The Sun. — 1859-02-18 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST. -A PAUP ER' S  COFFIN.  Yesterday, Mr. Carter, coroner for East Surrey, held an inquiry at Christchurch Workhouse, relative to the death of Eliza Ellen Ilassett, aged 24, a pauper inmate of that house. It appeared from the evidence of the witnesses connected with the wornouse that the deceased, who was very imbecile and infirm, was found dead on the floor by the side of her bed on Friday morning last.  Mr. Bianchi, the medical officer, deposed that he had examined the body, and was of opinion that the deceased had died in a fit. A sister of the deceased here stated that she informed her before her death that the nurse of the ward had been exceedingly unkind to her, and had put her for several hours in a strait-jacket, as well as otherwise ill treatino, her. Mr. Bianchi said he did' not believe that the deceased was placed under restraint, as such a course was never adopted without informing him of it. Matilda Livett deposed that she was the deceased's sister. She was conveyed to the workhouse from she contrary, should the hospital, having attempted committohmicsi.i s lh\suicidert nes s by jumping out of a window, by w fracturedwas decidedlyboth her had not been in any way ill treated, but, onthe received the utmost kindness at the hands of the parochial abe uthorities. l sisters body to the grave. The Coroner said he wished to know if a plate t o fll oNv he trusted that with the name on it was placed upont he coffin when Workhouse, in answer to the a plaluiepvta wassterboufrid. thee coroner, said that they generally used cards, on which the name of the deceased person was written. He had no objection to the friends placing a plate on the coffin ; but when they were compelled to bury in the metropolitan churchyards, the minister refused to allow the body to be interred if there was any ornament about the coffin unless they were paid extra fees. The Coroner said, the coffins should be distinguished in some way, as persons, for aught they knew, might follow the body of a stranger to the grave instead of their friend or relative. The jury having concurred in the remarks of the coroner, returned a verdict of " Natural death," at the same time expressing an opinion that dc4mc4 had been properly treated in the vrorkhouge.  On Monday, the 28th February, the Ministerial Reform Bill will be brought forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. There is no shirking nor evading of the question. The promise given will be faithfully and honourably redeemed ; and on the nature of the contemplated measure will depend, not only the fate of the Government, but also the peace and tranquillity of the country. There have not been many demonstrations, but the omission is easily accounted for. So many pledges have been given, such brilliant hopes have been excited, that the people are satisfied—believing that a large and comprehensive measure is inevitable, and not deeming it essential to waste power in the pursuit of what must be conceded, beyond any possibility of doubt, even within the present session. They are waiting in assured quietude; but any serious delay might be productive of results which no Government would -wish to encounter, and which might constitute very formidable precedents for future transactions.  There will, of course, be a large increase of the franchise for counties, cities, and boroughs. That cannot, by any possibility, be avoided, and there will also be a re-distribution of seats. Schedules A, B, and C must be prepared so as in the first instance to ensure that, every member taking his seat and interfering in the National Legislation, shall at least have a respectable constituency—one that entitles him to be heard in " the grand inquest" of the country. But there is even more required than this. It is not merely that there sfrould be a large constituency, but it should also be an independent constituency one that could faithfully express their feelings through a representative elected without the operation of any corrupt or undue influence. Without " the Ballot," or privilege of secret voting, the franchise would be a curse rather than a blessing to many who would receive it. They would have toanswer many conflicting demands. The landlord, the employer, the customer, the priest, whatever might be • his peruasion, would seek to control his conscientious decision,while the hired bludgeon-man, who seems to be regarded by Lord JOINT RUSSELL as the impersonation of the misrepresented classes, may give him abundant cause to remember the vote he has given.  On every ground, then, the nation wants the