SUICIDE BY A CONVICT.— Between one and two o’clock on the afternoon of Thursday, the 13th inst. Thomas Parker, alias Gosling, a convicted prisoner in the County Prison, destroyed his own life by hanging himself in his cell. The deceased was tried at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions, held last month, and then convicted of housebreaking at Buriton, and having been twice previously convicted, he was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude. He was a fine young man, about 24 years of age. and had been following the occupation of a fish hawker. His general health was very good, but part of his left arm had been amputated at some former period, though it was well healed, and did not affect his bodily health. At an inquest on the body, held Saturday by Mr. Todd, a coroner for the county, the evidence adduced went to show that the deceased was seen in his cell on the Wednesday evening, alive and well. The deputy governor at that time reproved him for tearing strips of flannel from his blanket, for the purpose of wrapping up the stump of his arm, which he complained was cold. Deceased then said he ‟must do it.” The strips of blanket were taken away, and a new flannel covering, made purposely for him by the matron, was left with him, and which had admitted was very comfortable. Dr. Lyford, however, considered that no wrapper was necessary. An assistant warder went to the deceased’s cell on Thursday, about half-past one o’clock, to fetch his dinner tin, and the deceased then passed the tin through the trap in the door. Shortly before two o’clock, Mr. W. H. S. Stanley, one of the Visiting Magistrates on duty that day, was engaged in visiting the prisoners for the purpose of ascertaining whether they had any complaints to make, or applications to lay before the Committee, and having visited all the cells in the lower tier, he came to that of the deceased, when, on unlocking the door, he was horrified to find a man suspended by the neck from the gas pipe. Mr. Stanley, with great presence of mind, searched his pockets for a knife, to cut him down, but having none, endeavoured to raise the body and lift off the strap by which it was suspended to the hook hanging to the gas pipe. having strength sufficient for the purpose, he hastily procured assistance, and the deceased was got down and laid upon the floor of the cell. There was no sign of life; the face was livid, and the eyes distended. Hot water was applied, and other means adopted with a view to his restoration, and in the meantime a messenger was despatched for Mr. Lyford, the Prison surgeon, but all was in vain. It was observed that the hammock hook had been hung on the gas pipe, and the two leather straps of the hammock passed over the hook, and fastened by the buckles round the deceased’s neck, and he was thus suspended; the cell was 6ft. 2in. high, and the height of the deceased 5ft. 7in.; the cell stool was lying on its side near him. Mr. Lyford said he found the deceased quite dead on arriving at the prison about two o’clock. Mustard poultices had been applied to the stomach and feet. He found the mark of a ligature round the neck, sufficient to account for death—being such as would be occasioned by suspension by the strap he saw in the cell. It was quite possible for the deceased to buckle the strap round his own neck. The state of the deceased’s mind and body was healthy, and exhibited no indication of unsoundness of mind, excitable temperament, or great depression. The general aspect of the body was that of a healthy man in good condition; he had examined his arm, and had not found it colder than the other parts of his body; and certainly did not consider any extra covering necessary. The evidence of the Rev. F. Rogers, Chaplain of the Prison, was to the effect that the deceased appeared very reserved, and to feel deeply and poignantly on various subjects, having a mind to feed very much upon itself. When he last left the prison, he exhibited an improved state of feeling, and his conduct was good there. He wrote to Mr. Rogers some time after, when in pecuniary difficulties, and that gentleman forwarded 5s to which something was added by the Archdeacon, to start him in business as a fish hawker. When he was again committed to prison, he appeared overwhelmed with grief, and said he thought his life would be one of misery. He adverted to the struggles he had made for a honest living, and confessed that his last offence was committed under the influence of drink, taken in company with a man who first led him into crime; and he cried so bitterly that the Chaplain was obliged to abandon a tone of censure, and endeavoured to comfort him. After his sentence, he complained bitterly of its severity, and the Chaplain’s subsequent visits found him in deep despair, which appeared to increase. The Chaplain said his opinion was that the deceased took his own life under the overwhelming influence of his feelings, from a combination of circumstances—the pain of his arm, (which he frequently said kept him awake all night) the loss of his character, the impression of his sin, and a kind letter lately received from his sister, having touched a chord in his mind which unmanned him. After he was found dead, the Chaplain took down his slate, and on it was freshly written—‟It is owing to my arm being so cold—Blessed Jesus receive my spirit—thous hast said, his that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” The Chaplain expressed his conviction that the deceased, dejected on account of his sin, had lost hope, and the text flashing across his mind, in a moment of temptation he endeavoured to release himself, and committed the fatal act—which was the act of an unbalanced mind, and therefore an irresponsible one. The jury having heard the above evidence, returned a verdict of Temporary Derangement.
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18-Oct-1856)