SHOCKING CASE OF DESTITUTION AND STARVATION AT BURITON, NEAR PETERSFIELD.—During the present month a poor labouring man, named Thomas Surrell, while working at a thrashing machine in the parish of Weston, dropped down in the field, while at work, in a state of exhaustion. He was sent home by his employer in a cart, and on the fourth day the poor man expired, and would have been buried but for the vigilance of Mr. Thomas Fay, superintendent of the police for the Petersfield division, who caused a coroner’s inquest to be held by C. B. Longcraft, Esq., and a respectable jury. After a minute examination, the following verdict was given :—‟Died by the visitation of God.” But there were reasons to suppose that the deceased had not had a sufficiency of food to supply nature. Great credit is due to Mr. Fay, who affirms that he never saw such an emaciated and starved body. On a post mortem, examination not a particle of food was found in the intestines or any part of the stomach. This case occurred within four doors of the rector of the parish, the Rev. J. M. Sumner, M.A., second son of the Bishop of Winchester, who is luxuriating in the parish with 1,600l. a year, besides a prebendaryship or two. The poor starved peasant was an example of honesty, sobriety, and industry, yet withal he eked out but a miserable existence, and died at the age of 52, without a murmur, having the munificent sum of 8s. per week to support his wife and five children, not one of whom, we hear, was earning a single penny. After paying 1s. per week for the rent of his cottage, he had just 1s. per day to maintain seven individuals. In the Petersfield Union the cost would have been two shillings and sixpence per day. This distressing case has caused considerable excitement in the neighbourhood, and is strongly condemned by the humane.—(From a Correspondent.)
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25-May-1853)