrow, whose officio has not yet been filled up ; Mr. Liddell, bookkeeper to the establishment, seeming to be at present the responsible officer.