Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1888-07-28 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE MANDEVILLE INQUEST.  STARTLING EVIDENCE.  • The coroner's inquiry into the death of Mr. John Mandeville was resumed at Mitchel:town on the 21st inst. Dr. William O'Neill deposed that previous to his incarceration Mr. Mamieville was a strong, healthy man, but after he came out of prison he was tremulous, his face ha-Si lost its former healthy colour, and was pale and flabby. The immediate cause of death was failure of the heart's action and blood. poisoning. Owing to the treatment received in gaol deceased was less able to resist disease and more susceptible to it. Witness, however, would not say that the disease from which Mr. Mandeville died was attributable to his treatment in prison. Daniel Goulding, formerly a warder in Tullamore Gaol, deposed that when Mr. Mandeville entered the gaol he was a healthy man in every respect. He was taken before the governor for refusing to wear convict's dress. The goys...or said, " You have been handed over to me .14 a convicted criminal, and I must punish At% Mandeville replied that he aas not a eVasinal—he was a political prieoner, find would not wear the prison garb. Deceased was then put for two days on bread and water-16 ounces of coarse bread per day, divided into three meals. Witness said he was present when Mr. Mandeville was stripped of his clothes on the evening of Nov. 22 last. He and five other warders were told by the governor that he had instructions to strip Mandeville, adding that it was rather a hard duty, but that it must be done. Witness and the others went to Mr. Mandeville's cell and found him in a deep sleep. The chief warder approached where the prisoner was lying, and said, "Getup out of that." Mr. Mandeville replied, " What is up ?" He was ordered to take off his clothes, but refused. The governor said he had instructions to strip him, to which the prisoner said he would not give up his clothes without a struggle. Chief Warder Bartley and Warders Wilson, M,Col. lough, Boganel, and Mooney then tore the clothes off him. Mr. Mandeville struggled, and said he did not like to strike them, as they were too numerous. When quite stripped Mr. Mandeville cried out, " For the sake of decency leave my shirt." Wilson gave Mr. Mandeville a sheet, and he laid down on his plank bed. The governor told Mr. Mandeville to put on the prison clothes, but he refused, and all then left the cell. Mr. Mandeville, continued the witness, was on punishment diet for nine different periods during his imprisonment. He (witness) was aware that Mr. Mandeville was punished for periods which were never recorded in the warder's book. (Sensation.) In crossexamination, the witness said he accompanied the other warders to Mandeville's cell, not to assist, but to see that the man was not killed, and in order that there might be some witness to tell the tale to the public. He gave an account of the stripping of Mr. Mandeville to a reporter the same night. Mr. Morphy, on behalf of the Prisons Board, applied for an adjournment, on the ground that it was necessary an inquiry should be made into the state of Dr. Ridley's mind during Mr. Mandeville's incarceration, and of providing from other sources the evidence he was to have given. The MacDermott opposed the application. Mr. Ronan, who appeared for the Crown, said they must have the fullest investigation into the suicide of Dr. Ridley. They must find out whether the deceased gentleman neglected his duties, or whether he was a man who was boycotted, persecuted, and hunted until he lost his senses. The MacDermott protested against such statements. Mr. Harrington said the application of the counsel for the Prisons Board was not intended to serve the ends of justice, but was a most dishonest move. They did not say Dr. Ridley was the chief malefactor, but it was the object of that inquiry to find out whether he had carried out the instructions of others. The coroner said he did not think a long adjournment would serve the ends of justice. . .  tile remains of Dr. Ridley, the prison surgeon of Tullamore, who was to have given evidence in this inquiry, but who committed suicide, were removed by rail from Fermoy on the 21st inst. There was no demonstration. Only four persons followed the coffin, neither the father of the deceased nor any of his friends accompanying it.  THERE are two shops in Boston in which men are kept constantly employed in administering boot-shines to customers. These concerns are owned andmanaged by a great swell from the Dark Continent, who is known to Boston society as the King of the African dudes. Prof. Jones—for such is the name of this interesting person—has not been engaged for some years past in the active exercise of his profession. The superintendence of his business, together with the cares of dress, suffice to occupy his time.