DIED IN PRISON.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1915, Page 3

DIED IN PRISON.

INQUEST ON AN OLD MAN. The circumstances surrounding the death of Dennis Fahey, a prisoner, who was found dead in his cell in the "e\v IPilymouth Gaol early on Thursday morning, were enquired into by the coroner ('Mr. A. Crooke) at the g-iol yesterday morning. Warder \V. A. Goerby said Fahey was a laborer 70 years of age, nnd was serving a sentence of six months for vagrancy, having been committed from llaw\i. Witness unlocked the deceased's cell at C.no a.m. on Thursday, am' 'oii'iid Hie deceased silting on his kc-.1. fully dressed, but dead. Being an old man. the deceased was given a mattress on his bed—a privilege nut allowed to every prisoner. Warder Mago O'Donne'l deposed to having seen the deceased alive at 4.50 p.m. on Wednesday, and the deceased was then in his usual health. Dr. IT. A. MeOlelland. medical ofliccr at the gaol, said the deceased had a very weak heart, and witness had instructed that light work should be given to him. Fahey had frequently been in prison, and two years ago he had had a fit and had to be treated at the hospital. Witness was called to the gaol at 0.30 a.m. on Thursday, and on arrival found Fahey was dead. There was no sign of any struggle having taken place, and witness gave the cause of death as heart failure. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.