DEATH IN THE CHRISTCHURCH LOCK-UP.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3578, 29 December 1882, Page 4

DEATH IN THE CHRISTCHURCH LOCK-UP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) Christchtxrch, December 29. An inquest was held at the Clarendon Hotel yesterday before Dr Coward, coroner, to enquire into the cause of the death of Samuel Marshall, who was locked up for drunkenness on Tuesday night, and was found dead in the cell next morning. From the evidence ifc appeared that the deceased bad for three years past, off and on, been in the employ of Messrs Ford and i\gden, of the White Cliffs pottery works, but lately had been working for Mr E. M'llraith. He came down from South Malvern on Tuesday last, and was suffering from tbe effects of drink. He had three epileptic fits while in the train. He had nearly recovered when the train arrived at Christchurch, and could then walk moderately well. He had a bottle of whisky with him, from which he drank two or tbree times on the train. At one time, however, he was so ill that those who were with him requested the guard to telegraph for a cab to convey him to the hospital, but when he got to Christchurch he appeared to be able to take care of himself. Dr Syms, who was called to attend the deceased, said .- "I attribute the man's death to chronic alcoholism, accelerated by the foul air of the lock-up cell. The floor of the cell consists of a double set of boarding, which it is impossible to olean properly. It becomes soaked with excreta, and I don't see how the cell can be cleaned without the floor being burned. I visited a prisoner there one morning, and after leaving the cell I vomited six times. I have been informed by Inspector Pender that the same kind of floor is used in Victoria. It should be of concrete. I don't say that everything possible is not done to keep the cells clean. I should have them twice as high as they are, and the floor should be concrete, with moveable wooden covering, which might be taken out and cleaned." Inspector Pender : " Does Dr. Syms bear in mind thafc the security of the prisoners is to be ensured ? " Dr. Syms : "The floor I suggest might be made secure against attempt to escape." Inspector Pendor: " Did Dr. Syms never hear of concrete being broken through by prisoners ? " Dr. Syms : " Ifc might be made safe. I think the lock-up is kept remarkably clean." The Coroner : " The cells might be made just as secure as they now are, but larger." Inspector Pender: "I know that the lock-np was made 20 years ago similar to those in Victoria, ■which Mr Shearman had seen in use there. It is an iron case when the wood is taken away. The size of the cell is ten feet by ten feefc." The Coroner.- " And seven feefc high." Mr Pender: "More than seven feefc." The Coroner: " I can touch the ceiling with my hands." The coroner suggested that Dr. Syms should write to Mr Pender, as that was not the time for a discussion on the subject. Inspector Pender volunteered to give evidence to show that the cells were kept clean. Dr. Syms : " I hare always found the cells aorupulously clean." The jury found " That the deceased had died from alcoholism." No rider was added to the verdict. These disclosures are not new, attention having already been drawn in the newspapers to the bad condition of the cells.