6 OCTOBER

1894 The Ipswich Journal today reported a serious allegation of neglect against the master of the Ipswich workhouse, following the death in the workhouse infirmary of James McDermott, a 49-year-old army pensioner. An inquest heard that McDermott, a regular heavy drinker, had occasionally been allowed to sleep overnight in the cells at the police station. However, on the evening of 29th September, his physical condition was such that one of the union medical officers, Mr Elliston, had directed him to be removed to the workhouse infirmary. After McDermott arrived at the workhouse, the master, Mr Henry Sidney, had decided that he was just suffering from the effects of drink and so detained him for a day in an unheated receiving ward without medical attention. Another inmate stated that during the night, McDermott had not slept at all and was so ill that his head had to be raised during fits of violent coughing. On 2nd October, the workhouse medical officer, Mr Staddon, had discovered McDermott's situation and ordered his immediate removal to the infirmary but he died there four hours later. A post-mortem by Dr Brogden revealed the cause of death to be chronic pneumonia. The jury returned a verdict of 'death from natural causes' but that the master had been guilty of dereliction of duty in his dealing with McDermott.