The Express. — 1856-11-01 (London, England)

HATCH ASYLUM.  Yesterday. Mr. Breot held an inquest at the Coke', Hatch Asylum on the body of Eliza 1. eller, as inmate of that institution, into which she was Admitted lest September. Acn Lesgo, one of the nurses, stand that she bad been five years in the asylum, and that the deceased was under her care in No. 18 ward. Witness had had charge of her from her admission. She was not violent, bat noisy, and had beta reported as having a suicidal tending, for whieb she wee anordingly watched. Winess saw her last 'live on Tuesday evening, the 28th ult., about 20 minutes or a wiener before eight o'clock, when she ap peered in very cheerful spirits. She was then piag to bed, end witness, as is the rase with patients of that class, took away her day clothing. Wilms. heard no noise daring the night, but on examining the dormitory melt morning, a little after six o'clock, the doomed was found wrapped round in the bed clothes in a peel of blood, and her direst dreadfully gashed. The wounds had been fainted by a knife used is the attendant's department, but how the deceased became possessed of is, or what ward the knife came from, witness was usable to say. The ward in which the slept was occupied by four other patients, and if there had been a noise during the night amongst them witness mar have hurl it, as her own dormitory was nearly opposite. Margaret Minim, a patient, was next examined, and she gay- a very good account of the effete duress the night, adding that the:disarmed had had some words with Marihs, another patient, about the mien', Martha tiling her to ilaish nest end promising to be the next. Mr. W. 0. Manhall, the medical superintendent of the female department, stated that the deceased was received on the 23rd of Septemter from the Marylebone Workhouse, wader certifies:l signed by Dr. Joseph, and a warrant ulster the signature of Robert Tubbs, Esq., one of the asseistrates fel Middlesex. She was fast improving at •he perioi of her death. She was iodised to suicide, having previously attempted it. He was called to her se soon as she was dn• covered, and she was thee quite deed sod cold. He thought she must have destroyed herself early in the night. He saw her himself that evening, and at twelve o'clock the watch nurses reported "all quiet" in the place. In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Marshall stated that the night nurses, paned through the place every hour, and if they heard anything wrong they would be sure to notice and report upon it. He could rot say bow the deceased became possessed of the knife by which the wound was inflieted. It was (cued afterwards in the bed. Frances Stokes, the nurse of 16 ward, was examined and *ewe the knife, but she knew nothing of it. Miss Sophia Collin, one of the deputy matrons having the snipervision of the wards alluded to, was called in, and at the sleet of the Coroner she instituted an inquiry amongst the ammo cab whose ward the knife belonged, bat was unable dleseme that feet. The Coroner said that as the knife was sot a patient's knife, it was very desirable to know how the deceived came by it; but after examining other minions, no satisfactory mesh was arrived at. The jury having been sitting nearly three hours, retuned She anal verdict of suicide during insaaity, coupled wi.h a reenneeendation to have all the twins numbered according to the wards, sad apertures made over the dormitory doors, with a view to facilitate the nurses hearing asp noise daring the night.