Mr. Esslemont asked the Secretary of State for the Home department whether his attention had been called to the evidence of the police before the coroner if East London at the inquiry regarding the death of Frances Coles on Friday last, from which it appeared that the man Sadler was left outside the dock gates in a state of intoxication; that he was struck down and severely bruised in the presence of or without remonstrance on the part of the police; and whether, if the man was drunk as described, he was not entitled to protection.
Mr. Matthews - The Commissioner of Police informs me that he has only seen a newspaper account of the evidence, and there is nothing in that to bear out the allegation that Sadler was struck down and severely bruised in the presence of the police. The only constable who saw him at the dock gate considered that, although he had been drinking, he was not in such a state of intoxication as to warrant his being taken into custody.
