Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1882-02-18 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE NOTTING HILL TRAGFOY.  Dr. Thomas has held an inquiry at her Majerfa Prison, Clerkenwell, London, into the mretunstem,s attending the death of Mark Fahey Kavanagh, aged 25, late of 78, Adam-rood, Notting-hill, Landon, who was formd dead in his cell whilst under remand from Hammersmith Police-court, for causing the death of Helen Hawkins. It Will l'O remembered that a few days ago Kavanagh and Hawkins were found apparently dying from the effects of poison, and in a very few minutes Hawkins expired. Kavanagh was conveyed to the hospital of St. Mary, at Paddington,where be so far recovered that he was taken before Mr. Paget, charged with causing the death of Hawkins, and remanded to the House of Detention. James Brewster, inspector of the X division,stated that he was called to 78. Acklatmroad, and found the deceased and Mies Hawkins lying in the room. The latter was dead, and Kavanagh, who was suffering from the effects of poison, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital. Whilst there he said, "I will follow her as soon :ts possible, for I have nothing now to live for. Witness had heard that he had threatened to kill hinwelf h he could obtain possession of a knife. Two days afterwards witnesa took him to the police-station and charged it'. n before the magistrate with causing the death of Miss Hawkins. Witness informed the rangistratn of the suicidal tendencies of the deceased, who was remanded for a week. Thomas Whitcombe, sergeant of the X division, stated that, whilst in the hospital, the deceased pointed at A patient who held a knife, and raid," That is what I want. If I had brought my revolver from Kentish Town I could have done it well.. WitIIOSS brOllght the deceased to the prison,and informed the officials there that the deceased was likely to attempt to commit suicide. The verbal message was not accepted, upon which witness wrote it out. Charles Lawrence, the receiving officer of the prison, stated that the deceased was banded over to him as a "special ease, to be carefully watched," but witness was not informed of the intention of the deceased to commit suicide. After searching him he gave him over to another officer to be carefully watched. CharieQ Perry stated that he received the deceased to be leerh it, and placed his name special on the slate. Thete mas not a special cell. Kavanagh knew that he was charged with murder. He was carefully watched by witness entil six o'clock, and witness again took charge of him from a quarter to ten until six in the morning. He appeared to go to sleep after being in bed, and his clothes were taken :tway at night. Peter Roberts, acting supernumerary warder, said the last time he Me him was before dinner, when he was sitting on ths bed, aed after dinner the warder who then took charge of him reported all correct. Frederick Cook, assistant weeder, deposed that the deceased was sitting in bed when his dinner wae taken to him. M a special ease he would le allowed to be in bed. Dinnerconsisted of meat, bread, and potatoes, served in a tin. No knife and fork was given. Charles M‘Lean deposed that he found the deceased suspended by kin seta, attached to the "hopper" or peg of the window. Witness called assistance, and cut the deceased down immediately. The doctor was sent for and attempts made to resuscitate deceased, but without avail. Mr. John Moore, chief warder of the prison, deposed that he was in charge of the prison, and saw the deceased on admission. A memorandum was attached to the commitment paper that the case was special, and witness heard that he was likely to commit suicide. An order to carefully watch a man would be given verbally to the warders, who would place the fact in the observation column on their slates. The warder would look in the cell every quarter of an hour. By the Coroner The scarf in question was taken away at night and given back with the clothing. Did not think the scarf dangerous, for a person intending to commit suicide would do it with anything he could get hold of. Informed the doctor of the condition of the deceased on the night of his admission. The Coroner: Now, if you had been in time to awe this man's life by cutting him down, what would you do? Witness Put him 111111, restraint with cuffs on his hands, of course. The Coroner If you had known that the deceased attempted suiehle outside the walls, would you have restrained him? Witness, We cannot take cognisance of what takes place outside the walls. We have so many prisoners who are stated to be suicidal come hero that if we handcuffed all of them we shoutel have nothing else to do. The Coroner Don't you think that these kind of prisoners are subjects for an asylum and not for a prison? Witness Yes, sir, you expressed the same opibion some time ago, and I hoped your remarks would have had effect. Dr. Carpenter stated that he saw thedeceased on admission, and had him placed in a cell with the wicket door down. By the Coroner There were very many cases of attempted suicide in the prison, and only a few days ago he had is young woman who tried to take her life on eight different occasions. He sent a note to the magistrate, expressing a strong opinion that the girl should be sent to a lunatic asylum, and he was very sorry to mjs that the girl had been sent to prison for one month. He (witness) thought that the whole facts in connection with cases of attempted suicide should be officially notified. for suicidal persons were very cunning, and ene deceased himself was very quiet in his manner, with nothing nnusaal about him. Death had resulted from strangulation by hanging. In reply to the coroner, the witness expressed a decided opinion that shorter remands were necessary. A letter was read by the coroner, showing no doubt that the unfortunate decewed was married to Miss Hawkins. Tie had been dißCharged from the police force for intoxication. After a deliberation lasting half an hone the jury found that the deceased committed euicide whilst of unsound mind, and :qmended a rider expressing an opinien that better regulations should be in existence for officially notifying to prison authorities the condition of mind of prisoners under renemd awaiting trial, :old that all prisoners suspected of suicidal tendencies should be more carefully watched. And, further, that some arrangements should in future be made for the examination of prisoners with suicidal tendencim, with the view of their removal to • lunatic asylum.  ICAT'sCoxPoolroEsesuce or Ltsatzu for Colds &Coughs. cures 9 eases out of 10. Sold everywhere. Ind., Is. lid.,