DEATH OF A PRISONER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 9

DEATH OF A PRISONER.

Dr McArthur, S.M.. Coroner, hold an Inquest yesterday afternoon at the Terraco Gaol on the body of William Chatham, who was a nrieoner. Deceased was a labourer, a native of Birmingham, England, having come to this Dominion In 1901. Ho was fifty-four years of age. He was brought from Carterton and committed to four weeks' hard labour on March 30th on a charge of vagrancy. He had no relatives in this country. After admission into tho gaol he did no work. Dr Henry surgeon, stating at the examination made immediately on his admission that ho was suffering from weakness of tho heart, his general health being very fooblo. Application was made .for tho man's admission into the Hospital some time ago. but os the Hospital was crowded he could not be admitted. Ho was tended carefully at the gaol, and it transpired in evidence that two prisoners had been devoted to him in his illness. Tho iury returned a verdict in accordance with tho testimony of Dr Henry, that deceased came to his death by heart disease and cerebral haemorrhage. .

John Coyle, chief warder of the gaol, stated that deceased, when admitted into the gaol, was in a very feeble state of mental and physical health. Two fellow prisoners who had helped to nurse the deceased testified that he had expressed gratitude at tho kindness he had roteived at tho hands of the gaol authorities.