DEATH IN PRISON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20001, 17 July 1920, Page 10

DEATH IN PRISON.

OLD MAN’S END. An old man named Alexander Hood, who was sentenced in Christchurch yesterday to three mouths’ bard labour for vagrancy, was taken to the I'nparna Prison the same day. Ho deed there this morning. An inquest was conducted by Air S. E. M'Carthy District Coroner, and a. jurv of six’ of which Air W. J. Hensley was chosen foreman. Dr C. J;. Nedwill, Government medical officer for the prison, said that the body was in a. shocking condition from neglect. Deceased seemed to be about seventy years of age, and Ids body was poorly nourished. All the internal organs were normal, except the heart, which was very much enlarged. Death was due' to syncope from a, dilated heart. The condition of the heart was suggestive of alcoholic poisoning. Roland T. Hcssell, police constable, said that deceased had always seemed, to be in a state of drunkenness. Ho was arrested on Thursday, when be was lying drunk on a. footpath. He then was in a terribly filthy condition. George Baker, police constable, said that he had seen deceased often about Christchurch during the past three or four months. Deceased was always more or less in. drink and was very dirty. dames Dow, warder, said that "hen deceased was received at Min prison ho was in a very dirty condition. When his clothes were taken oil he was put into a tepid bath with a disinfectant in it. His hair was out, and lie was put into a prison uniform. He said that lie felt Jive pounds hotter for his I treatment. He had his meal at night, l and did not complain of his health. Witness visited deceased’s col! at 9.5 a.m. to-day. Deceased was lying on the_ mattress, and life seemed to be extinct. A verdict was returned that deceased died from syncope, due to a dilated heart, and tho jury found that no blame of any kind was attachable to the prison authorities.