§ MR. D. JENKINS (for Mr. JAMES)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to an inquest into the circumstances attending the death of Mary Ann Nash, held by Mr. Humphreys on the 6th instant; whether it was stated in evidence that the deceased was in receipt of £5 a-year from the Cord-wainers' Company, which was to be forfeited in the event of her receiving parochial relief; whether the medical man stated that the cause of death was starvation, and that he had never known a worse case; whether the jury returned a verdict to that effect, adding that the regulations laid down by the Company compelled a family to starve, and requesting the coroner to write to the Company on the subject; if the coroner has complied with the jury's request; and, if there would be any objection to lay a Copy of his Letter before the House?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, he believed it was true, as stated at the inquest in question, that the deceased was in receipt of £5 a-year from the Cordwainers' Company, and the medical man did state that the cause of death was starvation; but it was untrue that the regulations laid down by the Company had anything at all to do with the case. The sum so allowed the woman was out of money which they had to dispose of under charity trusts, subject to and under direction of the Charity Commission; but certain clauses of the will bequeathing it to the Company specifically stated that such allowances wore not to be made to those who were in receipt of parochial relief. No further application was ever made to the Cordwainers' Company for any sum out of their ordinary funds, and they had no power to alter the conditions under which the sum allowed was given.