AN EX-POLICEMAN'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 256, 2 November 1906, Page 5

AN EX-POLICEMAN'S DEATH.

INQUEST. MEDiCAL TREATMENT IN UAOL. A BAD SYSTEMAn inquest was held this morning at the Mount Edan Gaol before Mr T. <J resham, the Coroner, into the death ot Alexander Crawford, an ex-policeman, aged 35, who died in the Mount Eden traul on Wednesday last. The deceased was arrested for drunkenness at Onehunga. and was remanded to tbo Mount Eden gaol for medical treatment. He was admitted on the 30th October, and died the following day.

Evidence of identification was given i l>y Francis Severn, the gaoier of Mount Kden prison. lie produced the warrant of committal, signed by J. Rowe, J. .P., which stated that the deceased was found in a state of helpless intoxication on the 30th October, and was committed for curative treatment until November 3th. Deceased was admitted to the gaol at a quarter-past one on Tuesday afternoon last. The gaol surgeon was immediately telephoned for, and he arrived about three o'clock. Deceased was placed in the prison hospital. He was then practically unconscious. The doctor's instructions were carried out, but deceased died the following day. Witness thought it was a very great shame for a respectable man like the deceased to be sent to prison for treatment in the state in which he then was. He was not violent, and required nothing but ordinary medical treatment. Such cases upset the discipline of the gaol. They took otlicers away from their legitimate duties. The deceased was a fine, muscular, intelligent man. He had, unfortunately, given way to drink, and it was a shame that he should die. He did not blame the police in any way. It was the system of sending persons to gaol for medical treatment. He had repeatedly protested against such cases being sent to prison. Dr. Wylie Drummond Ferguson deposed to performing a post-mortem examination. An external examination showed slight abrasions on various parts of the body. The right lung showed slight new pleuritic adhesions and was in n state of congestion. Throughout there were slight traces of pneumonia. The left lung showed marked recent pleuritic adhesions, and pneumonic consolidation. The cause of death was pneumonia with its complications —hemingitis and terminal syncope. In reply to the Coroner witness stated they had not the same conveniences for nursing or attendance at the gaol, tie thought the deceased was a case that should have been sent to the hospital. Constable Annison: Do you think he could have recovered had he gone to the hospital?—No! I don't think so. Constable Annison: Is it the usual thing for the hospital to take on violent cases? —Yes! They will take in any case that is not absolutely a case of insanity. They will take in any violent case if it is the result of disease. Dr. Wm. J. Darby, the prison surgeon, confirmed the evidence of the previous witnesses. When witness first saw the deceased he was undoubtedly suffering from the effects of delirium tremens. Ho was very quiet. J. iScanJon, chief warder, deposed to ladimStting the deceased to !the gaol on Tuesday last. Deceased wa,s not violent. His condition was helpless, and he answered questions incoherently. A prisoner volunteering evidence stated the deceased was brought into the prison in a dying condition. He protested strongly against such cases being admitted to the prison hospital. It was unfair to the man and unfair to other sick prisoners. During the past fortnight they had had practically no rest in the hospital. There was no medical officer resident at the gaol, and no skilled attendants, so that in the case of a relapse nothing could be done. He was strongly of opinion that deceased should have been sent to the hospital. He was obviously suffering from pneumonia. His mind was clouded and he had difficulty in breathing. The arresting constable stated the deceased was very violent wlion arrested. It took three men to hold the deceased to keep him from injuring himself. Dr. Tressider was present and was with him for over an hour. The deceased oould 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 medical evidence, and added a rider to the effect that they were decidedly of opinion that the deceased should not have been remanded to the gaol. They were satisfied everything possible was done at the gaol, but the facilities for treatment at the gaol were necessarily not such as the case demanded.