Dr. Bell declined cross-examining Mr. Webber, and no other evidence being called, the room was then cleared of strangers and witnesses, and the jury proceeded to consider their verdict; after deliberating about 20 minutes, the foreman returned the following verdict:—“_That William Swann died from an abscess in the capsule of the left bladder_,” but on the suggestion of Mr. Crickmay, the coroner substituted the word “kidney” for “bladder,” remarking that, that was what the jury intended. One of the jury said that the foreman had not given the verdict exactly as agreed upon; and the foreman then added the words “_and we are of opinion that deceased’s death was accelerated by improper treatment_.” { 56} Mr. Crickmay said, by whom do you consider improper treatment was used? The coroner observed “_as for that_, _you and the public are to form your own judgment_.”
Thus terminated a painful enquiry, on which a large volume might be written in behalf of humanity, expressing regret, for the sufferings of the unfortunate deceased—expressing regret that his care, his counsel, and his regard shown to his wife and children should be so untimely lost—expressing regret that the good intentions of Mrs. Shirley should apparently, through misplaced confidence, be frustrated—expressing regret, that a professional gentleman standing in this case in an awkward position, should make a more awkward defence, in apparently endeavouring to cast the blame on others, who wholly undeserved it—expressing regret that a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, in Ireland, { 57a} who is supposed to possess an acquaintance with the tissues and structures of the human body, apparently forgot that the larger an instrument, called a sound, can enter a canal at a given part, the less danger there is of rupturing a tube, or wounding a delicate membrane. But above all, expressing regret, that having apparently neglected the precaution given by Mr. Webber not to use force; having witnessed the agony accompanying inflammatory action which followed, he persisted to combat it by such apparently vague medical treatment. { 57b} For this it appears was nearly sending Swann to a still earlier grave. His life, however was for a time preserved through the skill and perseverance of Mr. Webber, and the great attention Mrs. Phillips, the nurse, paid to the deceased. But the days of the poor agricultural labourer were numbered; and his earthly sufferings having ceased, an earnest hope may be expressed that his ethereal spirit—his soul, may be now slumbering in the bosom of his Father, and his God.