Inquests Taken Into Suspicious Or Unexplained Deaths

For the County of Devon

Articles taken from the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette

[printed in Exeter.]

1847-48

Transcribed by Lindsey Withers

Coroner's Inquests were usually held within the space of 48 hours following a death that appeared to be of a suspicious or unexplained nature. They were usually held in a local public-house, ale house, municipal building, or parish workhouse, but sometimes in the building where the death occurred. The Coroner usually came from a legal or medical background and more often than not, appointed for life by the respective County. The Coroner and a Jury of between 12 and 24 persons, usually men of substantial standing, were empanelled to examine the body, hear witnesses, and the Jury then to come to a Verdict as to Cause of Death. The account of the Inquest appearing in local newspapers, included the name of the deceased, where they died, and how they died. Sometimes, age, occupation, parish or address, and other relatives' names can be found. In later years when Hospitals appear, people can be dying away from their parish after having been admitted to that institution, and the Inquest is therefore conducted where the death occurred, rather than where the person was living.

[Numbers in brackets indicate the number of times that name occurs.]

Names Included:-  Arscott; Atwell; Baker(2); Ballstone; Barter; Bevan; Blanchford; Bradford; Bumstead; Bunkham; Burch; Bussell; Carpenter; Cart; Clark; Clatworthy; Clements; Coke; Coleridge; Cragg; Dafter; Day; Dennis(2); Dingle; Dircksen; Dobles; Douglas; Down; Drake; Dunlop; Emmett; Evans; Ewins; Finnimore; Fraser; Frost(2); Gale; Gilbert; Goldsworthy; Goodyear; Gould; Grafton; Haack; Hamilton; Hanford; Hanralty; Harris; Hawkins; Hiscox; Hooker; Hooper(2); Hughes; Hurford; Husband; Hyett; Isaacs; Jackman; Jarvis; Jenkins; Kellard; Kemp; Kempe; Lakeman; Lucas; Luxton; Lyne; Maddock; Manley; March; Martin; Matthews; Mitchell; Mortimore; Nicholls; Northcote; Oldridge; Organ; Orswell; Paige; Parker; Partridge; Pearce; Perry; Peters; Pike; Pomeroy; Ponsford; Prince; Prouse; Rice; Richardson; Rigby; Robinson; Rudd; Sandford; Seward; Seymour; Shaddick; Shapter; Sherwood; Squire; Stocker; Stranger; Strong; Tapscott; Taylor; Thomas; Wakeham; Warren; Webber; Westaway; White; Whiting; Willcocks; Williams; Wilson; Wood; Wreyford.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 9 January 1847
EXETER - Yesterday, Thursday, an Inquest was held at the Barnstaple Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MARTHA HANFORD, a young woman, aged 20, who had died suddenly on the previous morning. It appeared that the deceased had lodged somewhere under the "Iron Bridge," in the house of a washerwoman named Warren. She was stated by the woman Warren to have been poorly for some time, but not so much indisposed as to be confined to her room. Early on Wednesday morning she became worse and a neighbour was sent for, as well as Mr A. Cumming, one of the surgeons of the Corporation of the Poor. The deceased expired, however, before either of them arrived. The woman Warren manifested great unwillingness to give evidence, whilst under examination, and told her story in a very rambling manner. As the cause of death remained a mystery, the Coroner adjourned the Inquest until tomorrow (Saturday) at one o'clock, in order that the body might be internally examined; an operation which Mr A. Cumming received directions to perform.

PLYMSTOCK - A few days since, MR JOHN PEARCE, a highly respected yeoman in the parish of Plymstock, was found hanging in an upper room of his house. Surgical aid was promptly at hand, but life was extinct. Deceased was in his 78th year. An Inquest has been held and a verdict of "Temporary Insanity" returned.

PLYMOUTH - On Sunday WILLIAM SEWARD, servant in the establishment of Jonathan Luxmoore, Esq., of North-street, Plymouth, went to an outhouse for some fire-wood; being absent some time it was thought he had gone to his own house, in the neighbourhood; but upon inquiry it appeared he had not been there. Upon searching the premises it was discovered that something prevented the door of the outhouse opening without force, and he was there found quite dead. While the Inquest was sitting on Mr Seward, an intimation was given to the Coroner, John Edmonds, Esq., of another death. A woman named Brokenshire, about five doors distant from the spot where the Jury was sitting, while in the act of writing a letter, fell from her chair and instantly expired. It appears she had in her letter alluded to the death of SEWARD.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 6 February 1847
PLYMOUTH - Melancholy Accident. - On Wednesday last week, a very sad occurrence took place at Trevol, near Torpoint, the residence of J. Coryton Roberts, Esq. A married woman named ELIZABETH MITCHELL, aged 29, whose husband is a boatswain's mate at sea, has been in the habit of working at Trevol, as a dressmaker, and was there on Wednesday. Her disposition had occasioned great friendliness between the sons of Mr Roberts and herself and they were much attached to her. The eldest named Erasmus, about 14 years of age, who, with his brother, has been enjoying the school vacation at home, asked her to sing a song, and she refused - he then brought from his room a pistol which he possessed without his father's knowledge or consent, and which he had thoroughly cleaned and threatened to snap it at her if she still declined. She did so, however, and he playfully pulled the trigger, when it was found that the pistol had been loaded and the contents lodged in the head of the unfortunate individual. The woman fell bleeding to the ground; and on the young gentleman discovering that a wound had been inflicted, he exclaimed - 'Charley must have loaded the pistol,' (which afterwards turned out to be correct), and fled, n one knew whither. Mr Chubb, surgeon, of Torpoint, was sent for, but all medical effort could be of no avail, the bullet had most probably entered the brain; and, within a short time, the poor creature breathed her last without having uttered a word. Added to the terrible shock occasioned by this event, was the fright produced by the innocent cause of it being missing. Search was made for him in all directions and it was nearly midnight before he was found in the neighbourhood of the house, in a state of nervous bewilderment. - A Coroner's Inquest was held on Friday, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death"; or rather to the effect, that the deceased had died in consequence of receiving the charge of a pistol, fired by Erasmus Roberts; but that the said Erasmus Roberts was not aware at the time that the pistol was loaded.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 20 February 1847
CLOVELLY - An Inquest was held on Wednesday, by S. L. Pridham, Esq., on the body of a man named PRINCE, innkeeper, at Clovelly, and a verdict was returned of "Found Drowned". The deceased fell over the quay, as is supposed, on the Tuesday evening.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 6 March 1847
EXETER - Death By Burning. - On Saturday an Inquest was held at the Exeter Workhouse by John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM LYNE, a inmate, who had died that morning from injuries received from fire. The deceased had been long subject to epileptic fits, from the effects of which he had lost the use of an arm, and was affected in his intellect. Although an inmate of the house, he was not placed under any restraint, but was considerately treated by Mr and Mrs Bragg, the governor and matron. On Friday morning he got up as usual and when the person who attended upon him left the apartment to go to some other occupation, the deceased was sitting by the fire reading his bible. The man returned in a quarter of an hour, when he found the room filled with smoke and the deceased, in a kneeling position, close to the fire-place, burning, but unable to extricate himself. Medical aid was promptly rendered without avail. The probability is that, being seized with a fit, he had fallen forward on the fire. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 13 March 1847
EXETER - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Taylor's Arms in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM CLATWORTHY, who had died suddenly whilst at work at the Falcon Inn, on the previous day. Mr Johnson Webb, Surgeon, was called in, but no effectual aid could be rendered. It was probable that the deceased died from a disease of the heart. When the Inquest was held, Mr Johnson Webb was at Turf. A message for him was sent to the station there by telegraph, but was not communicated to that gentleman, who, however, happened to come up by the train in time to attend the Inquiry. A verdict of "Natural Death" was returned.

EXETER ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Falmouth Inn, in St. Thomas, before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man named GOULD, the tenant of Pocombe Quarry, in that parish, who had died on the previous day from the effects of a fall from the top of the rock. It appeared that the deceased stepped over the precipice without being aware of it and on reaching the ground below fractured his skull in a shocking manner, the haemorrhage from which caused almost immediate death.

SOUTHLEIGH - An Inquest has recently been held in this place by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on the body of ROBERT BALSTONE, a dwarf, 53 years of age, and only three feet eight inches high, who had been found insensible in his downstairs room, on the 25th ultimo. On the 24th, the deceased, who had been to Colyton, called at a beer-shop in Southleigh, where he tumbled into a tub of water; afterwards he drank some ale and left. Soon after nine o'clock, he was found near the beer shop lying in a ditch; he was taken out and carried home. Deceased's sisters were gone to bed, but they had left the door unlocked for him; he was heard to say, "I can't make fast the door;" and they supposed he went to bed. The next morning deceased was found downstairs on his back, and blood flowing from his nose and mouth. He breathed naturally, but very short. The blood was washed from his face, and he was put to bed, but never rallied. He died that night, and on an examination of the body by Mr Gillett, of Colyton, it was found that the brain and lungs were much congealed, produced not be violence, but by exposure to the cold and remaining in his wet clothes all night. A verdict was returned accordingly. - A sister of the deceased is living at Southleigh, who is only two feet ten inches high.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 20 March 1847
EXETER - Mysterious Death By Drowning. - On Wednesday, an Inquest was held at the Paper Makers' Arms, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of ELIZABETH ISHERWOOD, about eighteen years old, an in-door apprentice of Misses Langsford, milliners of this City, and who had been found drowned in the Exe, above Head Weir, on the previous day. It appeared that the deceased was the niece of a Mrs Willis, the servant of a lady residing in the house of Mr Head, of this City, jeweller, and it was not known that she had any other acquaintance in Exeter, except her mistress and their work-people. - Miss Langsford stated that she saw the deceased alive last at about eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning. She was in the work-room at her usual occupation. Witness left the room for about an hour and on her return missed the deceased. She thought she might have gone to Mr Head's, as she was in the habit of doing occasionally; but at five o'clock, finding that deceased did not return, she became uneasy and sent her servant to make enquiries. Shortly afterwards she was informed of what had happened. Witness was not aware that anything unpleasant had occurred in her house to make the deceased unhappy. Was sure that nothing of the sort had taken place with regard to herself. She had observed a difference in manner of the deceased during the last month or six weeks. She had appeared absent and weepish and when spoken to had answered with a kind of hysterical laugh. - William Sheppard stated that he was at work in Mr Strong's bone mill, near the Head Weir, on Tuesday; between one and two, he heard an alarm, which induced him to go to the river above Head Weir. He saw a woman in the deep water. She was well dressed and was floating with her head under water; she did not appear to be struggling. He called Mr Cridge from the House or Reception and by him the deceased was taken out of the water. - Harriet Tucker, twelve years old and servant to Mr Rogers, stated that she was out with her master's baby, on Tuesday, about 12 o'clock, in the field by the Head Weir. She met the deceased thee alone and walking slowly. She stopped and asked if that was the river Exe. Witness supposed that she meant the leat, and answered no. Deceased then asked her if the water was deep. She replied that it was very deep. Deceased inquired again where the road (i.e. path) led to. She replied that it led to the Station. Deceased then left her and went towards the Station, and witness saw no more of her until she was taken out of the water, about an hour afterwards. - A tailor, who had passed through the field just previous to the fatal occurrence, and who noticed the deceased walking about near the water, stated that she evidently watched him until he quitted the field. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 3 April 1847
PLYMOUTH - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Plymouth Guildhall, on the body of ... DIRCKSEN, who shot himself on the preceding day. The deceased was master of the Danish brig Balticum, of Aetona, which put into Plymouth in February, in a damaged state, with logwood, from Hayti for Falmouth. He had been expecting orders respecting the vessel, but not having received any, he had been much depressed in mind, and this it is supposed led to the rash act. He was a respectable man of about 40 years of age, of quiet and sober habits, and was much respected. The Jury found a verdict of "Temporary Insanity." The deceased was buried on Tuesday at Plymstock. His mother, who was an Englishwoman, formerly resided at Hooe, in the parish of Plymstock, and having married a native of Denmark, proceeded to that country, where the deceased was born; and it is somewhat singular that by this occurrence the mortal remains of the son of one who had long left this country, and who perhaps had hardly entertained a hope that either she or her children would ever re-visit it, should be laid in the grave of her fathers.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 8 May 1847
EXETER - Death From A Pistol Shot. - On Saturday an Inquiry took place at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, respecting the death of JAMES BEVAN, a working carpenter of Cullompton, aged 58 years, who had died in the Devon and Exeter Hospital on the previous Thursday. - William Quick, a labourer, in the employ of Mr James Trood, of Cullompton, coal-merchant, stated that on the 15th inst., as he was at work in Mr Whitter's yard, in that town, part of which his master occupied, he heard firing going on against the timber-work at the other end of the yard. He went over to see what it was about and found the deceased, who was in the employ of George Knight, of Cullompton, in the loft with James Hawkins, a servant in the employ of Mr Grant, to whom Mr Whitter had let the house. They had a pistol using between them. Witness saw three shots fired, two by Hawkins and one by deceased. Hawkins then loaded the pistol for a fourth shot. He had put in the powder and the ball and was putting on the cap. The pistol at this time was lying on the top of his knee and BEVAN was looking on within three feet distance. - The pistol went off and BEVAN cried out - "Oh James, you have crippled me for life." Witness saw blood flow immediately through deceased's trousers. Hawkins said he was very sorry and walked away. Witness and Robt. Lang, the gardener, assisted deceased home, as he was unable to walk by himself. A day or two after, witness saw deceased in a waggon and was told he was going to the Hospital. Witness believed the occurrence to be an accident. - Mr Edye, one of the Surgeons of the Hospital, stated that the deceased was brought into that Institution on the 16th of April and died n the 29th. On examining him, witness found in the right groin an aperture apparently from a pistol wound. From what the man stated to him, and from the nature of the wound, he conceived that the ball was lodged somewhere in the neighbourhood of the hip joint. Since the death of deceased he had made an examination and had found a leaden bullet lodged at the head of the bone in the hip joint, - indeed it was firmly imbedded in the substance of the bone itself. - Death had been the result of this injury; but it was not necessarily a mortal wound. Witness, in treating the case, adopted the remedies generally used. The deceased went on favourably till the Sunday week following his admission into the Hospital; but on the Friday previous to that day he got out of bed in witness's absence and contrary to his injunctions. on the Sunday witness was called to attend deceased as he did not appear so well as he had been and found him labouring under what witness conceived to be incipient symptoms of lock-jaw, which came on afterwards and continued up to the time of death; in fact the deceased died of lock-jaw, which was often the consequence of wounds of this description. Witness had asked the deceased how the injury had occurred and was told by him that he and his fellow-servant wee shooting at a mark and that the other accidentally shot him. Deceased stated that it was merely accident. - Robert Lang, of Cullompton, stated that he was Mr Whitter's gardener, and had to take care of Mr Grant's carriage and horses. On the 15th of April he was called from his work by Hawkins, and thinking it was the carriage returned, he went out immediately - saw no one, but heard voices in the loft, where the carpenters, of whom deceased was one, were laying a new floor. Witness called up to Hawkins, who was in the loft also and asked him what he wanted. Hawkins replied - I have purchased a little article which I want you to see and have your opinion of. Witness then went up the ladder and was shewn a small pistol, not much longer than a penknife. On seeing it, he told Hawkins that it was a most dangerous thing, and advised him to have nothing to do with it. Witness further told him of an accident with a pistol which had happened in the town and one gentleman shooting another. Hawkins then loaded the pistol and fired. BEVAN also fired. They had previously made a ring in the timber work of the loft, which they were endeavouring to hit. - Witness was then about to come down from the loft and had turned round towards the ladder, with his back to Hawkins and BEVAN, when he heard the pistol again go off, and BEVAN cry out and say, - "I wish I had gone to my tea, - I was afraid this would happen." Witness returned into the loft and found that BEVAN was wounded. Witness and Quick assisted him home. Witness also visited deceased in the Hospital, when he told him that he hoped Mr Grant would not discharge his servant (Hawkins) for this, because it was an accident, and he, BEVAN, forgave him with all his heart, and hoped his master would. A note to this effect was written to Mr Grant by BEVAN'S desire, which witness delivered. The Jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 15 May 1847
STOKE DAMEREL - Alleged Murder. On Friday an Inquest was held at the Queen's Head, Devonport, on the body of HENRY HUMPHREY GILBERT, aged 26, formerly clerk in charge of the Avenger steam tender to H.M.S. Caledonia, but lately borne upon the books of that ship. Deceased on Wednesday night was in company with Eliza McMinna, woman of ill fame, at a notorious beer-shop, "The Victory of China," in Pembroke-street, Devonport. Pedler, an attendant on the sick berth on board H.M.S. Queen, slept in a separate bed in the same room. On the Thursday they were all drinking together, when Pedler handed McMinn a glass of porter, but she being privately informed by another girl, named Eliza Card that Pedler had taken a white powder from his waistcoat pocket and put some in the glass, tasted and then threw away its contents. Shortly after Pedler gave a glass of porter to GILBERT who drank it and soon became insensible. This was between 12 and one o'clock and by half-past three he expired. The prisoner, Joseph Pedler, was captured about three hours afterwards in Queen-street, and on being conveyed to the Station house some morphia was found in one of his pockets. Mr C. Tripe, Surgeon, who examined the contents of the stomach of deceased, gave it as his opinion that he died from the effects of morphia. Mr Wm. John Grogan, assistant surgeon of H.M.S. Queen, stated that the prisoner was sick berth attendant on board that ship and had access to the medicines, among which was hydro-chloride, or muriate of morphia. Kesiah Cook stated that she lived at the Victory of China, and on Thursday drank two glasses of beer given her by the prisoner. The last part was bitter and hot in the mouth. On accusing Pedler of playing the rogue with her, he smiled, but said nothing. Eliza Coad said, "Yes, he has." Before drinking the second glass, the prisoner said, pointing to deceased, "Do you see that officer there? I'll have a lark with him, I'll set him to sleep" About ten minutes after drinking the second glass, witness felt sick, was giddy and could not stand without holding, and within half an hour vomited and then felt better, but was much swollen. In the evening she experienced an itching of the skin, had a rash on her face and back and a mist before her eyes, all of which symptoms were stated by Mr Tripe to be those exhibited after taking morphia. The Inquest was adjourned until Thursday. - The accused, Pedler is said to be of unsound mind. He received a good education and married the daughter of a captain in the Royal Navy. Having got involved through debt, he was imprisoned at Bodmin, but effected his escape after two days confinement. He was followed by a gaoler and constable through Millbrook and came to Plymouth, where they lost all trace of him. Pedler took passage by a Jersey packet to that island and thence landed in France. Then he joined some French smugglers who were detained about a year since on a charge of smuggling a large quantity of tobacco in the port of Plymouth. Before the magistrates, by his over-talking, Pedler convicted himself and comrades and they were all imprisoned six months at Exeter. Subsequently he joined H.M.S. Queen, when his knowledge of reading and writing rendered him useful to attend on the surgeon, and this service appears to have given him the means of perpetrating, without apparent cause, one of the most deliberate and diabolical acts ever committed.

EXETER - On Tuesday an Inquest was held before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Anchor Inn, in Paul-street, on the body of AMELIA LUCAS, the wife of a printer, who had died suddenly on Sunday. It appeared that the deceased had recently had a miscarriage, which had left her in a weak state previous to her death. Her husband's circumstances were very poor, and it was probable that they suffered much distress, although there was no ground for believing that she had died, as it had been rumoured, from want of the necessaries of life. A verdict of Death from Natural Causes was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 29 May 1847
EXETER - Singular Death. - On Friday an Inquest was held before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Exmouth Inn, in Holloway-street, on the body of FREDERICK LUXTON, a child two years and five months old, who died that morning under singular circumstances. On the Friday previous, the mother of the child had just made tea and while her back was turned for an instant, he took up the tea-pot and drank. Mr Kempe, the Surgeon, after consulting Mr Warren and Mr Perkins, performed an operation. The wind-pipe was opened, and the child went on well for a week; on Friday morning, about six o'clock, to the surprise of its medical attendant, it died. - The Jury returned a verdict accordingly. [In such a case as this the body should have been examined, in order that the cause of death might be ascertained. This was the legitimate object of the Inquest.]

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 5 June 1847
EXETER - On Saturday last, an Inquest was held at the Half-way-house Inn, St. David's, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of GEORGE EVANS, a waggoner in the employ of J. Quick, Esq., of Newton House, who had died on the previous afternoon from injuries received on the Cowley Bridge road, by jumping suddenly from his waggon whilst the horses were in full trot. This was another case shewing the stupidity and danger of riding and driving without reins. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

EXETER - On Saturday last, an Inquest was held by J. Warren, Esq., Coroner at the Plume of Feathers Inn, North-street, on the body of ELIZA FROST, five months old, daughter of JOHN FROST, a labourer at the terminus. The deceased had been found dead in bed that morning by her mother. Verdict - Natural Death.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 12 June 1847
CREDITON - Fatal Accident. - Another awful instance of the uncertainty of human life occurred here on Wednesday afternoon, by which a man named SQUIRE was hurried into eternity. The mail coach from Bude was coming down the town about 5.30 p.m., and at the same time the man, who was very deaf, was walking in the same direction, but rather inclined to the middle of the road; the coachman observing this, called loudly to him, but without success; nevertheless he drove in as close as possible to one side of the street, and had the man remained where he was, no accident could have taken place. It is supposed, however, that he heard something approaching, for, without looking behind him, he moved partly across the street and was knocked down by the leading horse, the wheels of the coach passing over and mutilating him in a shocking manner. Assistance was promptly rendered and the sufferer taken to an adjacent house, but death released him from his agony in about a quarter of an hour. No blame can be attached to the coachman (whose name is also Squire), he was driving very steadily and did all in his power to prevent the accident. An Inquest was held on Thursday, at the Ship Hotel, before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner, and a verdict of "Accidental Death" returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 19 June 1847
EXETER - Death By Drowning. On Monday an Inquest was held by John Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Paper Makers' Arms Inn, which is a house of reception for persons found in the water, apparently dead, - on the body of JOHN SANDFORD, of Castle Street, in this city, aged 63, which had been found naked in the river at Head Weir early on Sunday morning. Stuckes, Policeman, stated that on Sunday morning, at a quarter past six, two boys called him up, stating that the clothes of a man had been found on the river bank, near Head Weir, and that as no person could be seen in the water, they were afraid the owner was drowned. He dressed and went down immediately, but the clothes had been previously removed. He obtained a drag which he used, and felt the body with it, but could not succeed in taking it out. The water was very cold, and it was raining, otherwise he should have gone in after it. He directed John Ewins, who was assisting, to get a boat, and whilst he was doing so, he went to the Station-house, as it was his time. He returned again in about half an hour; during the interval Ewins had been to the Railway Station and obtained Mr Kingdon's boat. Witness directed the men to throw in the drag at the place where he had ascertained the body to be, and the deceased was taken out by means of the men in the boat, and brought to the Paper Makers' Arms. The body was quite naked and the place from whence it was taken was ten feet from the bank, and sixteen feet from where the clothes had been found. - Philip Cridge, keeper of the Paper Makers' Arms, stated that about a quarter before six on Sunday morning, his son got up to go for a walk with another lad, when, as they were going through the path fields leading to the Railway Station, they saw some clothes on the bank, and came and called him. He found the clothes lying in the manner they had described - there was a man's suit, - a coat, waistcoat, hat, shirt, drawers, flannel shirt, boots, trousers, in short "the whole of his rigging." He searched the pockets in order to discover a letter or card that might inform him whose clothes they were. There was no letter nor any money - but in the breast pocket of the coat he found a towel and a sponge. He brought the clothes home and gave then in charge of his wife, when he returned again to the bank, and sent for Stuckes. The body was taken out about half-past eight. - One of the Jury inquired whether Cridge had seen any mark upon the body. - The Coroner observed that the Juror ought to have ascertained the state of the body when the Jury viewed it. - The Juror replied that he could not come near enough, but he noticed something like a mark on the breast. - The witness stated that there was no mark on the body that he saw, when it was taken out of the water. - Several of the Jury, as well as the Coroner, stated that the mark on the breast was of the slightest description and was probably caused by the action of the drag. - A Juryman observed that even leaning the body on the edge of the boat for an instant, in taking it out of the water, would be sufficient to make the mark referred to. - Susannah Gims Perkins, servant of the deceased, with whom she had lived a year, stated that the last time she saw him alive was about half-past ten on Saturday night, when he came to the kitchen door to wish her good night. He afterwards went back to the parlour, and said "good night" to Miss Golsworthy, his niece, who lived with him as his housekeeper. Witness and Miss Golsworthy retired to rest about eleven o'clock. On Sunday morning, about half-past six, she went to call the deceased, as usual, when she found his bedroom door open and him absent. She noticed also that his towel and sponge had been taken away. She did not see any soap in the room, but did not know whether deceased took it with him also. His absence did not attract particular attention, as deceased had been in the habit of getting up early to walk or to bathe. But as he did not come back at his usual time, she began to feel uneasy, and at eight o'clock asked Miss Golsworthy if she knew where he was gone. Soon afterwards they learnt what had happened. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned whilst Bathing."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 26 June 1847
EXETER - Shocking Suicide. - On Thursday an Inquest was held at the White Horse Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MARY BAKER, a widow, aged 57, who had destroyed herself that day under the following appalling circumstances. From the evidence, it seems that deceased was cooking for a family on Southernhay, who went out of town on Thursday morning at seven o'clock, leaving the deceased and the housemaid at home. The deceased appeared very much depressed in spirits and did not eat much breakfast, saying that she did not care much about it. She subsequently made up the beds with the housemaid and about ten o'clock was last seen in the kitchen. The housemaid missed her from the house at eleven o'clock but took no notice of her absence, thinking that she had gone out for a short time. About half-past twelve the housemaid became uneasy and finding that the deceased had not got her bonnet and shawl with her, she feared that something had happened. She then noticed a stream of blood in the area, issuing beneath the wall of a dark closet between the pantry and wine cellar. She called in the servant of the family next door, who brought another person with him and on proceeding through the pantry to the room beyond, the deceased was found lying on her face and hands, weltering in blood. Surgical assistance was promptly procured, in Mr Harris, and Mr W. James, who removed the deceased to the servants' hall. Her extremities were cold and she appeared to have been dead for some time. The upper part of the windpipe was divided by a wound evidently inflicted with a long carving knife, which was found in the closet beside the body and appeared to have fallen from the deceased's right hand. The carotid artery was not divided and it was the opinion of Mr Harris that, could timely assistance have been rendered, her life might have been saved. Mr Caird, Surgeon, stated that he had attended the deceased on Tuesday by the desire of her mistress, and found her in a state of nervous excitement. It appeared that, about a fortnight ago, a female fellow-servant with whom she had lived 17 years, had been seized with a paralytic attack in the night, in consequence of which she was obliged to leave her place. This the deceased had taken much to heart, and her manner and appearance had much altered since. She had previously been a pleasant, rosy-looking person, but a witness who met her in the market on Tuesday stated that the deceased looked "yark" and quite started at her and when she asked her how she did, replied that she was very bad and couldn't throw that off her spirits. The deceased had lived with her late mistress 19 years. The Jury found that the deceased Destroyed Herself, being at the time of Unsound Mind.

TAVISTOCK - On Thursday last week, MRS MARGARET DUNLOP, a lady formerly residing in Glasgow, committed suicide at the residence of her son-in-law, E. W. FERNIE, Esq., in this town, by cutting her throat with a razor. She had not been in bed for the night and had written several letters. About 4 o'clock in the morning she went into the nursery and spoke to the nurse in her usual manner, but about seven o'clock she was discovered in the closet quite dead. The deceased was in her 48th year. A Coroner's Inquest was held on the body and a verdict of Temporary Insanity returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 17 July 1847
EXETER - Distressing Suicide Of An Inventor. - On Saturday afternoon an Inquest was held at the Royal Oak Inn, in Milk-street, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MR HYAM ISAACS, a Christian Jew, who had destroyed himself under most distressing circumstances that morning. - From the evidence it appeared that the deceased was 60 or 70 years of age and was originally a glass-cutter, but for the last 30 years he had followed no business. Last year, he invented two schemes for preventing accidents on railways, the first being a "shield carriage" of particular construction, to be fitted up with springs and other contrivances, so as to break the force of the concussion in the event of a collision taking place; the other, an improvement of the "buffers" for the same object. One of the shield carriages was to be placed between the engine and the passenger carriages - and another in the rear of the train, and, in case the latter should be of unusual length, a greater number were to be employed, and placed at proper intervals. In August, the deceased entered into an agreement with Mr J. C. Wilcocks, with respects to his inventions, in which Mr Wilcocks did not undertake to procure a patent, but bound himself, in case he did procure one for the carriage, and the profit realised during the lifetime of the deceased or his wife, amounted to £200 a year, to pay him and her an annuity of £100 during their joint lives and the life of the survivor - the patent, in that case, becoming his absolute property. For the improvement of the buffers he was to pay the deceased £50 a year on the same terms. Mr Wilcocks stated that he took as much pains to bring the matter before the public as if it had been his own invention. He had 10,000 circulars printed and sent upwards of 9,000 by post, to proprietors of railway stock in every part of the kingdom. He also circulated 300 newspapers for the same purpose. He gave the deceased £10 in order that he might go to London to register his inventions and went to London himself to see what could be done. He saw the engineer of the London and Birmingham line, who did not appear to think highly of the plan and this circumstance connected with the fact that, in answer to his 9,000 circulars, he did not receive one application, and also the unpromising aspect of Railway matters at the time, determined him not to go on. It seems that the deceased had placed his expectations on the success of his invention, as the means of raising himself and his wife to a condition of comparative affluence during their declining years. The delay which took place in the realisation of his wishes, filled him with all the mental agonies which the poet has well described as attendant on "hope deferred." On Saturday morning he called on his son, MR G. C. ISAACS, hatter, to accompany him to the premises of Messrs. Wilcocks and Brock, where he expected to see Mr J. C. Wilcocks. In the wareroom up stairs the interview took place and Mr Wilcocks reminded the deceased of the trouble he had taken, and the expense which he had sustained, and assured him that he wished to settle the matter satisfactorily to both. He then proposed to the deceased - "If you like to pay me £20 the amount of your dishonoured bill which I have here, you shall have the whole thing yourself." The deceased had previously appeared in low spirits but this appeared to excite him very much and Mr Wilcocks said - "Well then, perhaps I had better break up your bill and you break up our agreement, and then make the best you can of the thing for yourself." The deceased then retreated a few steps and put something to his mouth, when a bottle fell from his hand upon the floor. His son ran forward to him and said "Good God, father, what have you done?" The deceased said "I have taken prussic acid." - He then staggered back to the end of the wareroom and asked his son to take off his spectacles and handkerchief which was done. His son repeatedly asked him where he had bought the prussic acid, to which the deceased made no answer; - he spoke but once after that; his last words were - "GEORGE, I hope you'll take care of your mother." He was then removed to his son's house, which was nearly opposite, and he died in about 40 minutes afterwards. Dr Charles Kingdon, who was called in to attend the deceased, and who examined the contents of the bottle, stated that there was a small quantity of the essential oil of bitter almonds, which was a poison, remaining in it. The bottle would contain about six drachms, and two drachms had been known to poison a man in ten minutes. He thought this oil contained about ten per cent of prussic acid. The deceased died from taking part of the contents of the bottle. The deceased's son stated that his father had consulted Mr Laidman on the subject, who had promised to see Mr Wilcocks. He believed, if his father had not been so hasty, but had given Mr Wilcocks time, the matter would have been satisfactorily arranged. At the conclusion of the evidence, the Coroner observed that, however, unfortunate the Jury might deem what had occurred, they would, he dare say, feel that Mr Wilcocks was not to blame. The Jury emphatically assented to this remark, and returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity." - The deceased, who was converted to Christianity many years ago, was well known in Exeter and in other parts of this county. He has occasionally lectured on Jewish ceremonies and observances and there were strong feelings of hostility prevailing between him and others of his nation. A few years since, when he lectured at the Subscription Rooms, in this city, some of the Jews attended and a good deal of angry feeling was manifested, which ended in an appeal to magisterial authority.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 24 July 1847
TEIGNMOUTH - An Inquest was held on Monday, on the body of CAPTAIN WREYFORD, who was accidentally drowned at sea, having fallen overboard whilst attempting to disentangle the gear of a fishing smack in which he was sailing.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 31 July 1847
BIDEFORD - On Wednesday, an Inquest was held before T. L. Pridham, Esq., Coroner, on the body of J. PROUSE, a lad, about 16 years of age, who had for some time been in the employ of Mr E. M. White. On Monday, he was bathing near the east side of the river, when Mr Meddleton, who was near the spot fishing, saw him sink. Supposing the cramp had seized him, he immediately jumped in to render assistance, but before he could reach him, the boy sunk the third time, and did not rise again. The body was not picked up until Wednesday morning, when it was found about three miles up the river, and much eaten by crabs.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 14 August 1847
PLYMOUTH - On Thursday, last week, an Inquest was held at Laira Green, on the body of a new born male child, of which ELIZABETH LAKEMAN, servant to Mrs Chesterfield, was shown to be the mother. The Jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against ELIZABETH LAKEMAN, who was committed for trial at the Assizes.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 21 August 1847
NEWTON ABBOT - The Poor Law. - On Friday a shocking occurrence took place at the Newton Abbot Union House. A person called RICHARD GOODYEAR was an inmate of this Union for about three weeks, being brought here by an order from Taunton; he was a mason by trade, and had been for years living at Taunton. He was 62 years old, and was in a low desponding state, but not to excite any alarm. He slept in the upper story of the men's ward, and about half-pat three on Friday morning, he jumped out of the window, 23 feet and fell to the ground, pitching on his head, where he lay groaning. His groans disturbed some of the inmates and the Governor, who found him lying insensible. Mr Gillard, the Surgeon, was sent for, who instantly attended, and found him in the Hospital, in bed, in a collapsed state. The usual means were resorted to immediately, but without effect, and the pauper in about two hours departed this life. - An Inquest was held by Mr W. A. Cockey, Deputy Coroner, the same day, and adjourned till Saturday, when a verdict was returned that the deceased jumped out of the window, being at the time labouring under a state of Insanity, brought on by confinement and being separated from his wife. It transpired in the course of the Inquiry that the deceased had seen his wife but twice (except at chapel), during the three weeks he had been an inmate of the House, though she also was an inmate. He had made no complaint of it, however, because, as his wife said, he knew the regulations of the House before he came in, and had been accustomed to it for ten months at Taunton. He had, however, complained to his wife, that he found the confinement very hard in consequence of which she had spoken to the Guardian of the parish, with the view of getting out-door relief, and that gentleman had promised to attend to it. It is the practice of the Guardians of this Union to allow out-door relief to aged married couples, to prevent their being separated, and no doubt the same course would have been adopted in this case, if time had been given.

EXETER - An Inquest was held at the Custom House Inn, in this City, on Thursday, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of HENRY NICHOLLS, which had been found in the river, just below the Ferry, that morning. The deceased was last seen on Tuesday night about 12 o'clock, by Charles Gardiner, a weaver, out of work, living in Rack-street, who was on the river at that hour, in his boat, dipping for eels. The deceased expressed a desire to get his master's boat, in order to fish also; but Gardiner attempted to dissuade him from it, as he considered, from his voice, that he was drunk. The deceased, however, persisted in saying that he should try it on; Gardiner let his boat drop down the stream with the current, and left NICHOLLS sitting on a heap of stones close to the edge of the water, just below the passage-boat house; Gardiner continued fishing for an hour and a half afterwards, but saw nothing further of the deceased. - NICHOLLS was 32 years old, and lived with his father, a comb maker, in Horse-lane. On Tuesday night he came home about 9 o'clock, and supped on fish, he then went away and was seen afterwards at the Fountain Inn, by Leon Coster, a Dutchman, and a cigar-maker, who lodged with the deceased's father; the deceased came to the Fountain Inn, at half-past 9, and remained until a quarter after 11, when Coster accompanied him to his father's house, and endeavoured to dissuade him from going out to fish that night, as he had been drinking; still he was not drunk. The deceased, however, would go out, and he did not return. Verdict - Accidental Death.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 28 August 1847
EXETER - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JOHN MORTIMORE, a labourer, of Tedburn St. Mary. About three weeks since, the deceased was at work in the fields, harvesting vetches, when he broke his leg by a fall from the top of his cart. He was immediately conveyed to the Devon and Exeter Hospital, where the limb was amputated; but lock-jaw ensued and caused his death. A verdict was found accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 4 September 1847
EGG BUCKLAND - Melancholy Accident. - On Saturday an Inquest was held at the Laira Inn, Crabtree, on the bodies of three boys, named HENRY MADDOCK, CHARLES BUMSTEAD and SAMUEL HUSBAND, inmates of the Plympton St Mary Union. It appeared that an old man, an inmate of the Workhouse, to whose care the boys of the Union were confided, took them on Saturday morning to walk. On coming to the Laira, he gave them permission to bathe above a place called the Amphitheatre, at the Saltram grounds. The boys stripped and went into the water and suddenly a cry was heard from one or more of them, saying that MADDOCK and others had fallen into a pit. Burns looked round and saw the boys with their heads above the surface. He then went into the water a short way, but stated that he was unable to reach them. He then called out for assistance, and a man named Richard Hellyar, who was in a barge sailing down the river, jumped into his boat and sculled towards them. He immediately dragged the boys successively out of the water, and put them across the boat with their mouths downwards. They had not been in the water more than two minutes. They were then taken to the Laira Inn, and Mr Stephen Pode, Surgeon, who was near the spot, came in a few minutes and used means for the recovery of the lads, but without effect, as life was extinct. The Coroner having examined the Governor of the Union and other witnesses, the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 18 September 1847
STOKE FLEMING - An Inquest was held before Mr W. A. Cockey, Deputy Coroner, on Wednesday, at Stokefleming, on the body of MR EDWARD DINGLE, who was accidentally killed by the upsetting of a Phaeton. Verdict - Accidental Death.

BROADHEMPSTON - An Inquest was held at Broadhempston, on the body of ELIZABETH ATWELL, who met her death from drinking some boiling water from a teapot. Verdict - Accidental Death.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 25 September 1847
TEIGNMOUTH - Great excitement prevailed here on Monday, in consequence of a rumour that MR JOHN CART, the butler at C. Sterling's, Esq., had been discovered in his bed with his throat cut. He had, it appears, been in a desponding state for some weeks, and appeared greatly troubled in mind, which led him, no doubt, to commit this rash act. Everything was done by the medical men to endeavour to save his life, but he lingered until three o'clock in the afternoon and then expired. He bore an excellent character and being generally of a happy turn of mind, the event excited considerable surprise. An Inquest was held on Tuesday, when a verdict of "Temporary Derangement" was returned.

SOUTH MOLTON - Our quiet town was on Friday thrown into consternation by a report that one of our principal tradesmen was missing. MR WEBBER, draper, left his home very early in the morning, and, as he had not returned at noon, the family were alarmed and a search was made in the woods and river around for some distance, but he was found about six the same evening in the river Mole, about a mile from Southmolton, in the parish of Northmolton. A Coroner's Inquest was held and a verdict of "Found Drowned" returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 9 October 1847
EXETER - Death From Fractured Skull. - On Monday, an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a little boy named WILLIAM CARPENTER, between two and three years old, and whose parents reside near Mr Harris's paper manufactory, at Countess Wear. It appeared that on Wednesday morning last week, Jane Broom, a girl 11 years of age, and the aunt of the deceased, went out with an infant, intending to gather blackberries in a field belonging to Mr R. Davy. The deceased cried to go with her and she took him. She proceeded, by way of taking a short cut, through an intermediate field, in which a horse was grazing. Here she picked some blackberries, and gave a portion of what she had gathered to the deceased. She returned to the hedge for some blackberries, but presently turning her head, she saw the horse moving from the direction of the little boy, whose head was bleeding from a wound which he had received. Her cries brought Humphrey Govier, a tailor, to her assistance, and he gave the child to a woman who conveyed it to the Hospital in this City. There was no proof of the horse having kicked it, but the skull was fractured over the right side of the forehead. The little fellow, who was attended by J. Harris, Esq., died on Sunday morning, from the effects of the injury he had received. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

TIVERTON - On Monday, an Inquest was held before P. Mackenzie, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MR WILLIAM WESTAWAY, draper, of this town, who was found dead in his bed on Saturday. The Jury adjourned to await the evidence of the medical gentleman on an examination of the body. It appeared that MR WESTAWAY, during the last fifteen years, had laboured under a disease of the heart. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 23 October 1847
NEWTON ABBOT - A distressing case of suicide took place here on Saturday last, the wife of MR STRANGER, butcher, having destroyed herself by taking a quantity of poison. An Inquest was held on Monday, when a verdict in accordance was returned.

EXETER ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE - The Late Market-Day Mystery. - In our last publication we related the particulars of the unaccountable disappearance, on Friday week, of MR JAMES BLANCHFORD, a farmer of Tedburn St Mary. His body was found on Saturday last, in the river, a short distance below Trew's Weir, near this city and conveyed to the Moreton Inn, in St. Thomas. On Monday, an Inquest was taken on the body before Frederic Leigh, Esq., Coroner for the County, and the following evidence given:- John Southcott, of the Moreton Inn, stated that the deceased had been in the habit of coming to his house on Fridays for the last thirteen years. On the 8th instant he was in the front room from seven o'clock till ten, with a neighbour of his, a Mr Wm. Parr. Deceased was not very tipsy when he left, but appeared capable of going home safe. He lived about eight miles from Exeter. - Thomas Gregory, of the Turk's Head Inn, in St. Thomas, stated that MR BLANCHFORD and Mr Parr visited his house that night about ten o'clock. They ordered two pints of beer, which they drank in the tap-room. Witness desired that they would come into the tradesmen's room, as some words had arisen between Mr Parr and a person named Gosling, as to which was the best man, and two females also were present. In the tradesmen's room Mr Parr tossed with young Brailey for three glasses of gin and water and lost. Mr Parr wanted to toss for three glasses more, but witness interposed, saying that he had had quite enough, and advised BLANCHFORD not to drink, because, when they both went out, the air would have an effect upon them. They both appeared tipsy when they came in. At witness's recommendation, deceased and Mr Parr left the house and got upon their horses in order to go home, and went up the street very "comfortable" and steady. The women had left some time previously, one going before the other. One was called Bucknell and travelled with braces &c., the other named Alson, and went about with cockles. In about a quarter of an hour deceased and Mr Parr returned. Mr Parr came in first and said his friend had been robbed; deceased followed, said he had been robbed in witness's house of a purse and £2, and as good as told one or two that they had his money. Witness prevailed on him to search his pockets and in the breast pocket of his coat he found the purse and his money. The deceased expressed his sorrow for accusing the company wrongfully and ordered witness to bring in a gallon of beer for the persons present. Witness refused to do it. Parr offered to toss again, when witness urged him and deceased to go, and at length induced them to remount their horses and saw them go up the street. This was just after 12 o'clock. Before BLANCHFORD searched his pockets, Parr showed witness £5 of his own. Deceased put his money back into his right-hand breeches pocket. at the conclusion of his evidence, Mr Gregory stated that the report which had appeared in The Western Times, respecting his supplying drink when BLANCHFORD and Parr visited his house the second time, was untrue. - Mr Southcott, of the Moreton Inn, said that the statement of The Western Times, respecting two women being in his house when BLANCHFORD and Parr were drinking there, was false. He did not keep such a house as that. - William Parr, of Tedburn St Mary, yeoman, stated that his house was about two miles distant from that of deceased. About six o'clock on the 8th instant, witness met with BLANCHFORD at the Moreton Inn, being the first time he had seen him for the day; witness did not know exactly the time when they left, but it was about ten o'clock that they first visited the Turk's Head, which was in their way home; did not recollect when they left that house, it might be from 11 to 12; both were in liquor but able to do business. - Coroner: Mr Parr, you must know that both of you were exceedingly drunk. - Witness: What, sir? - Oh no, we were not drunk. - Examination continued:- On arriving at the church of St. Thomas, the deceased complained of losing his purse and they turned back to the Turk's Head, which was the first place where witness saw BLANCHFORD search his pockets, in one of which he found his purse and said the money was all right; they then rode away together towards home; witness did not know how far, but fund deceased not with him when he came to the Dunsford Turnpike Gate; witness expected that he was close by or coming nearly after, and thought every now and then he heard the horse; deceased would have to turn out of the turnpike-road at Taphouse, but witness had to go half a mile further; when witness came to Taphouse he saw no one but the gate-keeper, who asked where MR BLANCHFORD was to which he replied that he would be up directly and therefore the turnpike-man had better not go to bed directly; witness considered that BLANCHFORD must have lingered behind in going up the street; witness's horse was a bit before BLANCHFORD'S in coming out of the Turk's Head yard; witness got home about two o'clock; when MR BLANCHFORD, at the Turk's Head, said he had lost his money, witness looked to see that his own was all right. - Mr James Lyddon, of St. Thomas, Surgeon, stated that he first saw the body of deceased at the Moreton Inn, on Saturday night about 8 o'clock; he helped to strip it. The clothes were in every way wet, with the exception of the under part of the shirt collar and another false collar buttoned on to that, which had been kept dry by the tightness of the neck tye exterior to them; the tye was wet, but not so thoroughly soaked as the rest of deceased's clothes. The clothes were in good order, except the waistcoat which was either altogether open or confined by one button only. He had no braces on. There was a layer of clay of an inch thick covering the whole of the face from the chin to the forehead and going back to and into each ear. There was clay also of the same sort in each hand . It was remarkable that this clay was so nice of its kind as to be fit for a pottery. There was no gravel or sticks with it; it was such clay as would be found n the bank on the city side of the river. The hands were neither clenched nor quite extended. They were soaked as well as the feet, indicating a long submersion. There were no abrasions on the tops of the fingers and the nails were short, back to the quick, as though they had been worn so. On taking off the clay and washing the body, there were no marks of blows or scratches found. The outer skin of the nose was off, the countenance was unnaturally full and congested, the lips closed and no soil in the mouth. The eyelids were shut, the eyes very much gorged with blood, and he supposed that great congestion of the vessels of the brain had taken place quite sufficient to cause death. These appearances usually attended persons who were smothered. Witness supposed that deceased must have fallen directly into a bed of clay and before he got out of it was dead. It was exactly like as if a female had plaistered the paste intended for an apple dumpling over a man's face, or as if a heavy man had fallen down in the water and pushed his head into a bed of clay. One would have supposed that deceased must have fallen into dryish clay, because wet clay commonly would not stick. This made witness think that if deceased went into the water before he reached the clay, it would not have stuck in such a way, because it was so firm that he had difficulty in getting it off. In a case of drowning there would be a froth in the mouth and nose, arising from the windpipe. In a case of smothering - as the present - there was no froth. If the deceased had been killed by being smothered out of the water and then have been thrown in, he would have presented the same appearance as now. But on account of the clay being in the hands, witness thought that suspicion was removed and he considered that the clay must have been acquired at the side of the river to have stuck in that way. - Wm. Finnimore, a labourer living in Exe Island and occupied in taking sand and clay from the river, for sale to the masons, stated that he found the body about 12 o'clock on Saturday last, below Trew's Weir, about a gun-shot, in about four feet depth of water. He threw a groper over the body, when a man belonging to an opposition party, who was occupied in the same pursuit, jumped into the water. Witness jumped in also, and caught the body by the foot, just as the other caught it by the collar. The other party wanted to have the body, and being five against witness alone, took it away by force, one of them threatening to knock his head off and another to cut his groping line. There was clay about the deceased's face, but witness knew of no clay about the river and he had worked upon the Exe 18 years. The river had a gravel bottom and the Exeter quay and shilhay was rock. There might be clay near the Exe Bridge used thee for puddling. - The Coroner said he should have liked very much to have had some of that clay saved. It was very odd that the man's face should be coated over with a clay that wasn't found in the bed of the river. - The witness added that some parts of the banks of the river were composed of clay. - Richard Evans, a mason's labourer, living in St Thomas, stated that on Friday night week, he was set to watch an open drain in Quay-lane; about a quarter or twenty minutes past two on Saturday morning, he saw a horse saddled and bridled standing in the lane. There had been a great deal of rain in the fore-part of the night. Witness took the horse by the bridle, which felt damp, but he did not observe the state of the saddle. The horse was looking towards the Quay. Witness led the horses up Horse-lane into the Friars. At the vault of Messrs. Brake, witness let the horse loose into Holloway-street, where it was taken by Policeman 19. Did not ask for a pot of beer or say that he had fed the horse with hay. Might have said that no doubt the owner of the horse would give them a drop of beer when he came after it. - The keeper of the Moreton Inn stated that Evans told him that he fed the horse with hay for a quarter of an hour. - Policeman 19, of the Exeter force, said Evans had stated the same thing to him when he seized the horse. - Evans denied having said so to either. - Joseph Martin, of St. Thomas, dairyman, stated that on the night of the 8th instant, about a quarter past 12 o'clock, he saw BLANCHFORD opposite the Sheriff's Ward, riding towards Exeter. Witness took no notice of the circumstance, thinking that deceased was riding back to the Turk's Head to seek for something lost. Deceased was riding very steadily. a woman passed down on the other side of the street, in the same direction as BLANCHFORD in front of whom she was about five or six landyards distance. It was not raining, but she had an umbrella covering her head and shoulders. She was not one of the females that had been at the Turk's Head. - Ratcliffe, Constable of St Thomas, who was called when the body was found, stated that he unbuttoned the waistcoat in searching the corpse. He found in his right hand breeches pocket, one sovereign and 17s. in silver (the pocket was buttoned up and the money was in a leather purse); 3 ¾d. in his waistcoat pocket, spectacles and case in his breast coat pocket, and two receipts for money paid. - The Jury returned a verdict "That deceased was Found Dead, but as to how he came in the water there was no evidence to show."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 13 November 1847
TIVERTON - Death By Fire. - On Monday an Inquest was held on the body of MARIA ORSWELL, about ten years of age, the daughter of a mason. She was engaged near the fire place, when her clothes caught fire. Her screams brought her mother to her assistance, but it was some time before the flames could be extinguished. The Inquest was adjourned in consequence of the mother's inability to attend, being confined to her bed from the injuries received in attempting to save her daughter.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 20 November 1847
TAVISTOCK - On Friday, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon this town was thrown into a great deal of excitement by the report that a man had been found murdered in a pit on Roborough Down near this place. The deceased, whose name was HENRY RIGBY, was a traveller in the employ of Messrs. Wingrave, straw plait manufacturers, of Saltash-street, Plymouth. He left his home on Thursday in company with Mr Wingrave for this town, whence the latter proceeded on to Callington leaving deceased to return in the gig to Plymouth. The reason for supposing that he had been murdered was that upon searching him when found, they could only find 1s. 11d. on him; but upon again searching him at the Inquest the remainder of his money (it having been ascertained how much he had received) was found as also his keys. On Thursday night he was met about a mile from where the accident occurred by Mr R. Gribble of Tavistock, when he appeared to be asleep in the gig, as the horse was going as it liked, so that there is no doubt but that he came to his death by accident. His body was partially covered with blood, but this may be ascribed to the violence with which he was thrown from the gig. The deceased was a married man without children. An Inquest was held on Saturday before A. B. Bone, Esq., Coroner, when a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

TAVISTOCK - An Inquest was held before A. B. Bone, Esq., Coroner, on the body of an old woman named GRACE GALE in this town. Her death was caused by falling over the stairs in her dwelling-house. She was taken up quite dead. A verdict of Accidental death was returned.

EXETER - Death By Burning. - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this city, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of ELIZABETH ANN MANLEY, aged about three years, and the daughter of a gardener living in Colleton Grove. It appeared that n Wednesday, the deceased's mother went out of doors to take in some clothes lines, and left the child with a brother about five years old. There was a fire in the room. In a few minutes she heard the deceased scream and on going back, found her enveloped in flames. A female neighbour, who had rushed into the room before, put out the fire with her apron and it was found that the child was so dreadfully burnt that immediate remedies were necessary. She was conveyed to the Hospital, where she died on Thursday morning. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

TORQUAY - Mysterious Death Of A Mother And Child. - On Tuesday, an Inquest was held by W. Cockey, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the bodies of MRS CATHERINE PAIGE, widow of the late MR PAIGE, of the Strand, in this town, druggist and also on the body of her newly born infant. - Mr W. Rowe Jolley, Surgeon, stated that on Monday, about one o'clock, he was summoned to attend MRS PAIGE; on arriving at the house, he was informed by Mr White, the assistant in the shop, that she was in a sinking state and that he thought she was in labour, and on entering the bedroom he found her almost insensible. In answer to his questions whether she was in pain, she answered "yes." She resisted his endeavours to ascertain whether she had been confined. He applied restoratives immediately, but without effect, as she expired within a few minutes after his arrival. The servant, who was in the room, assured him that she knew nothing of her mistress having been confined; but on searching the room, he found, about 7 or 8 feet from the bed, the body of a full-grown female child, wrapped in a quilt, which had apparently been dead 2 or 3 hours. He believed that the mother had died of exhaustion and that the child's death had been occasioned by neglect immediately after its birth. The marks on the throat, which had given rise to the suspicion of violence having been used, might have been caused during the birth. He considered it probable that the delivery might have been effected without assistance, and that the mother might have placed the child where it was found. - Susannah Trep, the servant of the deceased, stated that MR PAIGE had been dead rather more than a year. She had never suspected that MRS PAIGE was in the family way until her sister accused her of it on Thursday last, when she stoutly denied it. Her mistress went into her bedroom at half-past six o'clock on Sunday night; at eight o'clock she called for her and she found her rather faint. She left the room after a few minutes and went in again between nine and ten; she said she was better. Mr White came home between ten and eleven. She asked him to see her mistress, as she considered her very ill. He asked if he should send for a surgeon? She said there was nothing the matter, only she was a little faint. Witness remained in the room until between twelve and one, when she sent for Mr Jolley. - William White, the assistant in the shop, was called, and corroborated the particulars stated by the previous witness. He said he had lived with MRS PAIGE and her late husband for about two years. - Mr Jolley, on being recalled, gave his opinion that MRS PAIGE died from haemorrhage in consequence of want of proper medical aid, and that the child died for want of proper attention after the birth. The Jury returned a verdict to this effect.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 27 November 1847
EXETER - Fatal Atmospheric Accident. - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of DAVID DRAKE, aged 32, who had been employed on the South Devon Railway as a labourer, and whose death had been caused under the following circumstances. - On the 9th instant, the deceased, in company with two other labourers, went down the line from Exeter to Starcross with coals for the use of the engine-house there; whilst they were employed in running coals at the engine-house, the down Atmospheric train arrived at the Station, and stopped the usual time. On the signal being made for it to move on, it did not readily comply, and all the available porters and policemen were called to push it. It was observed that the rope connecting the tube with the piston carriage did not act as it should have done; and whilst the pushing was going on, and all eyes were upon the carriage, the rope was suddenly found to be broken in the middle and the deceased, lying on the ground frightfully injured from concussion, and with legs and thighs broken. He was immediately conveyed to the Hospital, where he was attended by Mr Delagade, who had a consultation upon the case with his medical brethren, but skill was unavailing and the deceased died on Tuesday. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 4 December 1847
EXETER - Death By Drowning. - On Tuesday, an Inquest was held at the Paper Makers' Arms Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of SAMUEL ARSCOTT. It appeared that the deceased had been employed as a labourer at the Exeter Cemetery, and on Monday, about five o'clock in the afternoon, he went into the Paper Makers' Arms on leaving his work, and drank two half-pints of beer. About twenty minutes after five he left to go home. His residence was in Saddler's Lane, in the Exe Island, which communicates with the Bonhay by means of a foot-bridge. The house adjoining this bridge is tenanted by a person named Brook, who was at home with his wife and two other women, about half-past five, when some of the party heard a splash in the leat outside and they went out immediately to see what it was, but their light penetrated a very little way into the surrounding darkness, and although an object was observed indistinctly for a moment, it instantly disappeared and all again was silent. During the evening, the deceased being missed, as inquiry was instituted, and this circumstance being made public, the leat was searched and the body found some yards below the foot-bridge. No marks of violence appeared and the deceased's watch was in his pocket. The Jury found a verdict of "Accidental Death," and requested the Coroner to represent to the authorities the insecurity of the Leat, which has been the cause of many fatal accidents.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 1 January 1848
TIVERTON - Sudden Death. - On Tuesday an Inquest was held before Frederick Mackenzie, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of JOHN KELLARD, head ostler at Three Tuns Hotel, who was found dead in one of the stables on the previous evening. The deceased, who was an athletic man, standing near seven feet high, and a great favourite among the commercial travellers, had been drinking rather freely during the afternoon, and is supposed to have missed his footing while ascending to the hay-loft over the stable, as he was found at the foot of the ladder with several bruises about the face. Several witnesses were examined at length and after a patient investigation, the verdict of Natural Death was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 15 January 1848
STOKE DAMEREL - Fatal Brawl. - On Monday, an Inquest was held at Stoke, before A. B. Bone, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a labourer named FRANCIS HOOPER, who died on Saturday from injuries received in a drunken brawl on the Monday after Christmas-day, with a man named Thomas, against whom a verdict of Manslaughter was returned; the Jury, however, expressing an opinion that Thomas had received gross provocation from the deceased.

EXETER - Suspicious Death By Drowning. - Considerable excitement has been occasioned in this City by the death of a person named ELIZA MARTIN, whose body was found in the river, at the mouth of the Canal, above the King's Arms Sluice, on Tuesday morning, about half past seven. The deceased was a widow and kept a cheese and bacon shop in South-street, at the corner of Palace-street. Her husband had been dead about five years, and since his death his relatives had become estranged from her on account of a dispute respecting the property which he had left, and the whole of which she had appropriated. - She had been recently cohabiting with a man named Perry, whose name she had caused to be placed on her shop front as "Perry, late Martin." It has been stated that she made the whole of her property over to this man, but whether this was done under an expectation that he would marry her remains a mystery. She was doing very well in her business, but had been noticed for a long time past as having a settled melancholy in her countenance. - On Wednesday afternoon an Inquest on the body was held at the Haven Banks Inn, opposite the King's Arms Sluice, by Frederic Leigh, Esq., one of the Coroners for Devon. - Previous to the Jury viewing the body, the Coroner stated that in this case he had thought it desirable to be assisted by a medical man, and had therefore desired Mr Lyddon to come down. He believed that gentleman was then inspecting the corpse. - The Coroner and Jury having returned into the room from their view of the deceased, the former observed, that it was very strange people could not leave a dead body unmolested, but must have the indecency of running over the room in which it was in order to see it. To avoid a repetition of this conduct, he had ordered the Constable to lock the door of the apartment in which it lay. - James Gale, an old man, in charge of the Draw-bridge at the King's Arms Sluice, stated that about half-past seven o'clock on Tuesday morning he saw the clothes of a woman floating in the Cutway, at the mouth of the Canal, and within a few yards of the Haven Bank. He threw in a grappling iron and drew the mass towards him, when he found it was the corpse of a woman. He called for assistance and after some delay the body was taken out and conveyed to the Haven Banks Inn. The corpse was quite cold and foaming at the mouth. - An observation was here made by someone present that the watch of the deceased was going at the time she was found, and did not run down until eleven o'clock on Tuesday night. - Prudence Jones, widow, daughter of the last witness, stated that she lived with her father at the King's Arms Sluice. Very early on Tuesday morning, she dreamt that a man was murdering a woman, who was screaming "Murder" very dreadfully. She awoke up with a fright and listened attentively, but heard no sound, except the clock striking two. She therefore considered that she must have dreamt of the cries and that she was not awakened by any actual screams. When she saw the corpse in the water, she told the persons on the bank of what she had dreamed. - The Coroner did not take down this deposition as part of the evidence in the Inquiry. - John Arscott, a brewer employed at the Custom House Inn, on the Quay, stated that about six o'clock on Tuesday morning, as he was proceeding to his work, a tall woman, like the deceased, dressed in a black gown and a plaid shawl, similar to those found on her person when taken out of the water, met him on Southernhay at the corner of the road opposite the bridge over the entrance to the Close, looked him full in the face and then went towards the Old London Inn. He also met a man dressed in a white fustian jacket, who came up by the Hospital, and followed close behind the woman. - In answer to the Coroner's questions, Mr Lyddon, Surgeon, stated that he had examined the body and found no marks of violence nor any symptom which led him to suppose that the deceased had been poisoned. - The Coroner stated that he should adjourn the Inquest, but observed that it was to be regretted none of the deceased's friends were at hand to promote the necessary investigation. He sat there quasi judge and yet he was expected to hunt up evidence. This it was impossible for him to do, but he should leave his directions with the Constable. - One of the Jury here mentioned that a brother-in-law of the deceased was in attendance. - He was called up, but it appeared that he had not spoken to the deceased for five years, though he had met her in the streets. However, he expressed his wish to do what he could to see the ends of justice attained, and the Inquest was adjourned to Saturday (tomorrow) at the White Hart Inn, St. Thomas, at eleven o'clock. We understand that the Coroner has ordered the body to be opened. - The man Perry was also in attendance, but the Coroner would not examine him, nor admit any persons except the reporters into the room besides the witnesses, Jury and Constable.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 22 January 1848
SIDMOUTH - On Friday, an Inquest was held at the New Inn, in this town, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JOHN PONSFORD, gardener. It appeared that on Wednesday as a little girl, named Elizabeth Bolt, aged 10 years, was picking up sticks on the beach in the parish of Salcombe Regis, about a mile from this town, she saw deceased fall from a cliff which is about three hundred feet in height; he fell with his head in a bed of clay, which had rused down. Witness ran and saw a young man named William Radford, who was working near the Preventive Guard House, and who, upon receiving the information, hastened to the spot and found deceased lying on his back, senseless and speechless, but not dead. - By the assistance of other people who came from the town upon the alarm being raised, the man was moved in a hand-barrow to a boat and subsequently brought to the Commercial Inn, where he expired on Thursday morning, at five o'clock. He remained insensible to the last. It is supposed that deceased was rabbiting, from the circumstance of a rabbit net and ferret being found in his pocket. The ferret was dead in a bag and must have been likewise killed by the fall. Deceased was about 30 years of age and has left a wife and three children to deplore his loss. There being no fracture, the Jury returned a verdict of "Died by Concussion of the Brain, caused by the Fall."

BIDEFORD - Sudden Death. - On Saturday morning THIRZA POMEROY, a servant to Mr Jennings, attorney, was found in a dying state and shortly afterwards expired. She had a slight attack of the influenza, but without any appearance of danger and went to bed looking tolerably well. An Inquest was held, but as no satisfactory cause of death could be shown to the Jury, the body was opened and death was found to be caused by congestion of the brain accelerated by influenza.

EXETER - The Late Mysterious Death. - On Saturday the Inquest on the body of ELIZA MARTIN, found in the Canal, near the Haven Banks, on Tuesday last week, was resumed at the White Hart Inn, before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner, and occupied the whole of that day as well as Monday. From the evidence it appeared that deceased left her house on Monday night at half-past six o'clock, asking a little girl in the shop for two halfpennies from the till - and that she never returned. Within ten minutes of seven she was seen in Fore-street, near the Lower Market, by a young man named Mallett, a clerk to Mr Wreford. This witness said she had then a very wild and agitated appearance, and he never recollected her conversation so bewildered. Between seven and eight o'clock she called at the house of Mr Davidge, cheese-dealer, Milk-street, to see his wife, who was ill, and from that time all certain trace of her is lost, until the discovery of her body in the Canal at half-past seven on Tuesday morning. - John Carter, living in Market-street, Exeter, said, "On Tuesday morning, at a quarter past six, as I was going milking in Barley Cowick-street, close to the Railway arch, I heard her say, "Well, I've kissed the young man before now." I joined in "have you! then kiss me," rather a little bit wicked too for a morning's move. She turned round, quickly and seeing the cans, said "have you any rum - if you have give me some." I said "come and see." She repeated the same words, and I repeated the same answer. She followed me a few feet. The men wore corduroy or fustian dresses. Unless evidence should come out, that she could not have been there, I shall always think it was deceased." - Several witnesses were examined, for the purpose of tracing how Perry was occupied during the night. At nine o'clock, when the errand boy retired to rest, he left him in the house; at half-past nine he was at the Black Horse, in South-street, and remained there until half-past twelve; at that hour he went with Mr Bond to the house of Mr Woosley, in St. George's-square, Stepcote-hill, where the wife of Bond was at a party and where it was thought probable the deceased might also be; at one o'clock they left Woosley's house and adjourned to the house of Mr Davis, a pork butcher, of South Street, whose wife, as well as himself, had been of the party. Here Perry remained until nearly four o'clock and then went to his own house, nearly opposite. He could not, however, have remained at home long, as at four o'clock he knocked up Mr Gay, a glover of the High-street, to enquire if he had seen the deceased. The witnesses all stated that he had repeatedly expressed his surprise during the night, at her continued absence from home. - John Partridge, the errand-boy, said: - It being market morning I got up on Tuesday at five o'clock, and found Mr Perry sitting in a chair. He said "It is very strange MRS MARTIN had not been home for the night." I have not lately heard any quarrels between master and mistress. I was never sent down the banks on any previous occasion to look for MRS MARTIN. On this occasion Mr Perry did not go to look for her. The Constable came to the shop at ten o'clock to say she had been found in the water, but by that time Mr Perry had heard something about it and had gone to see if it were true. She frequently went out of an evening soon after tea, and used to return at nine o'clock or just after the shop was shut. - Emma Holmes, the servant girl, said;- Mr Perry did not usually go out with the deceased, because he had to mind the shop. They had words once or twice whilst I was there, because he dirtied things and she complained of it. I never knew Mr Perry put her to doors at night. I never heard her threaten to drown herself. Mr Perry never went after he to see where she went, nor did he ever say that he had followed her down to the Banks to see what she was about. I was never sent out to see for her anywhere. She always came home about the time of shutting shop. On Tuesday morning I did not get up until seven o'clock. When I got down master was walking about the shop. He had not been to bed that night. MRS MARTIN and Mr Perry slept together. Their bed had not been slept in on Monday night. Immediately I came down, he came in the kitchen, and said, "Did your mistress tell you where she was going?" I said, "no, sir." He rejoined "I don't know where she is gone; she has not been home for the night." He also said he had been about looking for her all the night wherever he could think of. In the middle of the day Mr Perry said, that as he sat in the chair, he fell asleep and dreamed that she was drowned. He told Mrs Davis and other persons so at different times that day. He was at home when a person told him a body was found; he took off his apron and went away. He did not say where, but he told the boy not to leave the shop. - Eliza Simmons said:- I have seen quarrels between deceased and Perry, just as others, but MRS MARTIN was very passionate, I think every one quarrels more or less. I have never seen any violent quarrel; a few words would take place over business, but no blows passed. I knew they were not married. If I heard that they ever slept together, I should be very much surprised. I lived in the house about a year and half after MR MARTIN died. I never knew that they slept together. I never saw any familiarity between the two. They occupied separate beds in separate rooms to my certain knowledge. Deceased was a respectable moral woman. She never said she was going down the banks to meet any gentleman and I never knew her receive private notes from gentlemen. - My Lyddon, Surgeon, who had made an examination of the body by direction of the Coroner, said that there were no external marks of violence. He added:- After testing the contents and parts of the stomach, I could find nothing injurious to its function. The goose skin, foam at the mouth, half opened eye and mouth, and protruding tongue, are all signs of drowning, but there is an absence of other facts, which I wish I could give, but I cannot. There is no water n the stomach or lungs, and no congestion of the brain, which are both strong marks of drowning. I should think the body had been in the water some hours, from the hands being soaked. Bodies usually sink first and rise afterwards. - Mr F. G. Farrant, who was present at the examination, said he agreed with the facts as stated by Mr Lyddon, but he saw more combating the idea of drowning then in favour of it. - Samuel Budd, M.D., said: I have attended the deceased. The last time was in April, in conjunction with Mr Edye, Surgeon. Her disorder consisted at that time chiefly in a very highly excited state of the brain; she was then bordering on insanity, so much so that Mr Edye and myself contemplated the probability of its ending in a case for the Asylum. She had frequent attacks of similar cerebral disturbance. I have not attended her since April, nor have I seen the body since death, but I carefully examined with Mr Lyddon and Mr Farrant the state of the intestines. My opinion is, that there were no signs of the presence of poison, and that it is perfectly conclusive that she had not taken poison. - Mr Robert Wreford, attorney, said, I have acted as the professional adviser of the deceased. In May last I made her will, just as she was recovering from the illness alluded to. She was then in a highly excited state, exceedingly nervous; she made what I conceive to be a very rational will, therein making some provision for Mr Perry. She expressed a great desire to act justly towards Mr Perry; and told me that he had left his situation in Honiton to come and take care of her business and therefore she felt herself bound to make some provision for him in case of her death - it being her wish to supply him with the means to carry on the business. - At half-past four o'clock on Monday, the Inquest was further adjourned to Monday next, at eleven o'clock.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 29 January 1848
EXETER ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE - Inquest On ELIZA MARTIN - The Inquest on the body of ELIZA MARTIN was resumed, at the White Hart Inn, St Thomas, on Monday, before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner. - The Coroner, in opening the Court, made some strong observations respecting the Haven Banks Inn, and expressed an opinion that the magistrates, who granted the license, ought to consider whether the manner in which the house was conducted justified them in continuing it. In reference to the evidence which had been given, the Coroner said the only point which was important to know, and on which they had no information, was, where the woman was between 8 o'clock on the Monday night, when she was last seen alive and half-past seven on the Tuesday morning, when she was found drowned. - Mr R. Wreford, attorney, having ascertained that all the evidence submitted to the Coroner had been gone through, said that Mr Mallett and Mr Perry had been considerably mixed up with the reports which had gone abroad and it was felt on the part of their friends that these suspicions should be corrected as far as they were concerned. He had witnesses to tender, on the part of Mr Mallett, who was with various persons from the time that he stated he saw MRS MARTIN on the Monday night, until Tuesday morning, when she was found dead. Mr Mallett slept at his (Mr Wreford's) house. He thought him one of the most honourable young men he had ever met with, and it would be an insult to his character to allow the statements which had been made to pass uncontradicted. He should as soon suspect the Coroner, or any other gentleman present, of having been concerned in murdering this woman, as Mr Mallett. - The Coroner: I don't entertain the slightest suspicion of him, because I understand he is a man of good character. - Mr Wreford: - Suspicions have also arisen against Mr Perry. I believe him to be a respectable man, as far as I had an opportunity of judging, under trying circumstances. I can tell you, now, the contents of the Will. - The Coroner: I really don't know that we have any occasion to hear it. - Mr Wreford:- I wish to state it, because an impression has gone abroad that Mr Perry has got the whole of MRS MARTIN'S property. The chief part of her property the deceased has left to her nephew and niece, and her father, leaving Mr Perry about £150. As far as his interest went, Mr Perry had been injured by MRS MARTIN'S death, as on account of it he will have to pay a considerable sum. On this ground, therefore, there is not the slightest reason to suspect him. - The Coroner: I do not suspect Mr Perry at all. He was out late that night, certainly, but we find him at Bond's at 9 o'clock, thence he went to Wooseley's, where he stayed until 10 o'clock, and then he went to Mr Davis's, where he remained until 4 o'clock. This statement is corroborated in a great degree by Thomas Merrifield, who saw him at 40 minutes past 3 on Tuesday morning; and then we get Mr Gay, who said - "He called me up at 4 o'clock." - Mr Wreford observed that great stress had been laid on a letter which Mr Perry wrote to Mr Mallett on Tuesday morning. The letter was a most simple thing. It informed Mr Mallett that MRS MARTIN had been absent all night; that Mr Perry was very uneasy, and wished to see Mr Mallett as speedily as possible. Mr Mallett showed that letter to him (Mr Wreford) and shortly afterwards Mr Perry sent up to say that MRS MARTIN was drowned. Mr Wreford added that his chief object in appearing there was that the impression produced by the articles in The Western Times, which imputed suspicion on Mr Mallet might be removed. He only wished it to come from the Court that there were no grounds for such suspicion. - The Coroner:- I do not suspect Mr Mallet at all; and added, there is nothing in the evidence to impugn anyone." He then continued his resume of the evidence. The first witness they had heard was James Gaylor, who took the body out of the water on Tuesday morning. A man named Arscott told them that he saw the deceased five minutes after six that morning on Southernhay. Carter, another witness, said he saw the deceased at a quarter past six, in St. Thomas. It was impossible she could have been seen in two such widely separated places within so short a time. - [It is about ten minutes' walk from Southernhay to St Thomas.] - A Juryman stated that he thought he could explain Carter's testimony. The place which that witness mentioned was close to his house and on making inquiry he found that his next door neighbour gave a party that night, which broke up about the same time as Carter had mentioned. There was a tallish person there with a veil n, resembling the deceased. Some young men kissed her during the night and her young man being jealous, perhaps two or three words took place outside the door. - The Coroner observed that he did not think those persons could be correct. Then Ann Pope met two people in St. Thomas at nine in the evening, - but she did not know who they were. Then there was Dunn, at whose house the deceased called on Monday night and saw his wife, but there was no time fixed. - A Juryman: - He said that the Falmouth mail passed up Fore-street just at the time MRS MARTIN left his house and therefore it must be about eight o'clock. - The Coroner:- Whatever our suspicions may be as to how she came by her death, we have literally nothing on which we can rely, - we have no evidence in fact. - Ratcliffe, a Constable of St. Thomas, produced the things which he had found in searching the deceased, but as he was about to give his evidence, a lady in black, who was stated to be a sister of the deceased, entered the room, and presented a small slip of paper to the Constable, who gave it to the Coroner in mysterious silence. - It appeared that the substance of the paper was a statement that a Mrs Langmead could testify that the deceased was at Bishop's house in St. Thomas on the night she was missed. This story appeared to have no other foundation than gossip, whilst several of the Jury mentioned that they had in company with the constable seen Mrs Bishop whose denial had satisfied them that the assertion was untrue. - Mr Gould, the Foreman, stated that Mrs Bishop had given a reason why she could not receive persons of the deceased's description; because her daughter - Mrs Lambert, a respectable woman, and her family, were occupying her apartments. - The Coroner said, if it were any satisfaction to the Jury, he could send for Mrs Bishop. - The Jury thought it unnecessary to have her examined. - Ratcliffe then concluded his evidence, saying that all which he found in the pockets of the deceased was two halfpence and a veil. A watch was hung round her neck. - The Coroner said - it is beyond dispute that the woman was found dead. The question for the Jury to inquire is, first, how she died, and whether she went into the water willingly, or was dead before she got into the river. Of that we have no evidence, and, therefore, we are left to appearances, as they are described by the medical men. There are strong reasons for believing that the woman was alive when she went into the water, viz., the chicken-skin and goose-flesh, which have been described; but whether she went into it of her own accord, or whether she was forced into it, there was nothing to show. The evidence respecting the state of her mind certainly shews that she was a likely person to commit suicide. Dr Budd states that he and Mr Edye were both of opinion that it was not improbable, from her way of life, and the state of her mind, that she would become an inmate of a lunatic asylum and that they almost doubted whether she was not in such a state as to require removal to one at that time. After recapitulating the various difficulties in the case, the Coroner suggested that the proper course for the Jury to take was, to return an Open Verdict, - viz., that the deceased was found dead in the river, but as to how she came by her death, there was no evidence to prove. - This verdict was returned accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 5 February 1848
KINGSBRIDGE - East Prawle. - An Inquest was held before W. A. Cockey, Esq., Deputy Coroner of Ashburton, on the body of REBECCA WOOD, aged 49 years. It appeared from the evidence that her son, a young man, had borrowed a gun of a neighbour to shoot some small birds; he loaded the gun in his mother's kitchen, and whist in the act of putting a cap on the nipple, the gun went off and lodged the contents in his mother's abdomen. The poor woman lingered about two hours and expired. What makes the affair more distressing is, that her son was very affectionate and dutiful and had only returned from sea the previous Friday after a long absence, and at the time she was shot she was in the act of preparing her dinner, expecting two or three relations to partake of it and welcome her son's return. The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. This is another warning to those who carelessly use fire-arms, by which so many have met an untimely end.

BIDEFORD - An inquest was held on Monday on the body of MARY ANN, relict of the late MR WHITE, silversmith, aged 50, who was found dead at her lodgings on the previous day. It appeared that she had been addicted to intemperance and had not been a day sober for the last month. Between twelve and one, Mrs Turnbull, her landlady, retired to rest and some time after called to her son to go and lift her on the bed, as she had heard her fall on the floor, which he did without a light, groping for her on the floor. In the morning about ten o'clock, not hearing her stirring, someone went into the room and found her lying on her face and hands quite dead. Whether the young man had unknowingly placed her in that position, or she had afterwards rolled over, could not be ascertained. Verdict -Suffocated.

EXETER - Death By Burning. - On Saturday an Inquest was held by John Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, on the body of HENRY WILLCOCKS, the infant son of a labourer living at Sandy Gate, and who had died in the Hospital from injuries received from fire on the first of January, during the absence of his elder brother, in whose charge he had been left by his parents.

EXETER - On Monday the Coroner, John Warren, Esq., held an Inquest at the Valiant Soldier Inn on the body of SARAH TAYLOR, a young child, whose parents lived in St. Thomas, and who died in the Hospital from being burnt on Saturday afternoon, whilst left alone n the house, her father being in the garden and her mother out on an errand.

EXETER - Singular Death. - On Wednesday, the Coroner for Exeter, J. Warren, Esq., held an Inquest at the Red Lion Inn, St. Sidwell's, on the body of an old woman named CHARLOTTE MATTHEWS, above 70 years of age, who had been found dead in her apartment in a very singular manner. The deceased lived alone in a room in an otherwise untenanted house and was a person of very uncleanly habits. The last time she was seen alive was on Friday last, - when a woman also named Matthews, went to tell her that some bread was to be given away, and to ask whether she would put in a claim for a loaf. At that time the deceased was taking her tea. On Tuesday a niece of the deceased named Ellis, went to her room and found the door fastened. She knocked several times and tried to make the deceased hear, without success. On former occasions she had found that her aunt, whose habits were eccentric - had refused to open the door to her, and therefore after some time, she went away without thinking much of the circumstance. Two female neighbours, named Hodge and Davis, having been aware of the knocking, subsequently went up to the door, and shook it for some time, until at last it flew open. On entering the room they found the deceased lying on the bed, with her clothes on, and dead. Inspector Ellicombe was called in, and by him a lock was put on the door until the Coroner and Jury had viewed the body. There was every reason to believe that the deceased had hoarded some money and Mrs Ellis, who was understood to be the executrix, was by no means candid as to the contents of the will, or the value of the deceased's effects. But these questions the Coroner did not press, considering them extraneous to the Inquiry. From the medical evidence it appeared that the deceased was dropsical and had probably died from a diseased heart. - A verdict of Natural Death was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 12 February 1848
PLYMOUTH - On Saturday an Inquest was held at the Guildhall, on the body of EDWIN JOHN COKE, aged 11 years, who had been found dead in bed on the previous morning. -

PLYMOUTH - On Sunday an Inquest was held at the Guildhall on the body of a young married woman, SARAH BURCH, who had died on the previous day, on board the ship Elizabeth, in which she was about to proceed to Philadelphia, to join her husband. It appears that a month ago, a man fell through the hatchway and so frightened her that it was supposed, as she was enceinte, and now within a fortnight of her expected confinement, that the child had died in the womb, and that this was the probable cause of her death. Her sad fate has excited much sympathy.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 19 February 1848
HONITON - Child Burnt. - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Anchor Inn, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., upon the body of a child, aged three years and a half, named WILLIAM HISCOX. On Saturday he was left with three other children, the eldest but eight years old, in a room to play and whilst there his dress caught on fire. Shrieks were heard in the street and Mr Joseph Golesworthy, who was passing, immediately ran to the house, when he saw the clothes of the deceased in flames, which he extinguished as quickly as possible by rolling the child on the floor and by which he himself got slightly burnt. The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. The Coroner severely reprimanded the persons under whose care the child was, observing that is death had arisen, as in many instances, from neglect.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 26 February 1848
EXETER - Sudden Death In A Public House. Important Inquest. - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Acland Arms Inn, in St. Sidwells on the body of MR JOHN BRADFORD, a butcher, 36 years of age, residing in the same street, who had died suddenly on the previous night. There was an exceedingly full attendance of Jurymen and several were excused. Mr Willesford attended to watch the proceedings, on the part of the widow and relations of the deceased. - David Wright, of 2 Grosvenor Place, St Sidwell's, draper, stated that he saw the deceased enter the Red Lion Inn on the previous night, about half-past 9 o'clock. About 10 o'clock witness was going to leave the Inn, - when he was called back to drink some grog, to which BRADFORD treated him. About a dozen persons were present. William Rodd Donnan, a traveller in the tea trade, was one. After taking the gin and water, witness wrestled with Donnan in good fellowship and was thrown. BRADFORD then took Donnan by the collar, and said, "I'll throw you." Witness didn't hear Donnan answer and turned his back. They wrestled and fell - but he did not see how, and the next thing he saw was the deceased sitting on the settle, three or four minutes afterwards, laughing. He sneezed three or four times - when his head fell back on his right shoulder and witness assisted the landlord in supporting him. Deceased never spoke afterwards. Mr Land, the Surgeon, came and found the deceased dying. Witness assisted in carrying him home, which was in about half an hour after he had been first taken ill. No angry words had passed at all. - By Mr Willesford: Couldn't perceive anything intoxicated in BRADFORD. Donnan was a Scotchman, and was wrestling in pure good temper with witness. There was a bet of half-a-crown between BRADFORD and Donnan, that Donnan could not show ten sovereigns. Donnan produced the money and pocketed the half-crown. Witness asked Donnan to lend him half-a-crown and immediately paid it back to BRADFORD, desiring him not to take any notice of this bet; witness was not induced to do this from having heard any angry words between deceased and Donnan. It was not because they had been quarrelling. Donnan told witness afterwards by way of "!chaff" that he should hold him his debtor for this half-crown. Witness saw no kicking in the wrestling. - James Ware, keeper of the Red Lion Inn, stated, that about ten minutes before ten o'clock, deceased walked into his front room and stood with his back against the fire. He put out a half-crown into the hands of a person named Toms, to bet with Donnan, who won, and Toms handed it to him. Donnan returned the half-crown to BRADFORD, who said he would spend it among the company, and it was had in six glasses of grog; Wright and Donnan taking each a glass. BRADFORD didn't dispute having lost the bet and there were no angry words. Whilst they were drinking the gin and water, Wright and Donnan wrestled; witness went out of the room, - and when he returned within two minutes afterwards, he found BRADFORD and Donnan wrestling. BRADFORD had not been in the house ten minutes at this time. BRADFORD fell on his side, rolled over on his back and threw his arms straight out. He then said, "Help me up." Witness thought he was making "game," as he was a "maximing" sort of a man; and witness and a young man named Smith helped him into the settle. Someone present said, "He is faint," and witness ran out for some cold water. Witness did not hear him speak afterwards, he bathed his temples with water, - when the deceased sneezed two or three times, but did not laugh. Witness did not see Donnan fall upon deceased. On finding that BRADFORD was dying, witness sent for a Surgeon. BRADFORD did not drink anything before the bet was made. - By Mr Willesford:- When BRADFORD fell Donnan fell also on his knees and hands. Did not see Donnan's right shoulder come upon BRADFORD'S stomach. Witness knew nothing about wrestling. Did not see Donnan use any violence after the deceased was down. - Mr Wm. Land, of St Sidwell's, Surgeon, stated, that he was called about ten o'clock on Tuesday night to attend the deceased at the Red Lion Inn. He died soon after witness arrived. Witness had known him for many years, having attended him often professionally. Should not say he was a temperate man. on deceased being taken home witness examined the body externally, but couldn't perceive any marks of violence. There was a little scratch on his nose, which witness did not think worth noticing. It was very likely that the man had some disease of the heart, or that the rupture of a blood-vessel had taken place; the fall would not produce death - for which witness could not account without a further examination. - Mr Willesford asked the Coroner, in this state of the proceedings, to adjourn the Inquest for the purpose of an internal examination of the body of the deceased. - The Coroner said there were other witnesses who might be heard first. - James Cross, a watchman, living in Paul-street, who was present at the Red Lion Inn on the previous night, corroborated Ware's statement. He did not think any unfair advantage was taken by Donnan. - After some other persons had been examined by the Coroner, their evidence throwing no new light on the object of the Inquest, it was adjourned. - Yesterday, (Thursday) the Inquiry was resumed, when Mr Land stated that he had examined the body and found the lungs much diseased and congested. He had come to the conclusion that death had been occasioned by apoplexy, accelerated by the struggle in which the deceased had engaged. - The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 4 March 1848
STOCKLAND - Shocking Case Of Murder. - On Tuesday, MARY HOOPER, a poor woman, aged 59 years, and residing at Stockland, near Honiton, was committed for trial to the Devon County Gaol, by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on a charge of killing JAMES HARRIS, her brother, on Saturday last. The prisoner, her husband and mother, reside in a cottage at Stockland, where they cultivate a small spot of ground; HARRIS, the brother, was a labourer in the same parish, working for any of the farmers by whom he could get employed, and also for his brother-in-law, HOOPER, on which occasions he had his victuals and lodging and was paid eight-pence per day. On Saturday last the deceased and the prisoner went to Honiton market with a cart-load of hay for sale. Having disposed of it, they went to a public-house, where the deceased got very much intoxicated, while the prisoner was very little better. The cart was intended to take dung back; and it was decided between them that a youngster by whom they had been accompanied to Honiton, should return with this, and that they would walk home. On coming into the open air, however, a great effect was produced on HARRIS, and getting into the road, he fell down. The prisoner, who was also inebriated, endeavoured to get him up, but could not succeed in rousing him. She then commenced kicking him, and having thickly nailed shoes, with iron "scutes," made most fatal havock upon his face and head; the front teeth were kicked out, the head otherwise fearfully mangled and death soon ensued. A neighbouring farmer caused the man to be placed in a vehicle and taken to the prisoner's residence at Stockland; but he had expired before this was reached. The verdict against the prisoner was returned on Monday, and the warrant for her commitment made out by the Coroner; but she was allowed to remain for that night in the custody of a guard, on account of the extreme illness of her mother, who is not expected to survive this catastrophe. The prisoner is ignorant and illiterate to an extent scarcely credible and her intellect appears affected by the fits to which she is subject, and with which she was attacked on Tuesday morning.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 18 March 1848
SOUTH MOLTON - On Tuesday an Inquest was held by James Flexman, Esq., Borough Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM WARREN, a pensioner, residing in this place, who was found lying in Bunker's-street, on Sunday morning in a state of insensibility, from which he never recovered. He was removed to the Union Workhouse, where he died on the Monday. It is supposed that he had lain there during the night, as he was not seen alive after Saturday night. He had a severe wound on the head, which it is supposed he received in falling, and which was sufficient to cause death. - He was well known from his eccentricities, and was commonly known by the name of "MAZE WARREN;" he was much addicted to drinking, and in his drunken fits would very frequently figure rather conspicuously in the streets; he was 71 years old. The Jury returned a verdict of "Died from the effects of a blow in the head, but how it occurred there was no evidence to determine."

LYDFORD - Distressing Accident. - On Thursday last week MR BARTER, blacksmith, of Buckfastleigh, left home in the morning and proceeded towards Dartmoor, for a cart load of peat, accompanied by another person, also with a cart. Returning home loaded, the hills being enveloped with a deep fog, MR BARTER, in going with his cart over a bog, it upset and the horse fell on him; on his companion coming forward, he was found to be quite dead. - An Inquest was held before W. A. Cockey, Deputy Coroner, and a verdict of Accidental Death returned. MR BARTER has left a wife and twelve children.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 1 April 1848
BRAMPFORD SPEKE - On Tuesday an Inquest was held at the Agricultural Inn, in this village, by F. Leigh, Esq., on the body of a poor man, late a servant of Mr Puddicombe, Surgeon, of Silverton, who had been missing since the 8th of January last. It appears that on the evening he fetched his master, who was visiting a patient at Netherexe, instead of going towards his home, he took an opposite direction and walked into the river, as his hat was found on the bank. Search was made, but the body was not discovered until Saturday last, when as Mr Pates, Surgeon, of Exeter, was walking by the bank of the Exe, just under Brampford church, he saw the legs of a man appearing through the water. He got assistance, had a shell made and the body was placed in it, and identified as the one lost two months ago. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

EXETER - On Tuesday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM EMMETT, 35 years of age, a servant of Mr Hugh Elworthy of Newton St Cyres who had died in the Devon and Exeter Hospital on Monday from internal injuries received from being run over by his master's waggon at Sandford on Saturday. It seems that another man was driving the waggon at the time, and both he and the deceased were tipsy. After the accident the driver left the deceased behind in the road and he was not brought home until four o'clock the next morning. - A verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

EXETER - On Tuesday Mr Warren held an Inquiry at the Red Lion Inn, in St Sidwell's, into the death of MARY ANN BAKER, 13 years of age, in the service of Mr Maunder, Spirit Merchant, living in Verney Place. She had died on the previous day. After a careful investigation a verdict of Natural Death was returned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 8 April 1848
EXETER - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., on the body of ROBERT EWINS, four years of age, whose parents live in Exon Court, St Sidwell's. In the absence of his mother he had fallen into the fire on the previous day and was removed to the Hospital, where he died on Wednesday. Verdict, Accidental Death.

PLYMOUTH - Melancholy Suicide. - An Inquest was held on Tuesday at the Guildhall, before J. Edmonds, Esq., Coroner, on the body of THOMAS HENRY HOOKER, who had died at his residence in Clarence-street, the previous night, from the effects of poison. The Inquest was adjourned till Thursday, in order that an examination of the body might be made by Mr Square. The deceased had been in the employ of Mr Nettleton, as clerk, and being irregular in his conduct, he was discharged on the Saturday night previous to his demise. On Sunday morning he purchased a quantity of white arsenic of Mr Denton, Old Town-street, on the pretence of killing cats, and some hours afterwards he came back and said he wished some opium in it, as it would be a more humane manner of killing them. A dram of opium was then mixed with the arsenic, which in itself was sufficient to destroy life. On Monday afternoon, he went to Mrs Easton's, at the Three Crowns, on the Parade. He then had some gin, and lay down on a bed upstairs for an hour and a half, when he came down very pale and asked Mrs Easton to let him lie down on a sofa. He continued there till about eight o'clock, when he had some more gin. He afterwards went home and got into bed, where he was found by his wife almost cold and insensible. Mr Square was called immediately, but he was in a dying state, and expired shortly after. On an examination of the body, sufficient arsenic was found in him to have killed six men. The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the death of the deceased was occasioned by Poison, administered by his own hand, whole in a state of Insanity.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 29 April 1848
PLYMOUTH - Suicide In The Citadel. - on Thursday morning last week, WILLIAM ROBINSON, colour sergeant of No. 1 Company, 35th regiment, at present stationed in the Plymouth Citadel, was found dead in a water closet, having hung himself to the upper part of the door, by means of a pair of braces. He was unmarried and was at the Mauritius for about 11 years. About two or three years since, when the regiment was at the Mauritius, he cut his throat; but his life was saved. It was his duty to call the roll of his company at five o'clock in the morning, but he did not. Symptoms of estrangement had been seen in the deceased's conduct for some days before, and the Coroner's Jury, who sat the same day, returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 6 May 1848
EXETER - Death From Scalding. - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the George and Dragon Inn, St Sidwell's, before John Gidley, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the body of a little girl named MARY ANN GRAFTON. It appears that about six weeks ago, when the deceased was sitting at tea with her parents, she seized the tea-pot and in her eagerness poured the contents, scalding hot, over her neck and breast. She had since lingered in great agony, until death put an end to her sufferings. The Jury found a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 13 May 1848
KINGSTEIGNTON - On Wednesday a fine little boy, named PARTRIDGE, was drowned in the River Teign near Hackney; an Inquest was held before Mr W. A. Cockey, Deputy Coroner, and a verdict returned of "Accidentally Drowned." The Jury at the same time requested the Coroner to report the dangerous state of the River to the Agent of Lord Clifford.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 20 May 1848
EXETER - Shocking Death. - On Friday evening an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, by John Gidley, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the body of ANN CLARK, who had died in the Devon and Exeter Hospital that day from injuries by fire. Deceased was a servant in the house of Miss Cragg, in Verney Place, and on Thursday night, at a quarter before nine o'clock, her mistress sent her to bed without a candle, it being the practice of the house not to permit the servant to have a candle in her bedroom. Between twelve and one o'clock Miss Cragg was awakened by violent shrieks, and on opening the door of the deceased's bedroom, she found her surrounded with flames. She went downstairs into the back parlour - Miss Cragg followed her, and put out the fire by wrapping a hearth rug round her. Mr Pentecost, painter, Sparks, beadle of the Corporation of the Poor and other neighbours came to their assistance, with Budd, a Policeman; and Mr S. S. Perkins, Surgeon, who was called by Sparks, was promptly in attendance. He desired she should be taken to the Hospital at once, which was done and Mr Edye immediately attended her, but she died in the course of the night without saying how the accident had happened. Parts of a dress, needles and thread were found in her bedroom, and no doubt she had lighted a candle for the purpose of working by stealth and had probably fallen asleep. Verdict - Accidental Death.

DODBROOKE - On Sunday an Inquest was held at the King of Prussia Inn, Dodbrooke, on the body of EDWARD CRAGG, seaman. It was shown in evidence that he met with his death by falling over the side of a vessel, named the Friend's Desire, of Plymouth, on Wednesday night, supposed to be between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock. The body was found after much searching on the ensuing Friday and was refused admittance to the New Quay Inn, Dodbrooke, the nearest Inn to where the body was found, for which the landlord was summoned before the Coroner and reprimanded.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 27 May 1848
EXETER - Disobedience To Parents. - The fearful consequences which sometimes arise from disobedience to paternal commands were illustrated yesterday (Thursday), when an inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Gidley, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the body of EDWARD DOBLES, a lad between ten and eleven years of age, and which had been found in the Exe below Trew's weir, at a place called Belleisle. The father of the deceased, a shoe-maker, residing in Holloway-street, deposed that on Sunday evening he sent him with an elder brother to attend service at Trinity Church, which begins at half-past six and being ill he desired them to return immediately afterwards. About seven o'clock he was informed that they had not been to church and he had since learnt that they went to the Quay, and took a boating excursion. They did not return until half-past eight, when he chastised the eldest boy; but the deceased ran away and he did not see him afterwards alive. The boy did not return and inquiries were made for him in every direction without success. Yesterday, as a labourer named Charles Couch, employed at the Paper-mills at Trew's Weir, was at work near the river, he observed the top of the boy's head just above the surface of the water. The body was in an upright position, and apparently stuck fast in mud. He procured a boat-hook, with which he dragged the corpse to land. The clothes were on, and no marks of violence were visible. The body was taken to Whyburn's house of reception and thence removed to the father's. No clue could be discovered to the way in which the lad had got into the water, and the Jury returned a verdict of Found Drowned.

HONITON - A Coroner's Inquest was held on Friday, at the Union House, in this town, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on the body of ELIZABETH SEYMOUR, who died within the Union on the previous day. Several rumours were in circulation as to the cause of death, and an examination of the body took place before Messrs. W. Woodward, E. C. Holland and J. P. Hill, Surgeons, who were of opinion that death arose from inflammation. The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Died from Natural Causes."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 3 June 1848
TORQUAY - Fatal Accident. - On Saturday at the Maritime Inn in this town, an Inquest was held before W. A. Cockey, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the body of GEORGE TURNER DAFTER, aged 12 years. About a quarter to eight on Friday morning, the deceased took his uncle's boat from her mooring and pushed it off from the pier with an oar. About nine o'clock he was taken out dead from the water by Mr Matthews, with a boat-hook. It was conjectured that in attempting to climb up the piles of the pier, instead of going to the steps, he lost his hold and fell back into the water, stunned by a blow from the gunwale of the boat. The Jury returned a verdict - "Found Drowned."

EXETER - Fatal Accident On The South Devon Railway. - On Tuesday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM RICE, a labourer on the South Devon Railway, who had died in the Devon and Exeter Hospital from injuries received on that line on Saturday. - Glanville Kerswell, a Policeman on the railway, stated that the deceased's usual employment was to go up and down the line and beat in the stones and earth at the sides, in order to keep the foundation of the line firm. When the accident took place, the deceased was employed as a greaser of the Atmospheric tube, the regular man being ill. On Saturday night, about half-past Eleven, witness stood at the signal post and deceased asked him when the next train would be in. Witness replied in twenty minutes. Deceased said that after going his beat he would come back and have something to eat. They then parted. After the Express had come to the Station witness heard cries, but took n notice, supposing that some person was amusing himself by making them. Whilst pushing out some trucks to form a goods train, he heard one of the valve-men say "Someone is hurt on the line." He took his lantern and, accompanied by some of the men, ran up the line. They came to where two men were standing with the deceased, whose leg appeared to be cut off. They took him to the Station, placed him in the Piston-carriage, and conveyed him to Exeter, where he was placed in the Hospital. - Charles Squires deposed that on Saturday night, as he was waiting at the Newton Station for the Express, he heard the cries of a man. The noise continuing, a person named Dart remarked to him that someone must be hurt up the line. Dart took a lantern, and they both proceeded to ascertain the cause. About five yards, just on the bridge, witness found the deceased lying on his face, and, as it appeared to him, with one leg cut off. They were soon joined by several others, and RICE was carried to the Station. - Charles Dart corroborated this statement and produced a boot and a knife found close to the deceased. - Thomas Gardiner, conductor of the Express train from Exeter, on Saturday night, deposed that within a quarter of a mile of the Newton Station and about 30 yards of the bridge, he caught a glimpse of a lamp. The train went on and as he noticed that the carriage had given a blow passing over something on the rail, he concluded from the lamp being still there, that the train had gone over someone. At the Station he mentioned his suspicions. - John Harris, Esq., Surgeon, stated that he examined the deceased on Sunday morning, about two o'clock, and found that he had received a compound fracture in the right leg and severe injuries and bruises about the head and body. He appeared to be suffering extremely and was in a very alarming state. Witness called a consultation of surgeons at three o'clock. They examined the man, but found him in a too precarious state for amputation. They discovered that several ribs were fractured n the left side. They administered cordials and one of the pupils watched the deceased, being told to communicate with witness. The deceased died at four o'clock. On opening the chest witness found five ribs from the 5th to the 10th on the left side completely fractured, and several of the pieces had perforated the lungs. There was also a great quantity of blood in the chest. The spleen was dreadfully lacerated and there was a large quantity of blood in the cavity of the stomach. He had no doubt that these injuries would have been occasioned by the passage of a carriage wheel, or any heavy substance. - Dr Miller said that the injuries on the upper part of the body might have been caused by a stroke of the buffer. He suspected that the man was sitting on the tube and when the train approached, he tried to get up and get off the line, but the train being so near, he was knocked down and all his ribs broken. The guard iron caught the boot and thus threw the leg over the rail and it was completely smashed. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 17 June 1848
EXETER - Death By Drowning. - On Monday, an Inquest was held at the Paper Makers' Arms Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a boy named JAMES AUGUSTUS COLERIDGE, about eleven years old, who had been drowned in the river at Head Weir on Saturday afternoon. The deceased, who was unable to swim, had undressed himself and descended to the water's edge. From the heavy rain, especially the preceding day, the bank was slippery, and his feet becoming coated with red clay, he was playing with them on the surface of the water, when slipping he became immersed in deep water and sunk. Assistance was quickly afforded from Cridge's reception house, and the body found after having been in the water a quarter of an hour. Verdict - "Accidental Death."

EXETER ST LEONARD'S - Fatal Accident On The River. - On Monday night, a fatal accident occurred on the river, at Salmon Pool, below this City. It being Whit-Monday, the gardens of that public resort were crowded with holiday folks, who broke up about 11 o'clock. A boat plies across the river which divides these grounds from the path-fields to Exeter and a rope is suspended across, to assist the steersman in the passage. Between twenty and thirty persons crowded instantly into the boat, and remained standing, except ne, - a young tailor, named SAMUEL JOHN PIKE, an excellent swimmer, - and who sat down in the middle of the boat. It appears that he was tipsy, but not so as to be incapable of taking care of himself. In going across, the boat swerved beneath the rope, the persons standing up on that side bent back, in order to avoid contact with the rope, and the consequence was a lurch, which upset the boat and the passengers, with the exception of the ferry-boy, who clung to the rope, were precipitated into the river, which is here of great depth. - James's weir being immediately below. Great consternation and excitement ensued. The young men, except PIKE, speedily swan to the shore and rescued the young women, who were struggling in the water. Some time elapsed before PIKE was missed, and then a search was instituted. The body, however, was not found until Tuesday afternoon. It was conveyed to the Port Royal Inn, in St. Leonard's, where an Inquest was held, yesterday (Thursday) before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner for the County, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." - The deceased was a son of MR THOMAS PIKE, of Paul Street, in this city; and was much esteemed for his orderly habits. He was 26 years of age, and it is reported that he was about to be married.

BIDEFORD - On Wednesday, the wife of MAJOR DOUGLAS, who has been lodging at Mr Lee's, postmaster, took a dose of Prussic acid, which she had bought at Mr Joce's, two days previously and was found quite dead. An Inquest was held before T. L. Pridham, Esq., and a verdict returned of "Temporary Insanity."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 24 June 1848
EXETER - Death By Scalding. - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of SHADRACH KEMPE, who died in the Hospital from injuries received by falling into a vat of boiling liquor at the Crown and Sceptre Inn last week. The Jury found a verdict of "Accidental Death."

EXETER - Sudden Death. - On Monday, an Inquest was held at the White Horse Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of RICHARD FINNIMORE, aged 63. The deceased was a postboy at the Globe Hotel, Exmouth, and on Saturday, early in the afternoon, after driving Captain Holman to the New London Inn, took the vehicle to the coachyard. He was seen by several persons connected with the establishment, but from something unusual in his manner they considered him to be drunk. On Sunday morning, about five o'clock, he was found in the stables, dead. Mr Land, Surgeon, of St Sidwell's, was called in, and on examining the groin, found that the deceased was ruptured. He considered, however, that the immediate cause of death was apoplexy. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 1 July 1848
THORVERTON - On Saturday an Inquest was held at Rull Farm, Thorverton, before Frederick Leigh, Esq., on the body of HENRY HAWKINS, aged 45 years, who had lived in the service of his brother, MR THOMAS HAWKINS. It appeared that on the previous day the deceased attempted to stop a frightened horse running away with a cart laden with hurdles, but falling on the road, he received severe injuries in his skull and spine, which caused death. - Verdict - Death from Accidental Causes.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 8 July 1848
EXETER -Adjourned Inquest. - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man named PETERS, who had died in the Hospital from an accident. None of the friends of the deceased attended, nor any witnesses of the cause of death, and the Inquest was necessarily adjourned.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 15 July 1848
EXETER - A Child Drowned. - On Saturday afternoon, as a boy five years of age, named HENRY CLEMENTS, the son of a horse keeper living in King's Alley, High-street, was crossing the temporary bridge at Head Weir near this City, the rails gave way and he fell into the water. He rose upon his feet, but stepping on his apron fell again, and was carried down by the stream and lost. The body was not found until yesterday (Thursday) morning. An Inquest was held at the Half Moon before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, when a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

EXETER - Suspicious Case. - It will be in the recollection of our readers that on Thursday last week an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, on the body of JAMES PETERS, who had died in the Hospital from an accident received from a waggon at Cruwys Morchard, which was upset in the road. It was understood that the deceased had been in the employ of Mr Wm. Croote, of that parish, but none of the persons who had been summoned having attended, the Coroner (J. Warren, Esq.) adjourned the Inquest to Saturday last, when it was again adjourned, from the same cause, to tomorrow (Saturday). The absence of the witnesses from the Inquest appears most unaccountable.

BROADHEMBURY - A Drunkard's Suicide. - A melancholy event took place at the Red Lion Inn, in this retired village, on Sunday. A man named HENRY BANFIELD TAPSCOTT, who slept at the Inn on Saturday night, arose early the following morning, before any of the other inmates were up. About six o'clock the servant man came downstairs and on going into the yard TAPSCOTT came out of the stable and accosting him, entered into conversation about the hay and the weather. The man servant left him to look after his horses, and on returning about half an hour afterwards, saw TAPSCOTT sitting upright in the stable, and, as he thought, asleep. He did not disturb him, but went a milking and then took his breakfast. After breakfast he went out into the stable for the purpose of waking TAPSCOTT, whom he found in the same posture, but his lips were black. The man called his master, the innkeeper, who, on coming to the spot, discovered that the supposed sleeper was in reality dead. The darkness of the stable, however, prevented the innkeeper from noticing anything further, and he sent for another person, who on examining the body, found that the deceased had hung himself with a rope kept in that place. The deceased, who was once in the enjoyment of a respectable competence, had been of late years a great drunkard, and in his pocket was a County Court summons for 7s. 6d. - On Monday an Inquest was held on the body before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, when the Jury returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 22 July 1848
EXETER - Suicide At The Northernhay Brewery. - On Friday afternoon, an Inquest was held at the Acland Arms Inn, St. Sidwell's, on the body of MR JOHN HYETT, of the Brewery, under Northernhay, in this City, who had destroyed himself n the morning of that day, by taking a quantity of essential oil of bitter almonds. It will be remembered that about a year ago a son of the deceased was mixed up with an examination into certain alleged frauds by the Post Office authorities, and, although nothing was proved against him, lost his situation. The young man and another brother have continued at home out of employment, which circumstance preyed upon the deceased's mind. On Monday morning, he sent his man, Parker, to Mr Palk, druggist, with a note, for sixpenny-worth of essential oil of bitter almonds. It appears that this preparation is used largely by spirit-dealers in the manufacture of noyeau, and Mr Palk, being under an impression that the deceased was in the spirit trade, sold the quantity requested, which was more than sufficient to produce death. The deceased was first seen on Friday morning by his son, FREDERICK HYETT, in the parlour, at half-past six. The son left the house and did not return until nine, when he met his father at the foot of the stairs. He said he should go up and lie down upon the bed. About ten minutes after the deceased had gone upstairs, a heavy fall was heard in his bedroom. His sons immediately ran up and found him lying on his back, by the side of the bed, having only his shirt on. In a few minutes Mr S. Perkins arrived, and applied the stomach pump, but death took place in about ten minutes afterwards. The bottle which had contained the poison was found by Mr Perkins in the chimney. Mr Parker, Surgeon, attended the Inquest and stated that he had known the deceased about seven years, and he had had numerous attack of delirium tremens. On one occasion he saw the deceased after he had taken half-an-ounce of laudanum, with the intention, as the deceased expressed it, of destroying himself. - He became sick in consequence and after he had recovered, expressed to this witness his regret at what he had done. On a subsequent occasion he gave witness a bottle containing three-quarters of an ounce of laudanum, which he said he had bought with the same intention. Mr E. W. Jackson, coachmaker, said that the deceased had had a gloom over his mind ever since the affair concerning the Post Office, and had frequently told witness that he feared he should not survive, on account of the sufferings of his poor boys, who had lost their characters and bread. The deceased was sixty years of age. - The Jury returned a verdict of - "Temporary Insanity."

EXETER - Consequences Of A Cross Post. - On Saturday an adjourned Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before J. Warren, Esq., on the body of JAMES PETERS, who died in the Hospital ten days before, from injuries received from a waggon passing over him at Cruwys Morchard. It appeared that the name of PETER'S master was Pooke, of Down Farm, Cruwys Morchard and not Croote as had been understood. Letters had been sent for the necessary witnesses, but after two Inquests had been held without any attending, Sergeant Lascelles of the Exeter Police was sent down to Cruwys Morchard. He found that there were only two post deliveries a week in that district, viz., on Tuesday and Saturday, and so little intercourse had farmer Pooke with the rest of the world that his letters were left for him at a shop in Tiverton from market day to market day. The officer speedily procured the requisite evidence and the Jury being satisfied returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 5 August 1848
SOUTH MOLTON - Concealment Of Birth. - On Saturday an Inquest was held on the body of the illegitimate child of HARRIET SHADDICK, a servant of Mr Attwater's. It appeared the mother was taken ill on the Friday previous, when Mr Attwater gave her some medicine. In the latter part of the afternoon she was somewhat worse and went to bed. On being questioned by Mr Attwater's wife, she denied her pregnancy. Her mother was then sent for to attend her and question her as to her illness, but nothing further could be elicited than a repetition of the denial. Before Mr Attwater went to bed he saw the servant and desired her mother, who was sitting by the side, to sleep with her. This she declined to do and very much aroused Mr Attwood's suspicions, so that he immediately pulled down the clothes and discovered the infant dead. He immediately sent for Dr Riccard, who gave evidence at the first sitting of the Jury and subsequently by their desire made an examination of the body and gave further evidence at the adjournment on Tuesday, that the child was not born alive and a verdict was returned accordingly. The mother is in the Union House doing well.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 12 August 1848
PAIGNTON - Fatal Accident. - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Guerston Inn, Paignton, before W. A. Cockey, Esq., Coroner, on the body of GEORGE DOWN, coachman to the Rev. F. Belfield, of Primley. From the evidence of various witnesses it appeared that on Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, the deceased left his master's house on errands to Sandridge, Brixham and Churston Court. He rode a large bay horse which was spirited and apt to rear. About half-past ten o'clock the horse returned alone, with saddle and bridle on. A search was immediately instituted, and the deceased was found about one o'clock in the morning in the Brixham road, a quarter of a mile from Paignton, quite dead. He had contusions over the right eye and behind his right ear and also a slight scratch on the right cheek. The Jury returned a verdict "Found Dead," but from what cause there was no evidence to prove, - but it was their opinion that the deceased had curbed the horse which caused him to rear, and fall back on him, as the deceased's clothes were covered with hair, and the hat crushed to atoms.

TIVERTON - A Jury was empanelled on Wednesday last, at the Guildhall, before F. Mackenzie, Esq., to investigate the death of ANN BUSSELL, an old and faithful servant in the service of Dr Burne. It was then adjourned until six in the evening for an examination of the body, when it was proved by the medical gentlemen present to have been a fit of apoplexy. The verdict was given accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 19 August 1848
STOKE DAMEREL - Accident At The Morice Town Works. - At the Keyham Works, at Morice Town, on Friday last, by the downfall of a machine named a "traveller", used for moving immense masses of stone, for the purpose of the formation of the docks, one man named WILLIAM HOOPER was killed n the spot and seven or eight others narrowly escaped the same fate, all of them being more or less seriously injured. The cause of this terrible accident is partly attributable to the negligence of certain carpenters who were employed in shoring up an upright of a frame, which supported the "traveller" on one side, and over which it was about to pass when the frame gave way beneath it and the machinery with the men in it fell from a height of nearly 30 feet. An Inquest was held on the body of the deceased and the Jury returned a verdict of "Death caused by the pile being insufficiently shored and a portion if it negligently knocked off from the bottom."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 2 September 1848
EXETER - Death From Intemperance. - On Tuesday, an Inquest was held before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Exeter Workhouse, on the body of HARRIET NORTHCOTE, who had died in that Asylum on the preceding day. It appears that the deceased, previous to her admission into the House, lived with her husband in an upstairs room at the bottom of Smythen-street. Yesterday (Thursday) fortnight they came home together, evidently intoxicated. Some angry words took place, and the female fell upon the floor. The next day she complained to a neighbour of a severe pain in the head, adding that her husband had struck her on the preceding night. Mr Kempe, one of the Surgeons of the Corporation of the Poor, was sent for and on Tuesday recommended her and her husband, who was then ill also, to go into the Workhouse, as their apartment presented a most painful scene of wretchedness. Here the woman died on Monday, notwithstanding every exertion of medical care on the part of Mr Warren, the House Surgeon; and as no traces of injury were discovered, the Jury returned as their verdict that the deceased had died from Apoplexy, brought on by intemperance.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 9 September 1848
EXETER - Inquest On PHILIP STOCKER. - On Wednesday at the Paper Makers' Arms in this City, an Inquest was held before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of PHILIP STOCKER, aged 13, whose death was occasioned on Monday week by his slipping into the water from the bridge across the river at Head Weir. The manner in which the body was discovered is singular. After eight days' fruitless search for it, ROBERT STOCKER, father of the deceased, placed two cannon on the wall beneath Lower Weir and at one o'clock in the afternoon fired them off. On the discharge of the second cannon, mucus was perceived to come to the surface of the water. This led to the suspicion that the body was lying below; and on search being made, it was found in that spot. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 23 September 1848
EXETER - Death From Burns. - On Wednesday, at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, an Inquest was held before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MATILDA DENNIS, aged 5 years. The deceased's parents live near the Alphington Turnpike gate, in St. Thomas, and keep a dairy. On Tuesday morning, about 10 o'clock MRS DENNIS left home for half an hour to go into Exeter, leaving a large boiler on the kitchen fire and six children, including the deceased, the eldest being 11 years old, playing in front of the house. Another child, an infant, was sleeping in the cradle. It appeared that the deceased meddled with the boiler, and her clothes caught fire. A servant of Mr Brown, a neighbour, ran in to ascertain the cause of the child's screams, and some neighbours speedily afforded their assistance. The mother arrived whilst they were pouring flour over the child, who was then taken into the Hospital. Mr Prater, the resident apothecary, did all that medical skill could devise; but without avail, the child dying at half-past nine at night. The Jury found a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 30 September 1848
TORQUAY - Fatal Accident. - On Friday last an Inquest was held at the Market Inn, in this town, before W. A. Cockey, Esq., Deputy Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM KEMP, aged three years, whose death was occasioned under the following circumstances. A carriage drawn by a pair of horses, and belonging to Mr Webb, of the Royal Hotel, was returning from the Railway Station at Newton Abbot, on Thursday afternoon. In passing through Lower Union Street, the horses took fright and ran on at a fearful speed, knocking down the deceased, who was in the middle of the road. The animals were pulled up on Silver-hill. The little child was instantly picked up and conveyed to a neighbouring house, where he died about ten o'clock in the evening. Mr Jolley, the Surgeon who was called to attend him, stated that the injuries were so serious that had they occurred to a man, he could not possibly have survived. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" but an intimation was made that they thought improvement required in the place where the accident occurred, in order to prevent similar misfortunes.

EXETER - Fatal Accident. - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of SAMUEL SHAPTER, a quarryman, who died on Sunday morning in the Hospital. It appeared that on Friday afternoon, SHAPTER was at work on the lime rocks in Chudleigh. He, with a man named John Elson, had charged and blown a part of the rock, but not sufficiently large for their purpose and therefore set about charging a second time, using from 5lbs. to 6lbs. of gunpowder. When all was ready, SHAPTER took his flint and steel and struck a light, with which he lighted his touch-paper. He was at this time within three or four feet of the fuse, and told Elson to go, the fuse being burning slow enough apparently to ensure SHAPTER'S own safety in enabling him to retreat before the explosion. Elson, however, had scarcely turned himself when he heard a report. When the smoke cleared, he saw his companion lying in the bottom and found his head bleeding, and right hand and arm injured. He got assistance and SHAPTER was taken to his own house, about half-a-mile distant, and about an hour afterwards was removed to the Devon and Exeter Hospital. He was immediately attended by Mr James, whose pupil, Mr Woodman, gave evidence on the case before the Coroner. The left side of the head was broken in, and a depression of the bone existing on the brain. The right hand and arm were injured; and on the left side a rib fractured, and the kidney on that side very much bruised. The hair of the deceased also was singed and smutty. The injuries were sufficient to occasion death; and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly. The deceased was 36 years of age and has left a widow and six children

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 7 October 1848
EXETER - Death From Burning. - On Monday at the Valiant Soldier Inn, in this City, an Inquest was held before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of HENRY OLDRIDGE, who died on Sunday in the Hospital from injuries received about three weeks ago from fire in the shop of his master, Mr Davey, of Martin's Lane, in this City. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

EXETER - Shocking Death. - On Friday last an Inquest was held before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Hour Glass Inn, in this City, on the body of GEORGE HENRY THOMAS, aged between 17 and 18 years. The deceased belonged to the Friends of Exeter, Litton, master, from Sunderland to this port, with a cargo of coal. She left Sunderland on the 21st of September and about 8 o'clock at night on the 22nd, at a considerable distance from land, the master having reason to apprehend a squall, gave orders for taking in sail. The night was very dark, and for the purpose of furling the sail, an able seaman and the deceased went aloft. They had nearly completed their task, when THOMAS missed his footing and fell on the deck. He was removed to the cabin, when he almost immediately died. When the vessel reached this place on Friday, immediate information to the Coroner was given. The body presented a painful spectacle, but being examined by Mr F. H. Warren, Surgeon, it was ascertained there was a dislocation of the neck; and a verdict of Accidental Death was returned accordingly. The friends of the deceased were resident in Exeter.

EXETER - Death From Rupture Of A Blood Vessel. - At the Anchor Inn, Exe Island, yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held by J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of SUSAN JACKMAN, a young married woman, aged 22. It appeared that the deceased, who lodged at Mr Marsh's, on the Island, was the wife of a mason's labourer, in the employ of Messrs. Hooper, of this City, and they had been married about fifteen months. She had been failing for the last year from consumption. On Wednesday evening, however, she ate a hearty supper and her husband being obliged to go to the lake with some dirty water, left her sitting in a chair. On his return, within a very few minutes, he found her fallen on the floor across a utensil which she had been cleaning, and blood was issuing copiously from her mouth. She uttered a request for a cup of water, which he brought, but she was unable to make use of it. He raised her in his arms and called out to his landlord to run for his wife's sister, named YENDALL, who lived opposite. She speedily arrived, but the deceased was then insensible and within five minutes expired. The husband, when he appeared before the Coroner, presented a very humiliating appearance from the effects of drink and admitted that he had had "half a pint." He, however, appeared much distressed at his bereavement, but his mind was so muddled with the liquor that he was unable to tell the name of the present month when asked by the Coroner, and inquired if it wasn't July. The Jury returned a verdict of Death from Natural Causes.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 14 October 1848
B IDEFORD - An Inquest was held at the Union Workhouse, on Saturday, before T. L. Pridham, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man named GEORGE WILLIAMS. It appeared that the deceased left the Barnstaple Union Workhouse on the Monday previous, where he had been unwell for some days, and, notwithstanding the Medical Officer advising him to remain, he persisted in leaving and entered the Bideford Union, where he died. The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Death."

EXMOUTH - Sudden Death. - An Inquest was held at the Clarence Hotel, in this town, yesterday (Thursday) on the body of a gentleman named ROBERT HAMILTON. It appears that about a week since he came from Bootle, near Liverpool, to take a house here. Having looked at several, and not being quite satisfied, he told his landlord where he was lodging that he should go to Teignmouth and Dartmouth and return again to Exmouth in a day or two. He accordingly rose at a very early hour on Monday morning, in order to catch the first down train from Starcross. The boatman not being ready, he became very excited, fancying that he should be late. Having given his parcel to the boatman, he walked at a very rapid rate towards the Beach, and having got into the boat, he immediately fell down and was taken up a corpse. On being removed to the Clarence Hotel, a large sum of money was found upon him and also a letter directed to his wife, and which the deceased probably intended to have posted on his arrival at Teignmouth. This letter was the only thing by which information was obtained of his connections. The Jury returned a verdict, Died by Apoplexy.

BARNSTAPLE - Boy Drowned. - On Monday an Inquest was held at the Star Inn, before Alfred Drake, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a boy named THOMAS FRASER. It appeared that the deceased was last seen alive about ten days before, when he was fishing over a wall on the Quay. His body was not found until Monday and had floated some considerable distance from the place where it is supposed he had fallen in. The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 21 October 1848
EXETER - Suicide. - On Friday night last, Mr Gubb, of Topsham, ascertained that a currier of Exeter, named ORGAN, in his employ, had abstracted a small piece of leather from his shop. He proceeded to Exeter in search of him, during which time the suspected delinquent himself was met with by Mr Pridham, baker, of Topsham, and Mr Scott, a private gentleman, living in that town, and walked between them to the house of Mr Pridham where it was arranged that he should sit up by the kitchen fire, as he could not be comfortably secured in the lock-up. An hour or two afterwards, however, Mr Gubb returned and gave ORGAN into custody. The Constable had no alternative but to place him in the dead-house for the night, and when he visited it in the morning he found that the prisoner had lung himself with one of his stockings. An Inquest was held on Monday, after which a singular incident occurred. Mr Scott, who had taken an active interest in the poor fellow's comfort on Friday night, was mobbed by about 300 people, who seemed to attribute to him the cause of the melancholy result! The effect will be found in our report of a case heard at the castle of Exeter this day (Friday).

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 28 October 1848
PLYMPTON ST MARY - The Pauper Suicide. - The Coroner's Inquest at Plympton St. Mary, upon the body of RICHARD PARKER, a pauper, who cut his throat, in that parish, on Saturday week - and particulars of which were given in last week's paper, - concluded on Friday, when the Jury, after three quarters of an hour's consideration, returned the following verdict:- "That the deceased destroyed himself whilst in a fit of Temporary Insanity." The Jury added the following statement:- "They believe that the unsound state of mind in which deceased destroyed himself was intimately connected with the refusals of relief he had received from different partiers in the administration of the poor law. The Jury also desire to say that the Chairman, Colonel Harris, Mr John Yonge, Mr Molesworth, and Mr Rivers, appeared to have done all in their power to obtain relief for the deceased, but as respects all the other parties referred to in the evidence, the Jury abstain from offering any opinion, and refer the consideration of the evidence to the Poor Law Commissioners. They beg also to express their opinion of the incompatibility of overseer and guardian being united in one person."

EXETER - Awful Event. - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was holden before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, at Belmont Lodge, near this City, the residence of Mrs Snow, on the body of HARRIET DAY, the cook, 36 years of age, who died suddenly on Wednesday. It appears that about ten o'clock on that day she was talking with the coachman, and told him that the servants would have an early dinner. He replied that he should not be home, - to which she answered that in that case he must be content with pot-luck, as she would not keep the dinner about. Her mistress then called her into the pantry to give her directions about dinner for the family. The deceased took down two dishes from the shelves, and was in the act of removing another, when her heel slipped and she fell heavily, being a very stout woman. She was immediately placed in a chair and a surgeon was sent for. Mr Edye came, but she was dead. She never moved or spoke after falling on the floor. She had been in the house a year and nine months and during that time had had only one day's illness. Mr Edye said he considered death to have been occasioned by disease f the heart and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

EXETER - Sudden Death. - On Tuesday an Inquest was held at the Ring of Bells Inn, West-street, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of MARTHA RICHARDSON, aged 75, who had died on the previous day. It appears that the deceased, with another old woman named May, occupied a room in a tenement in West-street, belonging to C. Shirreff, Esq. She did not belong to Exeter, and therefore received no weekly relief, - but she had been provided with an asylum in the Exeter workhouse, and was very comfortable whilst she remained there. But, probably disliking the restraint upon old habits, which that residence necessarily imposed, she had come out and lived as before stated. She was accustomed to receive a weekly present of 1s. from a lady in Heavitree, and, it is supposed, that she left her home on Monday to proceed there. At Quay Gate she was seized with a stroke of paralysis, and was assisted home by a man named May. Some woman helped her upstairs, but she died speedily after her arrival. On the Jury visiting the apartment, they found it in a filthy state, unfit for human habitation, the only bed which the inmates possessed was a bag of shavings, and there was neither chair nor table for their convenience. The fellow lodger of the deceased was called to give evidence, but her dress was so scanty that a neighbour lent her a cloak to enable her to appear with decency. The Jury seemed to feel a strong opinion that want had occasioned the attack, but they returned a verdict of Natural Death.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 4 November 1848
EXETER - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held at the Teignmouth Arms Inn, in this City, on the body of MARY ANN WILSON, aged 18 months, who had died that morning from injuries received from a scald. On Thursday, last week, the child fell from a high chair in which she had been left opposite the fire, and knocking over the kettle, scalded herself very badly. A neighbour anointed the wounds with oil, and the mother took the child to the Hospital, where she was told she must remain. The mother said she had two other children at home which required care and she could not leave them. She then took the sufferer back to her house where the child lingered until yesterday morning. The Jury found a verdict of "Death from Accident."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 18 November 1848
TIVERTON - On Tuesday an Inquest was held before F. Mackenzie, Esq., on the body of a child named RUDD, who died the day previous, from injuries sustained about ten days before. It appeared that the mother left the house, during which time the clothes of child caught fire, which caused its death. Verdict "Accidental Death," with an admonition to the mother of the impropriety of leaving children unprotected.

PLYMOUTH - Dreadful Circumstance. - An Inquest was held on Tuesday before J. Edmonds, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JOHANNES HAACK, one of the German emigrants from Baden, who died at the South Devon Hospital on the same day by the loss of his arm, which dropped off from mortification. The deceased belonged to the Fanny of Hamburgh, bound to New York, with emigrants. Three days prior to the vessel's arrival at this port, the deceased slipped and fell on the deck, which broke his arm; the Captain bound it, but too tight, which caused mortification, and the Surgeon in the Hospital fearing the deceased would die under the operation of amputation, allowed the arm to remain in its then state. - Verdict, "Died from Mortification of the left arm, produced by pressure on being tied too tight by an inexperienced person."

DITTISHAM - Fatal Accident. - On Friday, as MRS MARGARET WAKEHAM, wife of MR ARTHUR WILLIAM WAKEHAM, farmer of Capton, in the parish of Dittisham, and their son EDWARD, a lad fourteen years of age, were returning from the market in Dartmouth, riding in the front of their cart, a gig passed by them, and frightened the horse so that it started rapidly off. The poor lad fell and the wheel of the cart passed over his head and killed him on the spot. An Inquest has been held on the body and a verdict of Accidental Death returned. MRS WAKEHAM also was thrown off and was considerably bruised.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 25 November 1848
PLYMOUTH - Awful Death. - On Wednesday an Inquest was held on the body of a man named THOMAS JENKINS, who was found dead under circumstances of a singular character. He occupied a stable, and a small room over it, in Portland Lane, at the back of Portland Square. He lived by himself and on Tuesday evening he said to his landlord, that he was poorly - that he had been on the Coast of Africa and had a fever there and that he felt it coming on again now, for he could smell it! On Wednesday morning he was found dead in his sleeping apartment. - The stench arising from the rapid decomposition of the body was so powerful that one of the officers who went in, was seized with a fit of vomiting. There was scarcely any furniture in the room and although there was a small quantity of bread and meat, there was no money found. The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Death."

MALBOROUGH - Salcombe. - The quiet of this little seaport-town was thrown into great confusion on Saturday evening about nine o'clock, by the boat of H.M. Revenue Cutter, Ferret, while cruising about this harbour, having picked up a dead body, which, on examination, was found to be that of man named JARVIS, a shoemaker, of this place. Dr Jacobs and Mr Gillard, Esq., Surgeon, were prompt in attendance, when every means for restoration were administered, but life was extinct. On inquiries it appeared that JARVIS had left Kingsbridge about seven o'clock in company with a man named MARCH, a fisherman, and it was supposed that from a sudden squall, when almost in sight of their homes, the boat had capsized. Search was made for the other body, but to no effect until Monday morning, when it was picked up by a fishing net. The boat was found on Sunday, with mast and all sails standing. On Tuesday an Inquest was held at the Victoria Inn, before W. Cockey, Esq., Deputy Coroner, and a verdict was returned of "Found Drowned." Each of the men has left a wife and large family.

EXETER - Death From Drowning. - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Cattle Market Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JOHN FROST, aged 62 years, which had been found in the Mill-leat in the Bonhay. It appears that the deceased had been in the Exeter workhouse for some time, but came out and married a woman named Bailey about five months ago. Since his marriage he has tramped about the country in search of work, but having returned to Exeter he was allowed 2s. weekly by the Corporation of the Poor. On Thursday last he was met by his wife (who did not live with him) as he was going to the office of the Corporation, in Castle-street, for his pay. She told him that she was living with her parents, in Lemon's Court and asked him to call upon them in the evening. They then parted and this was the last time she saw him alive. After receiving his pay he went to a lodging-house, in King-street, kept by a person named Way, and asked for accommodation for the night, which he obtained. On the following morning he did not come down at the usual hour and stated himself to be unwell. The mistress of the house gave him some tea and on Saturday supplied him further with necessaries. He remained there until Sunday and between four and five in the afternoon of that day went out, which was the last time he was seen alive. On Tuesday morning, between seven and eight o'clock, a man named Vanstone, who lives in Bowring's Court, in Exe Island, at the back of which runs the Mill Leat, whilst dipping up some water from this stream, observed the body of a man floating in it. Vanstone ran to Mr Worthy's factory and getting assistance, went to the washing bridge across the stream, where the body was taken up as it was floating past. It was conveyed to Gudridge's receiving house, in Rosemary lane, but life was extinct. The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned," and accompanied it with a strong representation respecting the danger arising from the unfenced state of the Mill Leat, and requested the Coroner to communicate their opinions to the proper authorities.

EXETER - Death From Want Of Necessaries. - On Tuesday an adjourned Inquest was held at the Cattle Market Inn, in this City, before John Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JOHN DENNIS, who had resided in a small house, a little above the Head Weir Paper Mills. - From the evidence it appeared that on Sunday morning, between two and three o'clock, one of the children of the deceased was taken sick, and he got out of bed to assist it. After having done so, he complained of being shivered, and got into bed, his wife covered him up with clothes and with returning warmth he seemed to get better. - About seven o'clock his illness returned and he desired his wife to make him some elder tea. - He remained in this state till late in the forenoon, when his wife enquired whether she should send for a surgeon. - He would not consent to this being done, observing that he should be better bye and bye. About half-past one he said he should like to be shaved. A man named William Turner, who lodged in the house performed this operation, but the deceased was then so ill, that he could not sit up in bed. - His wife, finding his disorder increasing, sent a boy for Mr Lyddon, Surgeon, of St. Thomas's, but they were under no apprehension of fatal consequences at that time. No one came. And about three o'clock the deceased expired. After the preliminary Inquest, on Monday, the body was examined by Mr Cumming, one f the surgeons of the Corporation of the Poor, who stated, at the adjourned Inquest, that he had examined the head, chest and bowels and the only unusual circumstance which he found, was the apparently entire absence of food. - The Jury returned for their verdict, that death had been occasioned by Natural Causes. - The deceased was a native of Plympton and had been employed on the atmospheric works of the South Devon Railway, when he used to earn from £1 to £ 1 10s. a week. on the breaking up of that system on that line, he was dismissed and was out of work five weeks, in the course of which time he suffered great destitution. He had, at his death, been four weeks in the employ of Mr Alfred Bodley, iron-founder, as a labourer, his earnings being 10s. 6d. a week, including over-time. He has left a wife, and a family of three small children.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 2 December 1848
CLYST HONITON - On Monday an Inquest was held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., on the body of THOMAS PERRY, which had been found on Sunday morning hanging in a linhay belonging to Mr Westcott, of this parish. It appeared that the deceased had, on Saturday night, visited the Cat and Fiddle Inn, in Sowton, and complained of being poorly. When he got outside the house on leaving it, he paused, as if uncertain which way to go and then turned into the Sidmouth Road. He was not seen again alive. The linhay in which the body was found is about forty yards distant from the public-house. The deceased must have got on some rails which were there to fasten the cord to the rafter, and, having put it round his neck, must have swung off. The Jury, after some consideration, returned a verdict of Temporary Insanity.

PLYMOUTH - Death From Cholera. On Monday an Inquest was held before J. Edmonds, Esq., on the body of MARY HUGHES, alias ELIZABETH HANRALTY, who died in the Sound on board the convict ship Cadet, on the 26th of November. The verdict returned by the Jury was the following:- "Died from Exhaustion, arising from the united effects of malignant cholera and premature labour, her illness having continued 74 hours from the commencement of the cholera." - The circumstance of these bodies having been brought into the midst of this town to be buried, has occasioned a great deal of conversation and alarm in the neighbourhood. It has been thought that the Mayor should have interposed his authority to prevent their being landed in the town, for they might very well have been buried under Mount Batten; or as they were in charge of a naval surgeon, they should have been taken to the Naval Hospital at Stonehouse for interment.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 9 December 1848
DREWSTEIGNTON - On Wednesday an Inquest was held at the Sandy-park Inn, by H. A. Vallack, Esq., Coroner, on the body of JAMES GOLDSWORTHY, aged 28 years, a miner at the Wheal St. Ann's copper and tin mine, Drewesteignton. From the evidence of two witnesses, it appeared that the deceased was much intoxicated on Sunday morning, when he came t the mine and soon after he threw off his coat and precipitated himself backward into the shaft, a depth of 33 fathoms. When assistance reached him, he spoke, but soon died. Verdict, "The deceased in a drunken fit of Temporary Insanity destroyed himself."

EXETER - On Friday night the body of JOHN HURFORD, the head turn-cock of the Exeter Water Company, was found in the reservoir near this City. It is supposed that he fell into it when in a state of intoxication, his dwelling being contiguous, and one of his duties being the charge of the place. On Saturday an Inquest was held and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 16 December 1848
EXETER - Accidental Suffocation. On Tuesday, an inquest was held at the Exeter Workhouse, on the illegitimate child of a girl named WHITING, who had given birth to the infant on the previous Sunday. It was found dead in bed with her on Tuesday morning, having been Accidentally overlaid in the night. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 23 December 1848
CREDITON - On Thursday an Inquest was held at the Ship Inn, before F. Leigh, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a boy named STRONG, who was sent on Monday by his mother to gather some fire wood; when a short distance from the town, he climbed a tree for the purpose of obtaining his booty, and fell off and was killed on the spot. Verdict, Accidental Death.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, Saturday 30 December 1848
EXETER - Yesterday (Thursday) an Inquest was held at the Fountain Inn, Exeter Quay, on the body of GEORGE BUNKHAM, tailor, a native of Topsham. It appeared that the deceased, in going aboard a vessel laying at the Quay, mistook one vessel for another, the night being dark, and is supposed to have tripped his foot in the chair and fallen overboard. The body was not recovered for nearly three quarters of an hour after, when life was found to be extinct; another man trying to render assistance also fell overboard, and very nearly shared a similar fate. - Verdict, Accidental Death.