MR. O'CONNOR POWERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he has any communication to 259 make to the House with reference to the recent death of a convict in Portland prison, and the declaration of the jury at the inquest accusing the assistant medical officer of unkind treatment of the deceased; and, if it is true that a military prisoner named O'Brien, now undergoing sentence of penal servitude for life at Chatham, has been in chains since Christmas, or at any time since his conviction, and, if so, for how long a period; and if it is also true that his mother went a few days since to see him, but, after having been brought to Chatham, was told her son had forfeited his right to a visit and had to come away without seeing him?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that in consequence of the verdict of a coroner's jury he ordered a special inquiry to be instituted into the conduct of the assistant medical officer at Portland prison with reference to the recent death of a convict there. That inquiry was conducted by persons well qualified to form a correct judgment—namely, Dr. Guy, Dr. Bristowe, and Captain Stockwell. If the hon. Member would move for a Return of their report, he (Mr. Cross) should have no objection to place it on the Table of the House; but at present he would only refer to the concluding portion of it in which they stated that having taken all the facts of the case into consideration, they had no alternative but to acquit Dr. Bernard of the charge of want of skill, want of attention, and want of substantial kindness. At the same time, they said it appeared from the evidence that he had exhibited a certain abruptness and brusqueness of manner which would go far to explain the convict's dislike to him. It was true that a military prisoner named O'Brien, now undergoing sentence of penal servitude for life at Chatham, was put in chains in the middle of last year. On the 29th of June, 1874, he was discovered to have made a hole in the wall of his cell with a view to effecting his escape. For this offence he was, according to the rules of the prison, placed in light chains for six months. In consequence, also, of this misconduct he was placed in another class of prisoners and his right to see his friends was curtailed. It was for this reason, and for this reason alone, that when his mother went to see him she was told her son had forfeited his right to a visit, and she had 260 to go away from Chatham without seeing him.