EX-CONSTABLE’S DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1924, 6 November 1906, Page 4

EX-CONSTABLE’S DEATH.

The Auckland City Coroner (Mr T. Gresham) held an inquest at Mount Eden gaol on Friday morning, regarding the death of Alexander Crawford, an cxpoliceman, aged 35, who died in the gaol On Wednesday last. The deceased was arrested for drunkenness at Onchunga, and was remanded to Mount Eden gaol for medical treatment. Ho was admitted on Tuesday last, and died the following day.

Francis Sevorne, gaoler, produced the warrant of committal, signed by Mr J. Howe, 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 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 think that the prisoner would live many hours. Witness visited turn again at a quarter past four p m., and saw (hat the oaao was hopeless. Dr. Darby saw deceased egain about seven p.rn. aud half-past Eoveu p.m,, having previously seen him at about ono pin., with Dr. McDaugall. The prisoner died at a quarter to eight on the 31st ult, Wit nees thought that it wan radically wroDg to havo eent tbo prisoner to a prison in the state in which ho then was. He was not violent, and requited nothiog but ordinary medical treatment. Witness did not blame the polico in tho matter. He had repeatedly protested against Euch cates being sent to tho prisoD, Dr. Wiioy Drummond Ferguson elated that hn performed a post-mortem examination on the deceased. The cause of death was pneumonia, with its complications —hemingitis aud terminal syncope, It was a.S; oaso to send to the hospital. Constable Annisort: Do you tbiok ho could havo recovered had he gone to the hospital ? Wisnets: No; I don’t think so. Ho ceosidsred that deceased should br.vo bcon sent to tho hospital, beeauso at tbo gacl they had not the necessary conveniences for nursing and attendance. At tho fco;n pital they would admit any ca3C of dsfirium, due to d.’inkor disease. The u.Jy eases of that typo that they would not admit were those duo to mental derangemens.

A prisoner volunteering evidence said when deceased was brought into the gaol he was almost unconscious end could hardly breathe. Witness was strongly of opinion that tho deoossEd should havo been sent to tho hospital. Dr Wm. J, Darby, tho prison surgeon, confirmed the evidence of Dr Ferguson and Mr Saverne. When witness first saw deceased he was suffering from the t ff.ots of delirium tremons. Ho was very quiet. Constable McCHono, who arrested deceased, said be was very violent. Dr Tresiddor, who was with deceased for about an hour, expressed the opinion that deceased's was not a case to be sent to tho hospital. He could not be tsksn to the court owing to his violence, and tho justice visited him in his cell.

Tho jury returned a verdict in accordance with the mndicsl evidence, and added a rider to iho effect that they were decidedly of opinion that deceased should not havo boon sent to the gaol. They were also of opinion that while in gaol deceased rictived all proper treatment both medical aud otherwise, but they wore satisfied that the facilities for treatment at the gaol wero neoeeaatily not Buoh as the case demanded,