DEATH OF A CONVICT FROM FLOGGING.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 657, 5 April 1870, Page 4

DEATH OF A CONVICT FROM FLOGGING.

On December 23rd an inquest was held at Portland Prison on the body of Thus. Wilkinson, a convict, who was found dead in his bed in the morning. It appears deceased was under a sentence of seven years' penal servitude, and had been sentenced by Captain Stock, one of the visiting inspectors, to receive thirty-six lashes with the "cat," for burning a quantity of clothes and paper in his cell. On December 20th the punishment was inflicted in the presence of Capt. Stock, Dr Blaker, the medical officer cf the prison, and several warders, a medical certificate having been previously given that the convict was fit for corporeal punishment. Dr Blaker stated that he had examiued the deceased previous to the infliction of punishment, and found him free from disease. He was in front of him during the time he was flogged, but he bore it very well, showing no signs of faintness. If he had thought deceased could not have borne the punishment he would have stopped it. Mr H. Nathan, surgeon, of Weymouth, made a. post moriem examination by order of the coroner. He could not find any trace of disease, and attributed the cause of death to the shock to the nervous system. The jury were quite satisfied that every care had been taKen, and that no blame attached to Dr Blaker, and returned a verdict in accor dance with the medical evidence. '