CONVICT EATS METAL.

Shannon News, 31 July 1925, Page 4

CONVICT EATS METAL.

MACHINERY PARTS SWALLOWER. FATAL. RESULTS. NEWPORT (I. of W.), May 20. Chronic gastric trouble caused by swallowing foreign substances led to the death of Joseph Kearon, a convict Ur Parkliurst Prison, on whom an inquest was held to-day. Kearon was sentenced at Manchester last July to seven years for attempted murder.

He had several previous sentences, and it was during these that most of the foreign bodies had been swallowed. They included handles of knives, forks and spoons, parts of scissors and machinery, and buttons. Last November he swallowed portions of two spoons. Kearon's digestive system had become so disorganised that it was praccically useless. He had been kept under observation, but the doctor informed the coroner that the man could not be certified insane.

The doctor added that swallowing of foreign substances was a favourite trick of prisoners early in their prison life, the aim being to excite pity and give cause for malingering. Usually, however, they were too crafty to carry the practice to the extent of doing themselves permanent injury.

Returning a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, the coroner said that an interesting museum might be found in Kearon’s stomach, and, if he authorities wished, he would give Jiem permission to make a post-rnor-em examination.