DEATH OF AR INCENDIARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 4

DEATH OF AR INCENDIARY.

INQUEST AT MOUNT EDEN GAOL. An inquest to inquire into the cause of th« death of Thomas Eifet, alias Sheldon alias Fidgett, alias Ainslow, was held at Mount Edeu Gaol yesterday, at 2.30 p.m.- Dr. Goldsbro', Coroner, conducted the inquiry. A respectable jury being sworn, of whom Mr. Or. I. Panter was chosen foreman, the following evidence was adduced :—Dr. PhilsOD'' medical officer to the gaol, deposed that Thomas Eifet, alias Sheldon, was a labourer and aged C 4 years, and a native of England! He was seized on the night of Sunday, March 27, with vomiting, purging, and cramps in his lower limbs. His outcries could be heard all over the prison. Dr. Philson was called to him immediately, and had him removed to the prison hospital. The case ivas one of spasmodic cholera, of the most severe kind. ' After an hour's treatment' he was relieved, and fell asleep. Next day he was free from pain and purging, but was very weak In the course of a few days Dr. Philson was hoping that he had recovered, but had great difficulty iu getting him to take medicine. Nothing seemed to strengthen him. He was confined to bed, and everything ivas done for him that was possible. He became gradually weaker. His feet and ankles swelled, hit pulse failed, and finally he died at 8.30 y.m on the 21st inst. A post mortem examination was held yesterday morning. The heart was found enlarged and fatty, both lungs strongly adhered to the ribs. There was ; chronic thickening in the forehead. The intestines were empty, and the liver was enlarged. The cause of death was evidently exhanstion from the shock of the attack of cholera and failure of the digestive powers.—Mr. B. L. O'Brien, governor of the gaol, was the next witness called. He deposed that the deceased was received into gaol from the April sessions of the Supreme Court in 1579, sentenced to 10 years penal servitude. Deceased was taken ill on the night of the 27th ult. Dr. Philson wae called, and deceased was removed to the prison hospital. He gradually sank, and died on the 21st inst. Dr. Phikon visited him twice daily, and every attention was shown him by the prison officials. Deceased made no complaint of the treatment h* received before his death.—There lieing no further evidence to bring forward, the Coroner addressed the jury on the merits of the case. The jury, after a brief deliberation, bronght in a verdict of having "Died from natural causes," as directed by the Coroner.