§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a prisoner named Jewis died a few months since in St. Angus tine's Gaol, Canterbury; whether Jewis was flogged in gaol, and how recently prior to his death; whether the back of Jewis, at the time of his death, was a mass of wounds, partly self-caused and partly caused by the flogging; and whether the Government will lay upon the Table the Report of the prison medical officer relating to this case?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Yes, Sir this prisoner received, by the order o the Visiting Committee, 12 lashes on the 3rd of January last, and he died of an apoplectic fit on the 20th of the same month. In consequence of allegations made at the time as to this man's prison treatment, and as to the cause of his death, I ordered a special inquiry to be made last February by the Inspector into all the circumstances of the case It was stated in evidence by the Medical Officer of the prison that he examined the deceased prisoner the day after his death; that the skin was not broken by the cat, and the self-caused scratches were healed over. A full report on the case was also made by Dr. Gover, the Medical Inspector of Prisons, which I shall be happy to show to the hon Member, but it would not be usual to lay Departmental documents of this character on the Table of the House.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to see the 1251 document between this and Thursday?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe hon. Gentleman can see it at once if he likes.