EX-CONSTABLE'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 7

EX-CONSTABLE'S DEATH.

THE INQUEST. MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GAOL. The city Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham) held an inquest at Mount Eden Gaol yesterday morning, regarding the death of Alexander Crawford, an ex-policeman, aged 35, who died in the gaol on Wednesday last. The deceased was arrested for drunkenness at Onehunga, and whs remanded to Mount Eden Gaol for medical treatment. He was admitted on Tuesday last, and died the following day. Francis Seveme, gaoler, produced the warrant of committal, signed by Mr. J. Rowe, J.P., which stated that Crawford was found in a state of helpless intoxication on the 30th ult., and was committed for curative treatment until November 5. Deceased was received into the prison on Tuesday last, and was placed in the prison hospital. He was very dirty and practically unconscious. Dr. Darby prescribed for deceased, and his instructions were carried out. Witness visited the deceased at thirty-five minutes past nine a.m. on Wednesday last, and from what he saw of the man he did not til ink that the prisoner would live many hours. Witness visited him again at a-quarter past four p.m., and saw that the wise was hopeless. Dr. Darby saw deceased again about seven p.m. and half-past seven p.m., having previously seen him at about one p.m., with Dr. McDougall. The prisoner died at aquarter to eight on the 31st ult. Witness thought that it was radically wrong to have sent the prisoner to a prison in the state in which he then was. He was not violent and required nothing but ordinary medical treatment. Witness did not blame the police in this matter. He had,repeatedly protested against such cases being sent to the. prison. Dr. Wiley Drummond Ferguson stated that he performed a post-mortem examination on the deceased. The cause of death was pneumonia., with its complications— bemingitis and terminal syncope. It was a fit case to send to the hospital. • • Constable Annison : Do you think lie could have recovered had he gone to the hospital'.' Witness: No; I don't think so. He considered that deceased should have been sent to the hospital, because at the gaol they had not the necessary conveniences for nursing and attendance. At the hospital they would admit any case of delirium, due to drink or disease. The only cases of that, type that they would not admit were those due to mental derangement. A prisoner volunteering evidence said when the deceased was brought into the gaol he was almost unconscious and could hardly breathe. Witness was strongly 'of opinion that the deceased should have been sent to the hospital. Dr. Win. J. Darby, the prison surgeon, confirmed the evidence of Dr. Ferguson and Mr. Severne. When witness first saw the deceased he was suffering from the effects of delirium tremens. He was very quiet. Constable McGlone, who arrested deceased, said he was very violent. ; • ' Dr. Tresidder, who was with deceased for about an hour, expressed the opinion that deceased's was not a case to be sent to the hospital. He could not be taken to the court owing to his violence, and the justice visited him in his cell. • : "; '' The jury returned a verdict in accordance' with the' medical evidence, and added a rider to the effect that they were decidedly of opinion that deceased should not have been sent to the gaol. They were also of opinion that while in the gaol the deceased received all proper treatment both medical and otherwise, but they were satisfied that the facilities for treatment at the gaol were necessarily not such as the case demanded.