§ MR. PARNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to an account in the "Liverpool Daily Post" of an inquest on the body of a prisoner recently discharged from Walton Gaol; and, if so, whether he will direct a post-mortem examination of the body to be made, and a fresh inquiry to be held?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, it would be impossible to order a post-mortem examination; and, if it could be done, no good would result from it. The unfortunate prisoner died as long ago as the 18th of February of virulent small-pox. An inquest was held by one of the most experienced coroners in the country, who -took the precaution of having a perfectly independent medical gentleman called in order to give his opinion of the case before the jury. The jury were a most intelligent jury, and gave patient attention to the case, and the result of their verdict was that the boy died of virulent small-pox, which apparently came on very suddenly. The visiting justices made a searching inquiry, and said they could find no trace of any treatment in the gaol which called for any remark on their part. Under these circumstances, I consider it is not desirable to hold another inquiry.