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Inquests Taken Into Suspicious Or Unexplained Deaths

For the County of Devon

Articles taken from the Western Morning News

[printed in Plymouth.]

1910

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:-  Acton; Alderman; Anderson; Anthony; Archer; Atkinson; Atwill; Avery; Axe; Ayres; Badmin; Banner; Barnes; Barrett; Barter; Bastow; Bedford; Bennett; Bignell; Billings; Black; Blake; Bone; Bourke; Bowden; Brayley; Brock; Bucknell; Bulley; Bunter; Butt; Bygraves; Campion; Carnall; Chalk; Chambers; Chilcott; Churchill; Clark(2); Clarke; Clemence; Clements; Cobbledick; Cocking; Cole(4); Collins; Conday; Conibear; Connolly; Cook; Coom; Coombe; Cooper; Cousins; Craze; Cricket; Crocker; Cubitt; Damerall; Daniells; Davey; Davis; Deeming; Delbridge; Dorney; Down; Downing(2); Druett; Dunstan; Dye; Eastman; Edgson; Elliott; Ellis; Endacott; England; Evans; Exell; Farmer; Farrant; Fishley; Flood; Folley(3); Ford(2); Fothergill; Franklin; Gauntlett; Gibbons; Gigg; Gilbert; Good; Goodchild; Gould; Greet; Gritton; Grogan; Hallett; Hammacott; Handsley; Harding; Harper; Harrington; Harris(3); Harry; Hart; Harwood; Havens; Hawkings; Heatly; Herring; Hicks; Hill; Hine; Hiscox; Hobling; Hockin; Hocking; Hogan; Holder; Hole; Holway; Hook; Horley; Horn; Horwell; Hoskin; Hounslow; Howe; Howes; Hubber; Hunt(3); Irish; Isaac; Isaacs; Jackson; James; Jeffery; Jewell; Jillard; Johnson(2); Jones; Joslin(2); Jury; Kite; Laley; Lancaster(2); Lane; Lang; Lear; Lee; Lewis; Ley; Lines; Lipscombe; Lock; Ludgate; MacAllister; Maher; Mainwaring; Major; Mallett; Manning; Manville; Marks; Marshall; Martin(2); Mashford; Maunder; May; Maynard; McArthur; Millman; Miners; Mitchell(2); Monger; Moon; Moore(2); Morrell; Morris(2); Moses; Moulding; Moyse; Mugford; Munro(2); Murray; Newcombe;  Nicholls; Nickols; Norman; Norton; Orchard; Osborn; Palmer; Pardew; Parsons; Partridge; Pateman; Paterson; Paul(2); Paulson; Peacock; Pearce; Pearse; Pengelly; Pengilly; Pepperell; Peters; Petherbridge(2); Phillips; Pike(3); Piper; Pitts; Plastow; Pochin; Pook; Popham; Porter; Power; Preddey; Privilege; Pulman; Rambridge; Reid; Riggs; Ritchie; Roberson; Robinson; Rogers; Rothwell; Rowlings; Sandercock; Sane; Sansom; Sarahs; Satchwill; Saunders; Scoles; Searle(2); Seymour; Shaw; Shute; Shuttleworth; Sidgreaves; Simmons; Skinner(2);  Slader; Small; Smerdon; Smith(2); Snawdon; Soper; Southwood; Spiller; Staddon; Stancombe; Stead; Stephens; Stethridge; Stevens; Stewart; Tapper; Taylor; Terry; Thomas(2); Toms; Toole; Tope(2); Townsend; Trickey; Tucker; Tully; Turner; Turvey; Underhay; Vanrenen; Vanstone; Varcoe; Vincent; Vine; Vosper; Vowden; Walters; Ware; Warren; Watts; Webber; Wellman; Wells; Welsh; Westaway; Weymouth; White; Whittaker; Whyte; Widgery; Wilkinson; Williams(4); Willis; Wills; Woodley; Wooldridge.

Western Morning News, Saturday 1 January 1910
PAIGNTON - Death At Paignton. - MR DAVID HOOPER LUDGATE, a retired saddler, of Rose Cottage, Fisher-street, Paignton, died suddenly on Thursday night. - At the Inquest yesterday MRS LUDGATE said in June last they came from, Stroud, Gloucestershire. Her husband on Thursday worked the day in the garden and ate a good dinner. At eight o'clock he had a light meal and went to bed at ten in apparently good health. She went up directly after and found him making noises in the throat, as though choking. He never spoke again and died almost immediately. - Dr B. Collyer said he judged the cause of death to be perfectly natural, but whether from apoplexy or heart failure he was unable to say in the absence of a post-mortem. - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 4 January 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Burning Fatality. Proceedings To Be Taken. - An Inquest was held at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday by the Borough Coroner, Mr R. B. Johns, on FLORENCE COBBLEDICK, aged 6 years, the daughter of THOMAS COBBLEDICK, coal-porter, 61 Higher-street. The Coroner said it was one of the usual burning fatalities. Whether the authorities intended taking any action he could not say, but he had written to the town clerk upon the matter. In the present case the accident was once more due to the absence of a fire-guard. He thought the Jury would agree that something ought to be done. - The child's mother, ANNIE COBBLEDICK, said that on Friday evening at about eight o'clock she left the deceased in a room where there was an unprotected fire. She had since purchased a guard. - The Coroner: Yes, but now it is too late. - Witness, continuing, said she was away from the room about five minutes putting the baby to bed. She heard a scream and running back to the room found deceased in flames. She extinguished the fire and took the child to the Hospital. She had five children between the ages of 3 years and 21 years. - Dr Porter said the child was admitted suffering from severe burns on the chest and arms. It was a hopeless case and deceased died on Sunday. Death was due to shock. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. - The Coroner remarked that something ought to be done. He understood that the Town Clerk was going to take action. - Mr J. D. Sowerby, (Chief Constable) who was present, said in the present case there would be proceedings taken, not with a wish to punish the mother, but with the object of showing an example to others. - The Coroner: I have had five such cases in something under two months. The only way in which to put a stop to it is by making an example of somebody. He made no suggestion that those things were done intentionally but parents were absolutely careless about it. - The Jury concurred in the Coroner's remarks.

BARNSTAPLE - The Barnstaple Fatality. A Level Crossing Danger. - Mr T. A. R. Bencraft yesterday held an Inquest at Barnstaple on WILLIAM HART, 41, platelayer, in the employ of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company. - James McFarlane, driver of the mail train on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, said he left Barnstaple Town Station on Saturday at 6.25 a.m. He whistled before starting and saw the light of the signal change from red to green before passing it. When a few yards from the level crossing at Braunton-road, he noticed one of the gates was across and he applied the brakes. The engine struck the gate and flung it outward. He saw no light on the gate. - Philip Ackland, fireman on the engine, said when the engine stopped he found HART lying on the ground with a bruise on his left temple. - Richard Knight, mason, said he was standing by the level crossing at the time. Half the gates were shut against the train. He heard the engine whistle. Looking around, he could not see HART. He saw the train coming and within a minute HART rushed from his hut, threw up his hands and shouted. He flung one gate back and whilst attempting to open the other the engine struck the gate and HART. - John Moore, signalman, Pilton Bridge Crossing, said after he received the hand signal from HART, he pulled the signal off. He also pulled the lever which he thought locked the gates. - Mr Chas. E. Drewett, manager of the line, explained that two or three of the cups belonging to the gates had been removed for repairs and consequently the signalman could not lock the gates. There ought to have been a light on the gates and it was HART'S duty to have a light there. It was an error of judgment on the part of the contractor not to let him know of the removal of the cups. - Moore, recalled, said he did not know of the removal of the cups until after the accident. - Wm. Chas. Warren, linesman, said he told HART he had removed the cups. - The Coroner remarked that it was a great pity the linesman did not inform the manager of the removal of the cups. If he had done so, the manager would have been able to have notified the employees accordingly. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Drowning Case. Dangers Of Towing. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on WILLIAM HENRY SANDERCOCK, 39 years of age, fisherman. - William Dunn, mate of the steam tug, Primrose, said on Saturday his tug was towing two fishing luggers from the Sound into the Barbican. On the way they passed SANDERCOCK and another man named Rowe in a small boat laden with fish. They asked for a two, but he refused. - The Coroner: Why? - the boat was too deeply laden with fish. I urged the two to be careful and SANDERCOCK replied "We are all right." - How far did you go before the boat sank? - When we passed the men in the Sound one of them fastened the small boat to the stern of one of the luggers. They were towed in that fashion from about the centre of the Sound to the Cattewater. I saw the boat fill and sink. The tug was proceeding slowly, and when the mishap occurred, I stopped and then went full speed astern in the direction of where the boat went down. In my opinion the painter or chain which connected the lugger and the boat must have parted. When the boat filled SANDERCOCK must have sunk immediately. - Henry Jessop, master of the steam tug Deerhound, said he passed the Primrose towing the two luggers about half-way between Fisher's Nose and Batten Breakwater. The little boat was astern of the lugger. While they were passing the head of Batten Breakwater he heard a shout and looking around saw the boat sink and the two men struggling in the water. He turned his boat about and went full speed ahead. the men were about ten yards apart. Rowe was swimming better than SANDERCOCK and was rescued by the other tug. When a few yards from SANDERCOCK he sank. He attempted to reach him with the boathook, but failed to get hold. He believed if the boat-hook had been sharper he would have saved the man. - James Donlin, licensed victualler, Southside Quay, said on Sunday afternoon, about half-way between Lambhay Point and Batten Breakwater, the body was recovered. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 5 January 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Pensioner's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest yesterday at the Royal Albert Hospital on JOHN EDWARD MOYSE, 48, naval pensioner, Clarence-place, Devonport. - Deceased's widow said on Monday morning he complained of a pain in the shoulder. He went to work, however, for Mr Harvey, coal merchant. In the afternoon witness heard he had met with an accident and had been taken to the Royal Albert Hospital. When she arrived there he was dead. - James Robert Hood, labourer, employed by Mr Harvey, said he was working with deceased on the Tamar Wharf, unloading a ship, on Monday afternoon. Deceased was lifting the bags of coal, as they were filled, on to the backs of other men. As he turned round to pick up a bag he fell down and struck his head on a plank. He was taken to the Hospital. - Dr Stewart, Assistant House Surgeon at the Hospital, said deceased was dead when admitted. He was suffering from an aneurism in the aorta, which had burst and caused practically instantaneous death. - Mr Harvey, who attended the Inquest, said deceased was always a sober and willing workman. The news of his death had come as a great shock to him. - A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned, the Jury expressing sympathy with the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned at an Inquest held at Plymouth yesterday, on the 18 months' old child of JAMES E. WEYMOUTH, journeyman furrier. The evidence showed that on Monday afternoon the baby got on to a landing and fell through an open window, fracturing its skull. The case was treated at the S.D. and E.C. Hospital by Dr Porter, but it was hopeless from the first.

Western Morning News, Thursday 6 January 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Suicide At Ford. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Ford yesterday on WILLIAM JAMES SAUNDERS, 61 years of age, a naval pensioner, of Melville-road. - WILLIAM J. SAUNDERS, son of the deceased, said his father had troubled about his pension which he thought he was going to lose. - Mrs Emma Passmore said on Tuesday morning she went to the wash-house and while there heard a thump, as if somebody had fallen. She called MRS SAUNDERS, who found MR SAUNDERS in the lavatory with his throat cut. - P.C. Rodgers said when he was called SAUNDERS was dead. Near at hand was a blood-stained bread-knife. - A verdict of "Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind" was returned.

Western Morning News, Friday 7 January 1910
TIVERTON - Tiverton Burning Fatality. - An Inquest was held at Tiverton last night on FRANCES COOM, cook for nearly three years in the employ of Mr Edward C. Wrey, of The Cottage, Washfield. Gertrude M. Snell, nurse, a fellow servant of deceased, said on Tuesday night, whilst in Mrs Wrey's room, she smelt burning. Looking out of the window she saw smoke and flame coming from the courtyard. she thought the house was on fire, and ran home to alarm her mother, who lived at the post-office, close by. They returned together and she ran to the children's room and began to dress them. COOM told her, "I was taking the lamp to put it out and I let if fall, Gertie." About ten o'clock, before the accident, COOM was perfectly sober. She had never seen her otherwise. - Mrs Snell said on entering the cottage she heard COOM faintly calling "Gertie." She was in the yard sitting on the ground all ablaze. A damp blanket she brought from home she wrapped round COOM and extinguished the flames. Deceased was almost naked, most of her clothing being burnt off her. - P.C. John Crang said COOM told him she was going to take down the lamp when it slipped and pitched on her head. The lamp caught on fire and so did she. she said she was born at Brighton, and was 59 years old. She repeatedly cried for water, became raging, and tried to tear off the dressing on her wounds. The mantelpiece where the lamp stood was very high. Dr C. E. Liesching said COOM was terribly burned. She said she had no relatives and handed him her insurance book and purse containing £1 17s. 1d. - Sister Bridgman said deceased died 10 minutes after admission to the Infirmary. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was found.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 12 January 1910
PLYMOUTH - Mr Johns held two Inquests at Plymouth yesterday. The first was on ELIZABETH ANN POPHAM, aged 27 years, Friary-street. - WM. P. POPHAM, her husband, said he awoke early yesterday morning and found his wife dead beside him. She had been subject to epileptic fits. Dr C. G. Cooke who had made a post-mortem examination, said death was due to accidental asphyxiation while the deceased was in an epileptic fit. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - The second Inquest was on ELIZABETH HORWELL, aged 81 years of Richmond-street, who died suddenly while in bed in the morning. Dr W. Hope Brenton said death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart and senile decay. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Tragedy. Suicides Letter To Coroner. - On returning home after attending Admiral Lord Charles Beresford's meeting in the Public Hall on Monday night, Mr J. A. Pearce, Devonport Borough Coroner, discovered in his letter-box a letter signed JOHN SOUTHWOOD, of 52 Balmoral-avenue. It contained an intimation that the writer was about to take his life. - Without waiting to read through the letter, Mr Pearce hastened to the residence of Dr Morris, close by, and telephoning to the Central Police Station, asked for a Constable to be despatched to Balmoral-avenue with all haste. Inspector Brown, accompanied by P.C. Hill, at once proceeded there, but before they reached he house they were met by Charles Lyme of Balmoral-avenue, who informed that that SOUTHWOOD had killed himself. In an upstair room the Police Officers found the man on the floor with a rope around his neck and his throat cut very badly Dr Morris was soon upon the scene, but could only pronounce life extinct. - SOUTHWOOD'S wife told the Police that on going upstairs about 10.55 p.m. she discovered her husband lying on the floor apparently dead. On a chair close by was a bloodstained razor. SOUTHWOOD was 65 years of age and a naval pensioner. His letter to the Coroner contains allegations of a remarkable character, which leave no doubt that he was not in his right mind. He complained of men laughing at him in the streets of Plymouth and refers to a person of whom nobody has ever heard, and who is believed to have existed only in the imagination of SOUTHWOOD. In a post-script SOUTHWOOD appealed to the Coroner not to allow a verdict of insanity to be returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 13 January 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Suicide. Remarkable Letter to Coroner. - Mr J. A. Pearce, at Devonport, yesterday, held an Inquest on JOHN SOUTHWOOD, aged 64 years, a naval pensioner of Balmoral-avenue, Ford. - Mr Mason Morris said he saw SOUTHWOOD on October 16th. He had strange ideas of jealousy and fancied that people passing along St Levan-road, looking at his wife. he did not see him again until Monday night, when he was called to the house and found him lying on the bedroom floor in a pool of blood. His throat had been cut in a most determined manner. In his opinion, the act was committed before ten o'clock on the same evening. - SELINA SOUTHWOOD, the widow, said her husband came in shortly before four o'clock on Monday afternoon and said he had been taking a walk on the Hoe. she went to Lipson during the evening and on returning about nine o'clock found him reading a paper in his bedroom. About ten o'clock, her grandchild told her that he was snoring and she told the girl he was tired. About 10.45 p.m. she went upstairs and found him lying at the foot of the bed, apparently dead. She rushed out of the house and called for assistance. - The Coroner told MRS SOUTHWOOD that he found in his letter-box on Monday night a long, rambling letter from her husband, in the course of which he made a number of remarkable allegations against her. It was quite evident, however, there was no truth whatever in the allegations. The Coroner read the letter of which the following are extracts:- To the Coroner: - Sir, Having decided to take my life by my own hand, I give you the reasons. In the first place, I returned from Kirkwall about one and a half years since and I have had a miserable life from the one who ought to have made it other wise. I cannot walk through the streets of Plymouth without being laughed at. - When I draw my wife's attention to the man laughing at me, she would reply, If you don't like it, go out of it where I have told you to go dozens of times." I said "Surely you don't want me to break up my house at my age - 65 years." She would say "Go away from your house; it is no more for you to leave your home than anyone else . Go out of it." - The widow (sobbing) said there was no truth in what he wrote. - The Coroner further read:- Since my son held up for her (his wife) it has been worse than ever, as that man has been supplying her with chloroform, and she has been putting that to my face and I have dropped off and not wakened until daylight. Before Christmas I lost the use of my limbs. My arms seemed to go away from the joints. My shoulders ached, and my knees the same. My ankles and the soles of my feet ached. - P.S. - I hope you will not bring in a verdict of insanity, as I am not insane, but am drove to do this act. - In the course of the letter SOUTHWOOD referred to a man of the name of Parker. The widow told the Coroner she had no idea to whom he was referring. P.C. Hill said he was on his way to the house with Inspector Brown, when he was informed by Charles Lyme who resides in Balmoral-avenue, that SOUTHWOOD had killed himself. On reaching the house they found SOUTHWOOD on the floor of a back bedroom with a severe cut in the throat. there was a rope around his neck and he was dead. - The Coroner said from the long, rambling letter, addressed to him (the Coroner) - which, unfortunately, was not received in time - it was clear that SOUTHWOOD was in an unsound state of mind when he committed the act. He had no doubt that when deceased's grandchild went upstairs and thought she heard the deceased snoring, he was in his death agonies. It was very unpleasant to have to read such a letter as the one he had received, but the unpleasantness was diminished by the fact that the allegations were absolutely untrue. The letter was clearly written by a man not sound in his mind. He should have been put away in October, as Dr Morris then advised his relatives. The Coroner added that on receiving the letter he at once went to Dr Morris's house and telephoned the Police, but unfortunately the message was too late. - The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Suicide while of Unsound Mind" expressed deep sympathy with the widow and family.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 18 January 1910
ASHBURTON - Ashburton Mysteries. Gipsy's Body Found In A Field. Inquest Adjourned. - Mr S. Hacker, County Coroner, opened an Inquest in the Ashburton Market Hall yesterday on PRISCILLA SMALL, whose body was found in a field at Kiln-lane, near Ashburton, on Sunday morning. The deceased had been camping with her husband, NOAH SMALL, at Ramshorn Down, about four miles from Ashburton, on the Chudleigh road. The Inquest yesterday took a serious aspect, and the Coroner, after hearing two witnesses, adjourned it for a week. - The first witness was NOAH SMALL, a travelling hawker, who stated that his wife was 45 years of age. Until Saturday his wife and himself had been camping at Ramshorn Down, and on Saturday they came to Ashburton hawking. They went to the Victory Inn and the Engineers' Arms, where they had drinks and it was about 12.30 when they left the latter inn. He saw the deceased go down the street hawking and he went to the Rose and Crown. About half-past four he was asked to go to a Mrs Thorn's in Kingsbridge-lane and remove his wife, who was the worse for drink. He went to the house, found the deceased in the kitchen and got her away. Between 6 and 7 o'clock he saw his wife again and they began to walk back to Ramshorn Down. The deceased was then carrying a basketful of brushes, brooms &c., and he had some groceries. Before they had got far out of Ashburton the deceased had fallen three times, and when he lifted her up after the third fall, she said "You walk on; I can't walk as fast as you." He then went on, thinking his wife was following just behind. After a time he looked around, and not seeing his wife anywhere, he began to retrace his steps towards Ashburton. He returned to the Bay Horse Inn, from which he had not been gone more than about twenty minutes. On the way he did not see anything of his wife and he made no inquiries. From seven o'clock until closing time he remained at the Inn, and then he went home to Ramshorn Down. His daughter, BETSY, said deceased had not returned and he went to bed. Next morning he got up early and went with his daughter to Caton Cross, where his brother told him his wife had not been at the Caton camp. With his brother he came on towards Ashburton to see if he could find deceased. On reaching a spot near Stawell's Bushes Quarry, they met a boy named Mugridge, who told them he had not seen a woman about, but he had noticed a basket in a gateway some distance down a lane close by. They went to the place indicated, saw the basket and on looking over the gate saw the deceased lying in the hedge just inside. She was attired only in an indoor garment, stockings and boots. he proceeded immediately to Ashburton and informed the Police. On numerous occasions the deceased had slept by the roadside and once, about two years ago, she had to receive medical attention after sleeping out near Churston Station. He and his wife had had no quarrel and he did not know what prompted deceased to tell him to go on by himself. - Medical Evidence. - Dr W. Fitzpatrick said he went to the field on Sunday morning at the request of P.S. Boughten and there found the deceased. She was lying as if she had been placed in a comfortable position against the hedge. She had only an under garment, socks and books on, and she must have been dead some hours. There were marks and wounds on her head and breast, but there was no evidence of choking, nor did it appear as if anything had been put into her mouth. There were no broken bones. At the Mortuary he held a post-mortem examination. He discovered an external wound on the left side of the head just above the temple. It was not an open wound, but there was a swelling, which appeared to have been caused by a blow. There was also a scar on the right ear, but this seemed to be an old one. Another wound was on the left breast, and this was a fresh one, being just the sort of wound which would be caused by a kick. Probably it was caused before the dress of the deceased was off, because it would have been more distinct if it had not been done through the clothes. There were several bruises on her limbs, but they were old ones. No marks of violence were to be seen around the neck, or on the face itself. The skull was not fractured, but on opening it he found a big blood clot involving the whole of the left side of the skull next to the brain. This had come from an artery that had broken just under the centre of the wound. - Asked if the wound appeared to have been caused by a fall, witness said it did not. It was rather high up and to have received such a wound a person would have had to turn a somersault. If it had been a wound caused by the deceased running against something, he thought there would have been external evidence of scraping and scarring of the skin, whereas there was no such evidence. The deceased could not have got her clothes off and lain down after having received such a blow. It was rather a serious question to settle by himself and he would like another doctor to view the body. - The Coroner: You think you would like support. - Witness: Yes. - The Coroner: Then I will give an order for another medical man to make an examination. - The Coroner remarked that the case had assumed a somewhat serious aspect, and it would be well to have it adjourned for inquiries to be made. - The case was adjourned until Monday next, at eleven o'clock. - The body was subsequently examined by another doctor.

ASHBURTON - The Death In The Yeo. - An Inquest was held by Mr s. Hacker, Coroner into the circumstances attending the death of JOSEPH SKINNER, aged 61 years, of North Mill, Ashburton. The deceased, who was formerly a saddler, and has recently been engaged in felling timber, was found in the River Yeo on Sunday morning. - Evidence of identification was given by the widow, ELIZABETH SKINNER, who stated that her husband went to the election results. She last saw him alive at ten o'clock. Finding when she woke on Sunday morning that the deceased had not returned home, she got her son, who lives in East Street, to go in search of his father. - JOHN SKINNER deposed to finding the body of his father in the Yeo at daybreak on Sunday morning. - Samuel Dodridge, licensee of the Victoria Inn, stated that he heard deceased talking to a boy at midnight at the top of North-street. He appeared to be very excited, but he was sober. The spot at which the body was found was about fifty yards from the Inn. - Thomas Gilbert, factory labourer, also deposed to hearing the conversation with the boy about the elections. Deceased shouted out, "We have won two in Devonport and one in Plymouth." Witness replied, "It is not true, JOEY; we must wait until we get the morning papers." Deceased replied that it was true; too true to make a song about. The deceased was walking in the middle of the road. - P.C. Champion said he and P.S. Boughton took the body out of the river at 7.45 a.m. On the Saturday night he saw the deceased about eleven o'clock and he seemed to be perfectly sober. - Dr Fitzpatrick stated that there was a fracture at the base of the skull and death was due to suffocation. He saw deceased near midnight on Saturday. MR SKINNER was then perfectly sober and witness introduced him to Colonel Ford, a Unionist speaker. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned," stating, through the Foreman, (Mr J. Lamason) that there was no evidence to show how he got into the river. They added a rider, recommending that the authorities be asked to raise or more properly protect the boundary of the river at this particular part; and further expressed sympathy with the widow and family.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 19 January 1910
PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns (Borough Coroner) held two Inquests yesterday at the Plymouth Mortuary. The first was on FLORENCE JEFFERY, the newly-born child of OSCAR JEFFERY, a cooper in the Royal Navy, and living at 8 Densham-terrace. A verdict of "Accidental Suffocation" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - The second Inquest was on ELIZABETH VINCENT, widow, aged about 57 years, of Cecil-street. - Mrs Lavinia Pascho, of the same address, said she last saw deceased alive on Saturday evening. She complained of having a cold. On Monday they could not get any answer to their knocks at the door and eventually the landlord entered through the window and found deceased dead on the floor by the side of her bed. - Dr R. H. Wagner said that he treated the deceased early in December for a cold. Death was due to syncope and chronic bronchitis. The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

EXETER - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on BESSIE ALMA CONIBEAR, aged 49, the wife of a journeyman metal worker, found dead in bed, Dr Harrisons aid death was due to coma caused by apoplexy, and the Coroner and Jury expressed sympathy with the husband.

Western Morning News, Saturday 22 January 1910
PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on THOMAS SMERDON, aged 50 years, a journeyman painter of 36 St Andrew-street, Plymouth, found dead in his bedroom yesterday morning. Dr Whitemore said kidney trouble, from which deceased had suffered, had caused heart disease, to which death was due.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 25 January 1910
ASHBURTON - Ashburton Mystery. Verdict of "Manslaughter" Against SMALL. - The Inquest respecting the death of PRISCILLA SMALL, aged 45, the gipsy whose body was found in a field in Kiln-lane, near Ashburton, on Sunday week, was resumed yesterday by Mr S. Hacker of Newton Abbot, County Coroner. The husband of the deceased NOAH SMALL, who is in custody on a charge of murdering his wife, arrived in Ashburton from Exeter at 10.45 a.m. There were many [Note: Very faint paragraph and difficult to read.] - The Coroner first read over the depositions taken on Monday last. Having read SMALL'S evidence he asked prisoner if it was correct, the answer being "Yes." In reply to another question, SMALL intimated that he had nothing to add. - Dr W. Fitzpatrick's evidence next read, gave the doctor's opinion that the cause of death was cerebral haemorrhage, the result of a blow above the left temple; that the wound when caused death would have rendered the deceased unconscious and helpless immediately it was received and that the wounds on the head and breast of deceased could not be satisfactorily accounted for by a fall. In reply to P.S. Boughton, witness said the external appearance of the wounds did not suggest that deceased had come to a violent death. - Second Doctor's Evidence. - Dr E. Wilcox, Ashburton, deposed to making an examination of the body in the Mortuary on the previous Monday. A medical examination had previously been made by Dr Fitzpatrick. The body was well nourished. There were three bruises on the right arm and one on the middle of the left arm. They were in a position which suggested that the deceased had been defending herself against blows. There was a further large contusion above the left breast with blood between the skin and the ribs. That was quite recent and was evidently the result of direct violence. There was no wound to the skin. Above the left temple at the top of the head, was another contusion, at least two inches from the top of the forehead. This was about the size of a half-crown. There was blood under it and outside the skull. He [?] to the skull. Dr Fitzpatrick was present and showed him a blood clot which had been removed from the part of the brain immediately under the contusion. He was told the clot probably amounted to half a pint of blood. Immediately under the contusion and inside the skull, there was a small artery which looked diseased. The skin over the spot was not discoloured nor was there any grit, grass or dirt over. It would not have been possible from the external appearances to have seen that there was anything the matter underneath. The stomach was not in a healthy condition, but had clear and unmistakable indications of alcoholism. The state of the liver confirmed that opinion. The heart was normal. In his opinion there was no doubt whatever as to the immediate cause of death. It was due to cerebral haemorrhage caused by the pressure resulting from the blow she had received. - Was It A Fall. - The Coroner: Can you give any opinion as to whether the blow could have been caused in a fall? - I think it was not made in a fall, partly because of the position. - Was the blow caused by a blunt instrument? - It was most likely caused by something with a smooth surface. Had it been a rough surface the skin would probably have been injured. - Would considerable force have been required to make it? - Yes, I consider so. - Could it have been made with an instrument like that? (Here the Police Sergeant produced a heavy new broom). I think it quite possible. - Continuing his evidence, witness said he thought a kick from a boot would have made an abrasion and there was none. Whilst it was quite possible that the wound might have rendered deceased unconscious immediately it was received, there had been a good many cases in which a person receiving such injury had been able to walk a considerable distance afterwards. It was [?] possible that deceased would have been able to walk 100 yards after receiving a blow sufficient to cause the injury. - In reply to a Juror, witness added that the bruises on both arms appeared to be recent. They were blue, and being on the outer part of the arms suggested self-defence. - By the Foreman: He quite admitted that such a wound might have been caused had the deceased turned a somersault. Had it been a running fall or a trip he should have expected to have found a broken neck. - In The Bay Horse Inn. - Bessie Elford, landlady of the Bay Horse Inn, North-street, Ashburton, stated that on Saturday, January 15th, deceased and prisoner came into the house between five and six o'clock. They had two three halfpenny worths of beer each and the deceased asked for a clay pipe, which was provided for her. She could not tell what the condition of the prisoner and the deceased was. They left about six o'clock. At ten o'clock the same evening prisoner came in again, and remained until eleven o'clock. He was then alone, and going into the taproom, he ordered beer for all in the room. She did not hear SMALL make any enquiries about his wife. As far as she could see, prisoner was sober when he left at closing time and he took a pint of beer with him in a bottle, as well as a halfpenny worth of matches. - In reply to prisoner, witness denied that he came to the Inn at seven o'clock, and prisoner remarked: "I understood I came back at seven o'clock, and stayed until eleven." - Witness continued that her husband told her that prisoner was in the house again on Saturday dinner-time. On Monday afternoon SMALL paid another visit to the Inn, and asked her whether he was not in the bar from seven to eleven on Saturday. She replied that he was not and prisoner responded that he thought he was there all that time. A broom, a sweeping brush and a basket of small brushes (all produced) were in the taproom at the time the SMALLS were there. - Alfred Northway, farm labourer, Rew, Ashburton, deposed to SMALL and his wife coming into the Bay Horse Inn at half-past five on Saturday evening, the deceased being then neither drunk nor sober. Up to ten o'clock SMALL did not come to the Inn again, but at ten he returned. Prisoner did not make any inquiries about his wife. - Returning From Ashburton. - Ethel Gill, Pitt, near Ashburton, said that she met the prisoner and deceased in North-street about six o'clock on the Saturday. SMALL, who was walking a short distance behind his wife, was carrying something that looked like brooms. They stopped near the steps leading to Terrace Walk and the deceased seemed very obstinate and would not go on. Prisoner was saying, "Come on," and then she saw the deceased fall in the muddy road. She did not see SMALL strike his wife. Deceased got into the steps and made a noise like the cry of a baby. Coming down the road again, she walked with her husband towards the bridge and witness did not see them again. - Wilfred Routley, general labourer, North-street, Ashburton, also spoke of seeing the deceased lying in the steps about a quarter to six. NOAH SMALL was about fifteen or twenty yards up the road. He had a basket and brooms or brushes and was calling to his wife to come on. As the deceased did not respond, prisoner helped her up. She stood still in the road, whilst he went on. After he had gone a short distance he again called. She did not move, and again prisoner went back. This time he appeared to be coaxing his wife to come on. The deceased was drunk, but she eventually followed her husband. When last he saw them they were walking up the road, with SMALL in front of his wife. - Robert Hewings, labourer, North-street, said he met prisoner and his wife on the same evening. NOAH being then about twenty yards in advance of the deceased. Witness was riding a horse and before he reached prisoner, SMALL remarked "[?] horse there mister, or I will knock you off the horse with a brush" at the same time taking a broom [?] as a poke. As he passed SMALL called out "Good night." Deceased seemed to be all right. - William Endacott, baker's assistant, North-street, who met the SMALLS in the road near Rew just after six o'clock on the Saturday evening and he responded to prisoner's greeting "Good night." As far as he knew, there was no quarrel in progress between the SMALLS , but after he passed he heard prisoner say to his wife "The next time you go to prison you will have to take your children with you." - Prisoner Declines Offer Of Help. - William John Hamblyn, farm labourer, Bickington, stated that he left his house at 6.35 to go in the direction of Ashburton. It was a very dark night. On reaching Rew Park Cross, about a mile or a mile and a quarter from Ashburton, at eight o'clock, he saw someone in the road whom he thought might be his wife and mother-in-law. Then he saw something in a gateway and not knowing whether it was a man or not said "Good night," receiving no answer. Going on a short distance, he saw the deceased lying on her back across the road and NOAH SMALL was on one knee beside her holding on a broom in his right hand. Prisoner said "Will you lend me a hand?" and he replied, "Yes, NOAH". As he approached them, prisoner rose from the ground [?] himself with the brushstick and said "I can manage." Witness replied, "You may as well let me help," and prisoner exclaimed "If you are not gone I will knock you down with the brushstick." He could not see whether the deceased was alive or dead. Going a short distance away he watched the SMALLS for about ten minutes and during that time the deceased did not move or make a sound. Prisoner did not pick his wife up, but stood beside her. Returning by the same road he passed the spot again at about twenty minutes to ten, but there was no one about. - Prisoner was given the opportunity of asking questions and availed himself of it to deny having been at the spot mentioned, remarking that he did not return by that road. - Evidence Of Prisoner's Daughter. - BETSY SMALL, daughter of the prisoner, age 18 years, stated that she had been accustomed to go from place to place with her father and mother in a caravan. Recently they had been camping at Ramshorn Down, and on Saturday morning her father and mother left the camp to go to Ashburton, the deceased stating that she would be home at half-past four. Half-past twelve or one o'clock on Sunday morning, prisoner reached the caravan alone. He woke her up and asked whether her mother had come home, and she replied "No." Witness had not seen her since she left on the Saturday morning. Prisoner made no further comment, but went to bed. On Sunday her father got up about half-past seven and accompanied by her (witness), went in the direction of Ashburton to look for her mother. They went first to Caton Cross, where her father's brother, ROBERT SMALL, was encamped and there she was left, whilst her father and uncle set out to look for the deceased. When prisoner returned subsequently to Caton Cross, he told her that her mother had been found dead. (Here witness identified garments, some of which were covered with mud, as belonging to the deceased). Her mother and father had had no angry words before they left on the Saturday morning. She did not know how her mother received the scar on her ear, nor did she know the cause of the bruises on the body. The deceased had had this scar and a bruise on her right arm for some time. There were no other bruises on the right arm, and none on the left arm. Her mother was in the habit of getting drunk and was fined at Newton Abbot recently for drunkenness. About a fortnight ago her mother was going about with black [?] given her by prisoner. Her father and mother had some words then about the deceased getting drunk. The prisoner did not like his wife to get drunk and frequently beat and punched the deceased when she was in a drunken condition. She could give no explanation as to why the deceased should wish to take off her clothes. Sometimes when drunk her mother would be out all night, because she was afraid to come home. - How The Deceased Was Found. - ROBERT SMALL, prisoner's brother, stated that he was camping at Caton Cross, when, on the morning of January 16th, his brother and niece came to the camp, and asked if his wife had been there. Witness replied that she had not and he then agreed with prisoner's request to go towards Ashburton in search of the deceased. Near Stawell's [?] Quarry they met a boy named Moggridge. Prisoner asked the lad if he had seen a woman with a basket. The boy replied that he had seen no woman, but he had seen a basket inside a gate. NOAH took Moggridge by the arm and they all three walked down the road towards Ashburton. On reaching the gate mentioned by the boy, prisoner looked in over and immediately jumped back, remarking, "My missus is in there stripped naked." Witness was frightened and ran home. NOAH ran into Ashburton and informed the Police. He believed NOAH made a statement to the Police. Neither prisoner nor he went to see whether PRISCILLA was dead. - Samuel Edward Edgcumbe, farmer, Place Lodge, Ashburton, deposed to meeting the brothers SMALL on Sunday morning and telling them he had not seen the deceased. - William Henry Muggridge, a lad who lives in Back-lane, Ashburton, said one of the brothers asked him if he had seen a woman. He replied that he had not, but that down the road, inside a gate, he had seen a basket. Witness and the brothers SMALL went together to the gate where NOAH looked over and said "My missis is dead." Neither of the brothers went into the field. - Samuel Frank Willis, butcher, North-street, Ashburton, said that on Saturday evening, about 7.15 he found a jacket (produced) between Longstone Cross and Cuddeford Bridge. His horse shied at the coat, and that was what attracted his attention. When told the next morning that the deceased had been picked up dead without any clothing on, he took the jacket to the Police. He found the article of clothing about half a mile from Ashburton. - Signs Of A Struggle. - Abraham Knott, ex-sergeant of Police, spoke to finding a female's hat near Cuddeford Bridge on Sunday, January 16th. Having heard that PRISCILLA SMALL had been found dead, he at once concluded that the hat belonged to deceased. He examined the surroundings, and came to the conclusion that there had been a disturbance there. He noticed traces of considerable tramping on the ground, which, by the side of the road, was disturbed as if something had been falling about. - P.S. Boughton, Ashburton, stated that at 10.15 a.m. on Sunday, January 16th. NOAH SMALL came to him in a very excited state and said "I have found my wife; she is dead. My wife, my poor wife, what shall I do? She is dead; she is dead as a hammer." He asked prisoner if he went into the field to see if his wife was dead and SMALL replied in the negative, saying he was too frightened. Witness and P.C. Champion went to the field. There they saw the deceased, fourteen feet from the gateway on the right, lying by the hedge in a reclining position. She had on only an undergarment, stockings and boots. About 35 feet from the body they found a skirt and a bodice. there were no signs of a struggle and the footmarks around were indistinct. About 12.30 the same day NOAH SMALL came back to the Police Station and made a statement to P.C. Champion. The basket in the centre of the gateway was clean and had not been disarranged. - P.C. Champion corroborated the Sergeant's evidence, adding that the sleeves of the blouse were inside out when that article of clothing was found. On Sunday at 12.30 NOAH SMALL came again to the Police Station and made a statement similar to that given to the Coroner a week ago. - This brought the list of witnesses to an end. After a short consultation the Jury returned a verdict of "Manslaughter" against NOAH SMALL. - SMALL has already been before the Magistrates at Ashburton and has been remanded until Thursday morning on a charge of Murdering his wife in a field between Ashburton and Chudleigh.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 2 February 1910
NEWTON ST CYRES - Death From Exposure. Tramp Found At Newton St. Cyres. - An Inquest was held at Newton St. Cyres on the man found dead on Saturday by a hayrick on the home farm of the Quicke estate. - Mr H. Godbeer, of Exeter, signalman, L. and S.W.R., identified the body as that of WILLIAM LEWIS, whom he had known for 15 years, and who had been tramping about the country looking for work. He last saw him alive about 12 months ago, when he called at his house. He had no relatives living. - Walter Cole deposed to finding the body in a crouching position, with his hands on the ground. - Mr L. Moiser, Surgeon, Crediton, who had made a post-mortem examination, said heart disease, accelerated by exposure, was the cause of death. The stomach was full but the body was ill-nourished.

Western Morning News, Thursday 3 February 1910
CLYST ST MARY - London Butcher's Death At Clyst. - MR RICHARD HUNT, 44, a butcher, of London, arrived at Clyst St Mary a few days ago to stay with a friend. One day last week he was missed from his bedroom, although his clothes were there. P.C. Kiff traced footprints from the house to the River Clyst and the water was dragged, without any results. About one o'clock on Monday, however, P.C. Kiff and Mr John Wills discovered the body of deceased about a quarter of a mile below Clyst Bridge in 3 ½ feet of water. At the Inquest on Tuesday there was no evidence to show how deceased came into the water and a verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 8 February 1910
SEATON AND BEER - Inquest at Seaton. - An Inquest was held at Seaton last night by Dr E. R. Tweed upon THOMAS HARDING, who died suddenly during the progress of a football match on Saturday. - J. HARDING, cabinet-maker, said he saw the deceased, his brother, who was aged 42, outside the football field, where he was watching a football match from a cart laden with stone. He heard he had fallen down and when he got to him he appeared to be dead. - Samuel Clapp said he saw HARDING jump off the cart and run across the road, when he tripped and fell in the ditch head first. - William Long, dairyman, said HARDING struggled, but he did not get up. Witness helped to turn him over when he appeared to be dead. - P.C. Partridge, who gave evidence of the removal of the body to the mortuary, said he did not think there had been any foul play. - Dr G. E. A. Evans stated that he had made a post-mortem examination and found HARDING had bruises on his forehead and chest and the upper vertebrae of the spine was dislocated. The heart and other organs were normal. Death would have been instantaneous, and in witness's opinion the cause was entirely accidental. - The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

PAIGNTON - The Paignton Fatality. - At Paignton yesterday, Mr Hacker held an Inquest on ELIZABETH CLEMENTS, aged 63, who was killed on Saturday by being thrown from a trap. - THOMAS CLEMENTS, the husband, a fish hawker, of Upton, Torquay, said his wife bought and sold old clothes and he drove her to Paignton on Saturday. When passing Millbrook-terrace, the pony stumbled and fell and she was pitched out into the road, falling on her head. When he picked her up she was dead. - Edwin Fogwell, living near by, said he assisted the husband to pick deceased up, and she was quite dead. - P.S. Maers deposed that the road was in good condition at this spot. Both knees of the pony were broken and one of the shoes was broken off. The seat on which deceased was sitting was simply a board, with no protection. Dr Cosens said he found a large incised wound on in the scalp right down to the bone. The immediate cause of death was shock. He could not say, without a post-mortem, whether the neck was dislocated. - FREDERICK BROWN, a son of the deceased, said his mother suffered from a weak heart and had not been well lately. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 10 February 1910
EXETER - Shobrooke Shepherd's Death. Fatal Thorn Prick. - At an Inquest at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday on WILLIAM SEARLE, aged 59, shepherd, in the employ of Mr Burrington, Shobrooke Barton, near Crediton, MISS SEARLE, his daughter, said on June 25th her father complained of having run a thorn into a finger whilst attending to the sheep. She tried to extract it but could not. He did not see a doctor until four days afterwards. He was in great pain and she fetched Dr Campbell, who lanced the finger. Her father became very ill and on February 1st Dr Campbell ordered his removal to the Hospital. He had influenza just before Christmas, but generally was a very healthy man. - Mr R. Burrington, the man's employer, said SEARLE told him the torn which ran into his finger was concealed in the wool of a sheep which he caught hold of. - Mr V. Starr, House Surgeon, said deceased was suffering from inflammation of the left forearm, due to the wound on the finger. He was operated upon twice before his death, which took place on February 6th. Death was due to blood poisoning. - The Jury returned a verdict that death resulted from Blood Poisoning produced by the prick of the thorn whilst deceased was following his employment.

EXMOUTH - The Exmouth Fatality. An Unheeded Warning. - An Inquest was held at Exmouth yesterday on SAMUEL FREDERICK HOLDER, aged 58, a fish hawker. Maud Walker, wife of John Walker, gas stoker, stated that HOLDER was her father, and had lived apart from his wife for the past month. He used to take a glass or two of beer, but was not addicted to drink. - William Wilton, guard, who travelled by the 10.10 train from Exeter to Exmouth on Monday, said he saw HOLDER coming out of the train whilst it was in motion, and called to him not to get out, but he did not heed the warning. HOLDER alighted on his feet and then fell flat on his back and head. When he reached him HOLDER was bleeding from a wound at the back of his head and from the nose and was unconscious. He was told that a lady and gentleman left the compartment HOLDER was in at Lympstone Station because he was singing and noisy. John Beer, porter, who helped to remove HOLDER, said he smelt rather of liquor. A soldier and his wife told him that as HOLDER was rowdy and noisy they changed carriages at Lympstone. - William Hayman Cobler, ticket collector, Exeter, said HOLDER at 9.40 p.m. asked him the time the next train left for Exmouth. He told him 10.10. HOLDER appeared to have had a glass or two, but was "not out of the way". He had seen him worse. He was fit to travel, otherwise he should have stopped him. - A Juror: What did HOLDER do after 9.40? - Witness: He went straight to the train and waited until it started. - Dr Eaton, who saw HOLDER at the Cottage Hospital, said he was unconscious and [?] and spoke in an incoherent sort of way. At the time he thought there was a possibility of his getting over the accident, but next morning he was comatose and shortly after he died. He concluded that deceased had a fracture of the skull and that considerable haemorrhage came on suddenly. Death was by no means due to drink, but to the result of the blow. - The Coroner said there was no evidence of anyone being blameable. Guard Wilton did his best in warning deceased, but he did not appear to notice the warning. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and exonerated everyone from blame. The Foreman of the Jury said the Jury wished to compliment Guard Wilton on doing all he could to prevent the accident.

STOKE DAMEREL - Hamoaze Incident. Boy's Death After Rescue. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on PETER JAMES OSBORN, aged three years, the son of THOMAS OSBORN, labourer, Clowance-lane. Joseph Caplin, chief petty officer, H.M.S. Traveller, said he was coming ashore on the 25th ult and when approaching Mount Wise, one of the boat's crew said a dead dog was floating in the water, but when they got near they saw it was the boy OSBORN, apparently dead. They took the boy ashore and after artificial respiration had been continued for about twenty minutes, the boy called out "Mammy, mammy!" When the boy was taken out of the water there were three other children on the hard, all about three years old, looking at him in the water. The wash from a passing vessel might have washed the lad into the water. - William Blagdon, boat owner, Mount Wise, said after consciousness had been restored by artificial respiration he took the child to his (witness's) home. Dr W[?] said he was called to the house and gave the mother instructions. he also told her to send for their medical man, and Dr Flemming was sent for. Next day he received a parish note and attended the child as medical officer. The child developed bronchial pneumonia and died on Tuesday. - The Jury found that death was due to Bronchial Pneumonia, following immersion, but that there was no evidence to show how the child got into the water. The Coroner and Jury thanked C.P.O. Caplin and Mr Blagdon for their kind and prompt action.

Western Morning News, Friday 11 February 1910
TAVISTOCK - Tavistock Child's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Tavistock last evening on ADA FLORENCE CUBITT, aged five months, daughter of MR C. CUBITT, a solicitor's clerk, of Tavistock. - Dr J. Snowden Smith said death was due to suffocation, and he thought the child was accidentally overlaid. The parents were very respectable people, and the child's death was a great grief to them. In reply to a Juror, the coroner said the Children Act did not make it illegal for parents to take a child in bed with them, but if it could be proved that a parent was intoxicated, then that was prima facie evidence of criminal neglect. The mother stated that she put the child to bed at ten o'clock on Tuesday evening, going to bed herself just after eleven. She nursed the child about midnight and waking up found it dead at seven o'clock next morning. The child had been restless for a fortnight with her teeth. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and expressed sympathy with the parents, in which the Coroner joined.

Western Morning News, Saturday 12 February 1910
TOTNES - Nursemaid's Death. - In Totnes Cottage Hospital yesterday, Mr Hacker held an Inquest on ELIZABETH COOPER, 16. - HENRY COOPER, labourer, of Broughton, Hampshire, her father, said she had been under nursemaid at North Huish Rectory for nearly 21 months. When he saw her at the Hospital a month ago she said she ran a splinter into her hand while cleaning some polished boards. She made complaints against her employers. Mrs Garwood informed him of his daughter's illness. She had enjoyed good health and was a strong and robust girl. - Dr W. Chapman said, at the request of Mrs Garwood, the deceased was admitted to the Hospital on December 21st. She had a peculiar form of blood poisoning, which caused an abscess and practically affected every organ. He diagnosed her case from the first, as almost hopeless. She must have been particularly healthy to have stood what she did. She made no complaint to him, but he believed she did to the nurse. Death was due to exhaustion, from the blood poisoning. The stiffness of the deceased's legs was caused by the effect of the blood poisoning on her nervous system and every organ of the body. Lately she was not responsible for what she said. He did not think complaints made when she entered the Hospital would be in the nature of hallucination, but might be magnified and they could not absolutely rely on her statements. The Inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.

Western Morning News, Monday 14 February 1910
PLYMOUTH - At an Inquest held on Saturday at Plymouth by Mr J. Graves, on WILLIAM WESTAWAY, aged 75 of Bayswater-terrace, North-road, who died suddenly on Friday, Dr Keily attributed death to syncope.

EXMOUTH - Dr E. R. Tweed held an Inquest at Exmouth on Saturday on DOROTHY MAUD, the three months' old child of MR and MRS J. ENGLAND, found dead in bed. Dr Hanna, who had made a post-mortem examination, said the child was well developed and well nourished and had no marks of violence at all. He considered it had been sick and was suffocated. The Jury found that death was caused by Asphyxia, following a convulsion.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 15 February 1910
PLYMOUTH - MRS ELIZA HOUNSLOW, aged 69 years, the widow of a writer in the army, was found dead in bed at 52 Regent-street, on Sunday morning. At the Inquest yesterday, Dr Cooke attributed death to syncope, resulting from a fatty heart.

EXETER - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on MISS LYDIA MCKENZIE FOTHERGILL, 77, daughter of the late REV. H. G. FOTHERGILL, a former vicar of Belstone, Ellen Harris, an old servant of forty years, who had been living with deceased at Mount Denham Cottages, said MISS FOTHERGILL died on Friday morning before the arrival of the doctor. Dr Mortimer stated that he had known MISS FOTHERGILL for 25 years. She suffered from chronic bronchitis and a dilated heart. The cause of death, in his opinion, was heart failure, due to vomiting. Verdict accordingly.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Child's Death. - In the Homeopathic Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest on ELLEN CLARA MURRAY, aged two years and seven months. Her mother, SARAH ANN MURRAY, of Central-street, wife of a dock labourer, stated that whilst she was out of the room for only a few minutes to get water to make tea, the child got off a bed and upset boiling water over herself. The water was in a large tin boiler on the hearthstone on a level with the floor. The child was taken at once to the Hospital. - Dr Newbury said the child suffered from scalds on the back and all over one side and died on Saturday. - The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Accidental Death" exonerated the mother from blame.

EXETER - Death Under Chloroform. Jury And Exeter Hospital. - At an Inquest at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday, on LUCY ANN PARSONS, William Sussex of Rockbear, her brother-in-law said she was a single woman, aged 32, daughter of a farm labourer, of Clawton, near Halwill. She was in the Halwill Cottage Hospital eleven weeks suffering from abscesses in the back. On the 3rd instant she was removed to Exeter Hospital. - Mr V. Starr, House Surgeon, said an operation was fixed for Friday evening and he administered chloroform after examining both her heart and lungs. The heart was rather feeble, but there was no reason why the operation should not be proceeded with. Mr Roper was to have performed the operation. Her respiration, however, became very poor, and they resorted to artificial respiration, but she died. It was necessary to administer the anaesthetic. The patient consented to have the operation performed. In this case he thought it best to give chloroform rather than A.C.E. mixture. - A Jury observed that at a similar Inquest which he attended the medical witness said he preferred the A.C.E. mixture as being the safer of the two. - Witness said every patient was properly examined before an anaesthetic was administered. In this case he believed death was not due so much to the anaesthetic, but rather to the turning over of her body. She was then not under the full influence of the chloroform. They wanted to first find the source of the abscess. - Dr R. V. Selly said he made a post-mortem examination and found that the heart showed fatty degeneration. The lumber glands were tubercular and it must have been a tubercular abscess. The lungs did not indicate a condition that would prohibit chloroform. An external examination would not reveal the real state of the heart. It depended on the condition of the patient, and the time the operation would take whether chloroform should be given or not, when the heart was feeble. Provided the general health of the patient was good, he should give chloroform with a weak heart. He should think there were quite as many deaths under A.C.E. mixture, as under chloroform. The cause of death was syncope, partly due to chloroform, and partly due to the position in which the patient was placed to be operated upon. - Katherine Brown, Sister of the ward in which PARSONS was, said she told her that the doctors had decided to operate and she was quite willing. witness believed she had previously told her of her or her friends it would be necessary for her to have chloroform. She came to the Hospital for the operation. Patients were never operated upon with chloroform without their permission. - The Jury found that PARSONS died under Chloroform. They expressed an opinion that ever care had been taken in the case, but they did not feel that it was brought home to the deceased the risk she was running in taking chloroform. In all future cases a full explanation should be given in order that the patient might decided as to taking the risk. - The Coroner concurred and Mr Starr promised to convey to the Sisters of the wards the Jury's wishes.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Carpenter's Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest yesterday at Plymouth Workhouse on JAMES ADOLPHUS SOPER, aged 56, a journeyman carpenter, of Cromwell-road. - CHRISTOPHER A. SOPER, journeyman baker, said on November 11th a mason was making a doorway through a wall on Egerton-road in connection with a bakery and when his father (MR SOPER) was taking measurements on the other side of the wall a stone about the size of a brick fell upon one of his feet, flattening two toes. He continued working until November 20th, but had to see a doctor, who said he ought to have been consulted earlier. - Dr Cooke, Medical officer at the Workhouse said SOPER was admitted on November 29th suffering from cellulitis, a form of erysipelas of the leg and was in a generally weak condition. Death was due to blood poisoning but he could not say definitely that death could be traced to this particular accident. - Mr J. W. Bickle, who appeared on behalf of the deceased's employer (Mr Benjamin Pooley, Regent-street) said MR SOPER had always been a faithful servant and he expressed sympathy with the widow and children. Sympathy was also expressed by the Coroner and Jury.

STOKE DAMEREL - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest yesterday on ELIZABETH ANN LANG, aged 90, who died at 18 Pym-street, Devonport. - Elizabeth d. Smyth said MRS LANG was her grandmother and was taken ill on Wednesday. She was better on Thursday, but on Friday morning when her husband went into her room he found her dead. Dr Roberts attributed death to bronchitis and old age, and a verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

ST BUDEAUX - An Inquest was held yesterday by Mr J. A. Pearce at St. Budeaux on WILFRED HISCOX, 1 year and 10 months old of 32 Third-avenue. - MRS HISCOX, the mother, said the child had been delicate from birth and had had medical attendance. He was taken worse on Saturday when she was dressing him and she immediately took him to the doctor, but brought him home again as the doctor was not in. The child died on the way home. - Dr W. H. Davis said the child was well nourished, but suffering from rickets, and was also pigeon breasted and death was due to convulsion caused by its general constitution. A verdict was returned accordingly.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 16 February 1910
TORMOHAM - Torre Railway Fatality. Goods Guard Run Over. - At Torre, yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on FRANK HOLE, aged 38, of Newton Abbot, a goods guard, G.W.R. - Henry W. Alsop, Newton Abbot, driver of the engine of the special goods train which left Newton Abbot at 7.30, stated that, after the usual stop at the [?] Torre Station, the train came into the Station and shunted back to the refuge siding near the goods shed, to allow a passenger train to pass and also to pick up wagons. Whilst in the siding HOLE got out of the train, uncoupled the engine and asked him to ease off and see if the brakes would hold the train. HOLE then said he was going to see where the wagons were which they had to pick up, and went across the rail line. It was a very rough night, the wind and rain causing a great deal of noise. It was also very dark, but the Station itself was very well lighted. When HOLE left he was carrying a lamp and walked down the pathway by the side of the line, but he could only see him for a short distance owing to the darkness. He understood that HOLE was making for the crossing outside the Station. At the time HOLE left him an up train was standing in the Station and when that train moved on, an incoming down train passed, near where the goods train was standing, within a minute after he had left him. They had been informed that a down train was expected in, and this was the reason why the goods train was shunted into the refuge siding. He heard a whistle just before the down train passed him, and he thought that the sound came from that train, although both trains should have whistled. After the two trains had passed, he looked out for HOLE, expecting to see his hand light. Not seeing this light, he walked down the main line about 50 yards, and in the four-foot way found HOLE, his lamp close by his side and the shunting pole which he had carried a few yards further on. HOLE was terribly cut up, but living. It was such a rough night that HOLE might not have heard the whistle of the down train, as he was further away from it than witness way, and there would have been more noise from the up train. - James Macnamara, Newton Abbot, fireman of the goods train, corroborated. He said he did not hear any whistle, but that was probably owing to the fact that he was attending to the engine fire. - Dr Woodburn, House Surgeon at the Torbay Hospital, said when deceased was brought there he was suffering from several scalp wounds, and his upper jaw was broken. Both arms were also broken, the right hand was very badly lacerated and there was a compound fracture of the left leg just above the knee, whilst the bones of the lower part of the same leg were broken into small pieces and the muscles were torn. Deceased was still alive and partially conscious, but died two hours afterwards. - Henry Richards, Moretonhampstead, driver of the 7.54 passenger train from Newton Abbot to Paignton, said he noticed a goods train in the siding as he passed into Torre Station. He sounded the whistle when about 200 yards from the Station as usual. It would have been very difficult to see a man ahead of him owing to the darkness. He knew nothing of the accident until he got to Torquay Station. He examined his engine at Paignton, but saw no marks of an accident, which, however, might have been washed away by the heavy rain. - Sidney Herbert Bearne, Moretonhampstead, fireman with the last witness, confirmed his statement, especially as to the whistle being sounded. - John Mitchell, foreman porter at Torre Station, said he heard no whistle from the down train as it approached, but that was no doubt owing to the noise of the up train and of the wind and rain. - Mr Smale, Stationmaster, in answer to a Juryman, said there was no immediate hurry for deceased to have gone on with his work; and he need not have done so until a quarter of an hour after the down train had left. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and found that no one was to blame. - HOLE was a widower, and leaves five children. His wife died in Newton Abbot Hospital about twelve months ago. His father was killed at Dunball, Somerset, where he was Stationmaster, in December 1892, in attempting to rescue his child from an express train, both being run over.

Western Morning News, Thursday 17 February 1910
SIDMOUTH - Sidmouth Man's Death. Town Without A Relieving Officer. - An Inquest was held at Sidmouth yesterday afternoon on WILLIAM HENRY PIPER, aged 49 years. - The Coroner (Dr Tweed) explained that the Inquest was held as the relatives wished for a post-mortem. - MRS MARY JANE RIGGS said her father came home on Friday about 2 p.m. and complained of being in dreadful pain. She sent for medical assistance. Her sister went to Mr Bingley Pullin about three o'clock, but he was out, so she went on to Dr Bird's, but he was also out. She then went home again, and sent a young man to Dr Colclough, who said he could not come because of another appointment. Dr D. Deane was then sent for, and he came at once. He ordered her father to bed and prescribed for him. About six o'clock she sent again to Mr Bingley Pullin. He inquired if her father was in any club, and that if not, she must apply for an order before he could come as the parish doctor. The next morning she went to the assistant overseer (Mr Newton) who was out. She then went to Mr H. M. Sellek, (one of the overseers) for an order. He advised her to go to Ottery, to the Relieving Officer for it. she proceeded there and procured it, returning by the 2.20 train, and delivered it to Mr Bingley Pullin's servant on the way home, leaving a message asking him to come as soon as possible. She sent for him again at 4.30 and he came at once. - Mr Bingley Pullin said he saw PIPER about 5.30 and considered that death had taken place within a minute of his arrival. On Friday, ANNIE PIPER called on him about six o'clock, saying her father was ill and had been seen by Dr D. Deane. He asked her to find out if her father was in any club, because he was too busy to take a private case. He heard nothing further until Saturday evening about 4.15, when he went to the house. The whole of the delay was due to the fact that there was no relieving officer in Sidmouth, which was a scandalous shame. If the woman had come back on Friday night and said her father was in great pain, he should not have hesitated to have gone, even if she had not an order. - Mr A. C. Bird, who made the post-mortem, gave evidence and the Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes," adding that it was desirable that overseers should know it was their duty to grant an order if required, and not compel people to go to Ottery to obtain it. - The Jury (Mr J. T. Clark, Foreman) gave their fees to the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - Found Drowned. Mystery Of A Sailor's Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on FREDERICK HOWE, aged 23, seaman of H.M.S. Warrior, whose body was found in the Cattewater. Mr K. E. Peck (Goldsmith and Peck) represented the Admiralty. - John S. Block, master-at-arms, H.M.S. Warrior, said HOWE was missed from his ship on January 17th. Wm. R[?], stoker, of the Warrior, said he saw deceased on the picket-boat alongside his ship on January 17th and at his request gave him a few matches and did not see him afterwards. - The Foreman (Mr Southern): Is it not quite possible that HOWE slipped and fell between the two vessels? - I should say so. - It seems strange that no one heard anything? - The wind was very strong at the time. - The Coroner: Were any inquiries made with reference to HOWE? - His name is in "The Gazette" at the present time. - The report made to the Admiralty by the captain of the Warrior was read and showed that HOWE was missed at the dinner muster and it was thought he was away on the picket-boat. When his absence continued every inquiry was made. - The coxswain of the picket-boat said HOWE was a relief man, and when it was noticed he was not on the boat, it was assumed he was somewhere on the Warrior. - Charles Hendy, carpenter, Looe-street, deposed to finding the body floating in the Cattewater on Monday. The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 22 February 1910
SIDBURY - Sidbury Gun Fatality. - On Saturday afternoon at Filcombe Farm, Sidbury, near Sidmouth, FRANK SINNER, aged 21 years, a son of MR JAMES SKINNER, the tenant, went out rabbiting accompanied by two men named King and Dunsford. A bank was being worked by a ferret, with King and SKINNER on one side netting the rabbits and DUNSFORD on the other with the gun. The party wanted to secure the ferret and as Dunsford and King stooped down to catch it at the same time, the gun was accidentally discharged. The full charge entered SKINNER'S shoulder and he died in a few minutes. An Inquest was held at the farm yesterday by Dr G. R. Tweed. Evidence was given by W. King of Goosemore Farm, and Henry James Dunsford. The latter said he could not account for the gun going off. SKINNER when shot said "Sit me down and I shall be better again." He died within five minutes. The Jury (Mr N Matthews, Foreman) returned a verdict of "Accidental Death". The Coroner, summing up, warned Dunsford to be more careful in the future if he handled firearms.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Baby's Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the S.D. and E.C. Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday on OLIVE BEATRICE BARNES, aged 2 years. its mother, MRS HARRIET BARNES, wife of a leading seaman and residing in Cromwell-road, said on Thursday, after boiling an egg, she poured the water from the saucepan into a basin and placed it on the edge of the table. She turned her back for a moment and the child pulled the boiling water over her. Dr Porter, House Surgeon said the baby was admitted on Thursday suffering from scalds. She never recovered from the shock and died on Friday night. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Sudden Deaths At Plymouth. - Mr R. B. Johns held Inquests at Plymouth yesterday on two persons who died suddenly. One was MARY ANN MALLETT, a widow aged 73, of Grenville-road, found dead in a chair in her bedroom, holding a rosary in her hand. Dr Wilkinson said death was due to heart disease and pleurisy. The other case was that of JOHN ALFRED BUNTER, the twelve weeks old son of a chief armourer, R.N., living at Huntley place. "Natural Causes" was the verdict given by the Jury.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 16 March 1910
NEWTON ABBOT - Devon Labourer's Death. - At Newton Abbot yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on THOMAS LEE, who dropped dead in the street there. - JAMES LEE, farmer, Ilsington, said he thought LEE was his brother, but would not swear to it, as he had not seen him for several years. He did not know he was living in the district. He was 64 years of age. - John Hannaford, farm labourer, Lustleigh, said he made arrangements for deceased to go to Newton Workhouse. LEE had been unwell recently. - William Mardon said he saw LEE at Lustleigh Railway Station. As he looked ill and unfit to travel, witness suggested that someone should go with him. - P.C. Hurford, who also saw LEE there, said in reply to a question, he said he was all right. - Dr Martin attributed death to strangulation of the heart, and a verdict accordingly was returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 17 March 1910
PLYMSTOCK - Soldier's Strange Suicide. Body Found At Plymstock. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest yesterday at the Morley Arms Hotel, Plymstock on PERCY MUNRO, aged 30 years, an electrician in the Royal Engineers, who had for the past three weeks been staying at a temperance hotel in Plymouth. - Lance Corporal A. Palmer, R.E., said he served with MUNRO in Hong-kong for three years. They returned home in December. MUNRO had had no illness whilst in China, and was the life of the mess. he had not seen him since they parted at Southampton on returning from China. - Ethel Maud Unitt, of Langham-place, Prince Rock, Plymouth, dressed in deep mourning, said she had known MUNRO six years. She first met him at Plymouth, where he was stationed at the Elphinstone Barracks. They became engaged, but the engagement was broken off on account of family troubles. In April 1906, he left for Scotland and about six months later he was drafted to Hong-kong. From there he wrote to her and they kept up a correspondence. When he returned to England he came to Plymouth, and the engagement was renewed and she saw him every day. She last saw him alive at eleven o'clock on Saturday night at her home. He was very cheerful and there had been no disturbance between them. His intention then was to leave for London early the next morning, and she was to follow him to visit his father at Catford. She could suggest no reason why he should have taken his life. It came as a great shock to her. He had told her he had a sister in a lunatic asylum. - Nicholas Fleming, superannuated Police-Constable, living at Plymstock, stated that on going into the tool-shed in his garden, just after midday on Monday, he found the body of MUNRO hanging from a beam about six feet from the ground. A muffler was around his neck with a slip-knot, and tied to the beam. There was a large block of stone in the shed and apparently MUNRO stood on it whilst he tied himself up. Immediately upon discovering the body he (witness) cut it down. The corpse was stiff and cold. Among other articles found on the body were a cigarette case, with the initials "P. M." and two photographs of a young woman, afterwards identified as MUNRO'S sister. - Dr E. J. Donbauand, of Plymstock, said the suicide which was very deliberate, was probably committed in the early hours of Monday morning. - The Coroner said he would like to adjourn the Inquest as there was a doubt whether MUNRO had left the service or was a deserter and he would also like to take the evidence of deceased's father. - The Inquest was adjourned until tomorrow morning.

ASHREIGNEY - Ashreigney Girl's Death. - At Hollacombe, Ashreigney, last evening, Mr Geo. W. F. Brown held an Inquest on the 10 year old daughter of JAMES ALDERMAN. - MRS ALDERMAN, the mother, said she had left the house to take her husband's dinner to him, leaving her daughter in charge of the other children, when she heard the girl had caught her clothes on fire. When she went out there was very little fire in, and the girl never told her how she caught her clothes alight. - Albert Folland, a neighbour, who put the flames out, told the Coroner there was not enough fire in the room to catch the girl's clothes alight. All the child told him was that she caught her pinafore on fire. - A verdict of "Death from Accidental Burns" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 19 March 1910
BIDEFORD - Mr G. W. F. Brown held an Inquest yesterday afternoon on the body of THOMAS ALBERT FOLLEY, aged 28, dairyman of New North-road, Bideford, who was found dead the previous evening. The medical evidence showed that deceased, who had been drinking, died from suffocation owing to vomiting. The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

PLYMOUTH - At Prince Rock Police Station Mr Johns held an Inquest upon the body of JEMIMA ANN BIGNELL, widow, 83, of Stanlake-terrace, Prince Rock, who died suddenly on Thursday. Evidence was given by Lilian Allen, wife of Robert Charles Allen, and Dr Travers Stubin, who had made a post-mortem examination. The cause of death was syncope and the Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Causes"

PLYMSTOCK - The Plymstock Suicide. More Remarkable Evidence. - At the Morley Arms Hotel, Plymstock, yesterday, Mr R. R. Rodd resumed the Inquest on PERCY CHARLES EDWARD MUNRO, an electrician in the Royal Engineers, who committed suicide between Saturday night and Sunday morning, in a shed in a garden at Plymstock. - EDWARD C. M. MUNRO, telegraphist at the Central Telegraph Office, London, said his son was 25 years of age, and a sapper in the 22nd Co. R.E., stationed at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. According to a telegram received from the officer commanding the company, his son had been a deserter since the 23rd ult. He went out to Hong-kong with his company for three years and returned to England in December. Directly on landing in England he went to the Isle of Wight on duty and a few days later came home to Catford on a month's furlough. He said he felt queer when he arrived and at times complained of pain in his back. He stayed at home for a whole month. He then went back to the Isle of Wight and while there wrote home on February 13th. - "I am fairly settled down now but do not feel too grand. I [?] to enter into the joys of others. It is not because I am homesick, but I get such fits of depression . My comrades tell me I am looking queer: It must be the after-effects, I suppose. - MR MUNRO added that while at Lewisham his son saw a doctor who told him there was something radically wrong with him, but he could not diagnose the case. - In reply to the Coroner's suggestion that MUNRO was resident in Plymouth without money, witness said his son was in possession of plenty of money and had savings in the bank - he had taken out £2[?] while staying at home - and was on Saturday night wearing a gold watch and chain, which he could have pawned. In MUNRO'S notebook, found on the body, was the following statement. - "Dad. - Some twelve months ago, while in Hong-kong, I accidentally killed a Chinese woman. A Frenchman witnessed this and seemed rather put out about it, threatening to report the affair. This would naturally cause trouble for me and I prevailed on him not to do so. He has since crossed by path, several times in England and seems rather too friendly and amiable. I think he intends harm. Perhaps he is not all there. If anything should happen to me - here followed a detailed description of the Frenchman. His name is Valasquez and he speaks English. By the way, I lent him £15 to get rid of him on one occasion. He may be all right, but I don't like him. He pops up too often and seems to be watching me. He has a face that almost hypnotises one." - On another page in the notebook were a few words apparently written in haste, the last letters trailing off into an almost undecipherable scrawl. - "Strange that I should be here, though what I came for I don't know. How I got here I don't know: I don't seem to remember anything about." - The Coroner said the statement about the Chinese woman might be hallucination, or might be strictly true. It was plainly a deliberate case of suicide and there was no evidence that MUNRO was insane when he left his fiancée, Miss Unitt, at 11 p.m. on Saturday; but he was sure that, having regard to the circumstances, they would have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that MUNRO was temporarily of unsound mind when he took his life. - The Jury concurred. The foreman added that they wished to express their sympathy with MUNRO'S relatives and friends. - The funeral took place yesterday afternoon in Plymstock Parish Church Rev. C. B. Collyns officiating. Military honours were accorded. The body was borne to the grave on a gun carriage, carried by the Army Service Corps and escorted by Royal Engineers from the Elphinstone Barracks, Plymouth, under Company Sergt.-Maj. Wagon. The mourners were MR MUNRO, father, Miss Unitt, Mr and Mrs Unitt, Mr and Mrs Radnor and Mrs Williams, and wreaths sent by MR MUNRO and Miss Unitt were placed on the coffin.

YEALMPTON - Yealmpton Baby's Death. Mother Severely Censured. - An Inquest was held at Kiln Cottage, near Yealmpton, yesterday, on RUTH MARTIN, the four-month-old daughter of SIDNEY MARTIN, a labourer. - The child's mother, MABEL ELLEN MARTIN, said she had had one child previously, and it died at the age of six months. RUTH was delicate from birth and Dr Langworthy in January ordered special food for her. She carried out his instructions and weighed the child at four different times. Each time the weight was the same - 8lb. The infant was subject to attacks of sickness. She did not send again for the Doctor, who had not seen it since January. She did not think her daughter was in a serious condition. - The Coroner: I consider you are to blame for not sending for the Doctor when the child did not get better under the treatment prescribed. - MRS MARTIN said on Tuesday the child was taken worse and on Wednesday died. - Ellen Joll, the wife of John Joll, labourer, of Yealmpton, who attended MRS MARTIN at the birth of the child, said the baby was always delicate. MRS MARTIN seemed a kind and attentive mother. - Dr W. S. Langworthy of Yealmpton, said he was present at the birth and had seen the child several times since. The last time he saw it he certainly understood that if the child did not improve he would be called again. A post-mortem examination showed that death resulted from malnutrition. He did not think it was due to the mother's neglect, but he believed the child was unable to gain any nourishment from its food. The body was very emaciated and in one place the skin had broken out into great sores, which would have caused the child considerable pain. They had the appearance of having been treated with powder, but that was insufficient. The child should have been seen by a Doctor. - The Coroner, addressing the Jury, said he did not like the callous way in which the mother had given her evidence, but he could not satisfy himself whether it was a case of criminal neglect or absolute lack of common sense. That was for the Jury to decide. They would probably find that there had been neglect: If they thought that that neglect was criminal they would return a verdict of manslaughter against the mother. If they considered the neglect to be the result of ignorance or want of common sense they would bring in a verdict to that effect and would censure the mother. - The Jury came to the conclusion that there had been neglect, but not culpable neglect. - The Coroner told MRS MARTIN that she ought to consider herself very fortunate. She had come within an ace of being indicted for manslaughter. It was very callous to allow her child to die as she had done without calling the Doctor in.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Woman's Death. No Evidence Of Violence. - At the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital yesterday an Inquiry was held by Mr R. B. Johns, Coroner, respecting the death of SARAH ANN PIKE, widow, of Anstis-street, aged 64. - The deceased was found on a doorstep about midnight on Wednesday, unconscious and bleeding from a wound on the left temple. She was taken to the Hospital and died the following morning at eight o'clock without recovering consciousness. In connection with the affair the Police made enquiries and THOMAS PIKE, son, who is a rag and bone gatherer, was detained at the Central Police Station whilst investigations were being made. PIKE was liberated on Thursday night at 8.20, no charge being preferred against him as a result of the inquiries made. Mr W. Hall was Foreman of the Jury and Superintendent Foot was present. - The Coroner said the deceased was a widow of a naval pensioner. No doubt the Jury had seen by the reports in the newspapers, that the deceased had met her death under somewhat suspicious circumstances. On the previous day he was assured that the death did not take place under any suspicious circumstances and that a post-mortem examination had shown that MRS PIKE died of natural causes. He believed that the Police would now agree that it was a case of natural causes? - Superintendent Foot: - Yes; we are quite satisfied now, after investigation, that it is a case of death by natural causes. - The Son's Statement. - THOMAS PIKE, son of the deceased, was the first witness, and described himself as a rag and bone gatherer. he had resided with his mother at 21 Anstis-street. The last time he saw her alive was on Wednesday evening at 6.30 at Anstis-street, when she was sitting by the fire with his brother. She frequently complained of being giddy in her head and Dr Wagner had attended to her. She often suffered from giddiness and was very weak on her legs. - In answer to the Jury, witness said his mother frequently turned giddy and fell down. - P.C. W. Johns stated that at 11.45 on Wednesday night in Anstis-street, he saw the woman on the door step of the house she resided in. She was being attended to by a man who lived in a tenement in the same house. Witness saw that she had been injured and there was a wound on the left temple. There was some blood near the spot and the woman had lost a lot of blood. - Was she unconscious? - Yes, I took her to the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital in an ambulance. - Doctor's Evidence. - Dr David MacNair, House Surgeon, said the woman was admitted to the Hospital about midnight on Wednesday. She was quite unconscious. there was a wound and a bruise on the left side of the head. They were not [?] wounds. - The Coroner: Might such a wound and bruise have been caused by a fall? - yes, they were quite superficial. She died at eight o'clock and he had made a post-mortem. The result showed that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. The haemorrhage took place on the right side of the brain, so that the woman would be liable to fall on her left side. Death, in his opinion, was due to natural causes. He had heard the son's statement that she frequently had fits and it was quite sensible. - In answer to the Jury, Dr MacNair said the bruising could be caused by a fall. the wound and the bruise were superficial. - Are you satisfied it was a fall? - Anyone might be bruised by a fall or a blow. These injuries were not very serious. - Do you say she was subject to fits? - The Coroner remarked that they had heard that she had fits frequently. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Causes".

Western Morning News, Tuesday 22 March 1910
NEWTON ABBOT - SARAH JANE WARREN, 68, of Kingskerswell, who became an inmate of the Newton Abbot Infirmary four months ago, having sustained a fractured thigh, through a fall, has died. At the Inquest yesterday, THOMAS WARREN, her husband, stated that his wife told him she slipped on going across the yard to the wash-house, and injured her hip. - Irene Skinner said MRS WARREN slipped through neglecting to take her walking-stick as usual. She suffered attacks of giddiness. Dr Scrase said death was due to weakness following the injury and a verdict accordingly was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - An Inquest was held at Devonport yesterday by Mr J. A. Pearce, Borough Coroner, on MARY ANN DYE, of James-street, who died suddenly on Saturday. - CHARLES DYE said he had resided with the deceased, who was his daughter-in-law. She went to bed on Saturday and witness found her dead. he was not aware that she drank. - The Coroner: I am afraid you are not telling the truth, because it is generally known that your daughter drank. - I am telling you the truth so far as I know. I have never seen her drink anything. - Mary Ann Niles, James-street, said she had known deceased for many years, but she had never seen her drink anything in her life. - CHARLES WILLIAM DYE said deceased was his wife. She had complained of pains in the head for the last few weeks. As far as he knew she had been a teetotaler. - P.C. Hewins stated that he brought the body to the mortuary. - Dr Sanders said he had made a post-mortem examination. He had never known a fatty liver at 39 unless it was due to alcohol. Death was due to syncope brought on through fatty heart. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

EXETER - The Exeter Suicide. Watched For Police, Then Took Poison. - Mr W. Linford Brown held an Inquest on ERNEST HARPHAM JOSEPH CHAMBERS, aged 37, of Herschell-road, Exeter, found dead by his wife in his bedroom on Friday evening. - MRS MADELINE CHAMBERS, widow, said her husband was a traveller. Previous to that he was in a hatter's shop for several years. He left there four years ago and had not had regular work during that time. Lately he had been depressed and she was not quite sure whether he had had trouble or not. On Wednesday night he came home after eleven the worse for liquor, and showed her letters. He told her he had lost his situation. He took a bottle out of his pocket. Her mother was there, and he asked her if she would have a drop of whisky. She (MRS CHAMBERS) told him he ought to be ashamed to bring whisky home when he was out of employment, and he replied, "The worst of it is, it stings your tongue." he then put the bottle in his pocket. The previous day she received a postcard stating that unless he sent in his receipt-books, they would put the matter in the hands of the Police. She gave it him on the Thursday morning. On Thursday night he again came home the worse for liquor and did not get up until one o'clock on Friday. He then came down and had coffee and went upstairs again. He seemed to be watching out of the window and appeared worried and distressed. In the afternoon she called him down to have a cup of tea, and he went upstairs again. About 3.30 he said he was shaking all over and he would do away with himself. He said he should go to Cowley and drown himself. She told him if he went she would go with him. He wanted her to go out and leave him, but she refused. Hearing a knock at the door she went upstairs at 5.30 and saw him vomiting. He pointed to a glass and said "He's come." He had told her before that he would not like her to go out with him for fear of his being arrested. A neighbour, Mrs Sandford, made an emetic and fetched Dr Shirwell, but he died before the doctor arrived. He must have thought when a county policeman came to the door after her son, who had been playing football, that it was the police come for him. In August last he stayed away from home for two nights and was then reported to the Police as missing. he had previously threatened to take his life. - Mrs Sandford said she was called to MRS CHAMBERS' house and told that MR CHAMBERS had taken poison. She met him on the stairs and he said "For God's sake, save me." She asked him what he had done, and he replied that he had taken some weed killer. He added that there was arsenic in it. She prepared an emetic and when she asked him what was the cause of it, he replied, "Drink." - P.C. Walters (Coroner's Officer) stated that on going to the house he found MR CHAMBERS being attended by Dr Shirwell. On the table was a glass and in a tool chest he found the bottle which had evidently contained the poison which CHAMBERS took. - Mr Shirwell, M.R.C.S., who had made a post-mortem examination, said death was due to an irritant poison such as arsenic. Weed killer invariably contained arsenic. - Mr Saunders, deceased's employer, said he had no intentions of going to the extreme in getting CHAMBERS to deliver up money which had been paid in. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Fatality. A Cook's Terrible Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday, on LAVINIA PAUL, aged 53 years, cook to Mrs Maxwell, The Crescent. - Mrs Effie Maxwell, widow, said at noon on Friday, PAUL was in the kitchen alone. She told her that a cinder fell from the fire on to her apron, setting it alight. Into the dining-room, where she was with her daughter, PAUL rushed, "a mass of flames." Even her hair was on fire. Finding that the flames could not be put out by rugs, water was poured over the woman. Medical assistance was summoned and in the meantime she dressed the cook's hands and face. - Dr D. Macnair, House Surgeon at the Hospital, said the woman was suffering from burns, which extended from head to foot, the soles of the feet being practically the only parts to escape. It was quite a hopeless case and the woman died the same evening from shock. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed sympathy with the relatives.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 23 March 1910
YEALMPTON - The Yealmpton Fatality. Probable Cause Of The Pony Bolting. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Yealmbridge yesterday on MRS EMMA SNAWDON, wife of MR SAMUEL SNAWDON of Yealmbridge Mills, who died on Sunday from injuries received in a trap accident. - Miss Elizabeth Dawe, of Elburton, said MRS SNAWDON, her sister, was 47 years of age. On Sunday deceased visited her at Elburton in company with her niece, Miss Shaddock and her daughter. They arrived at 3 p.m. and remained until about 5.30 when they drove away in a pony and trap. MRS SNAWDON made no complaint of the pony. When they left Miss Maddock was driving. MRS SNAWDON had not been in good health for the past year and was a nervous woman. - Henry Penwarden, signal porter, G.W.R., Yealmpton, said on Sunday at about 6 p.m. he was standing at Mr Pedrick's blacksmith's shop when the party in the trap drove by. Suddenly the pony bolted and then commenced to kick. Miss Maddock made every endeavour to pull the pony up, but almost immediately it swerved to the left. The trap ran up over the path and the wheel struck the hedge. He could not see whether MRS SNAWDON pulled the reins or not. All in the trap were thrown out. He did not see anything that would have caused the pony to bolt. It was trotting quietly and then bolted without any apparent reason. He rushed over and assisted Miss Maddock, who was unconscious. MRS SNAWDON was standing on the green crying out that she thought her niece was dead. The shaft of the trap was broken. He assisted Miss Maddock to the house and then left. - [?] John Sly, Stationmaster, Yealm Bridge, said in his opinion the pony shied at a small heap of stones on the right side of the road. Miss Maddock prevented the trap from running on to the pavement and he thought she then had the pony under control. A moment later the pony plunged into the hedge. He turned Miss Maddock on to her back and then ran and held the pony as he feared it might move. He had driven the pony on one occasion from Yealmpton to Ivybridge and back and found it very quiet. - A Juryman observed that the day previously he drove the pony in the same harness and found it very quiet. - Mr Sly confirmed that he did not see MRS SNAWDON touch the reins. She appeared to be holding her daughter. Miss Maddock appeared to handle the pony very well. She prevented it in the first place from running on the footpath. She had driven the pony frequently during the past month. The affair was a pure accident. - Answering Sergt. Doidge, he said he was unaware that the pony had shied on a previous occasion. - It was suggested that the harness might have been defective and it was brought in and examined by the Jury. It was found that where it had been broken repairs had been effected. - Dr W. S. Langworthy, Yealmpton, said on being called, he found MRS SNAWDON suffering from shock. The only external marks were two superficial scratches on the face. She died the same evening from shock. Had she not been a very delicate woman, she would have recovered. She suffered from a weak heart and previously from haemorrhage of the lungs. Haemorrhage occurred after the accident. - The Jury having agreed that it was unnecessary to call Miss Maddock as a witness, the Coroner remarked that it was a very sad case. It was evident the pony shied at the heap of stones. Miss Maddock undoubtedly did her best and no blame could be attached to her in any way. He noticed that the harness had been repaired and he hoped that in future cases such evidence would not be considered worthless. It was, of course, done without thought in the present case. He did not in any way suggest that the accident was due to defective harness. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, the Coroner and Jury expressing their deepest sympathy with the family. - In reply to the Coroner, Dr Langworthy said Miss Maddock was making satisfactory progress.

STOKE DAMEREL - An Inquest was held at Devonport yesterday by Mr J. A. Pearce, Borough Coroner, on WILLIAM JAMES PORTER, aged 43, of College-road, who died suddenly the previous day. - ANNIE PORTER, Prospect-road, said she had lived apart from her husband six years. He was a naval pensioner in receipt of 8s. a week, and allowed her 5s. with which she had to keep several children. - Dr G. K. Pearson said death was due to syncope, brought on by influenza and fatty degeneration of the heart. - Susan Banfield, College-road, said deceased was her brother. He had been employed in the Dockyard for a few weeks, but last Monday week was ordered home by the doctor. On Monday morning she went for a Doctor, as he seemed worse, and some time after she found him dead. - A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - An Inquest was held at the Montpelier School by Mr Pearce on JAMES HENRY GAUNTLETT, an infant, a few days old. - SARAH E. GAUNTLETT, Belair-road, said the deceased was the son of her daughter, and was born on the 18th. On Saturday morning her daughter called her and said she thought the baby was dead. She then called Dr Heppenstall. - Dr Heppenstall said he saw the child on the bed wrapped up, but quite dead. There were no marks of violence and he thought the cause of death was syncope, from status lymphaticus. - A verdict of "Natural Causes! was returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 24 March 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Fatality At Devonport. Shipwright Drowned. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned at an Inquest held yesterday by Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) on CHARLES FRANCIS WYNN MAY, who fell overboard whilst working on the dredger, St Patrick, on Monday. - Fleet-Surgeon H. W. G. Doyne said he was sent for on Monday afternoon, when he found deceased lying on his back on board the dredger, St Patrick. Artificial respiration was tried for forty minutes by Surgeon Bastin and himself, but without success. Death was due to drowning. - Samuel Henry Barker, 12 King-street, Devonport, said he was painting on board the St. Patrick when the accident occurred. Deceased was working on deck and witness saw him about two minutes before the accident. He went up on a structure to get some tools and whilst he was returning he heard a splash, and on looking round saw the deceased floating in the water. One of the other workmen went to the deceased's assistance, but the latter had disappeared before he could get to him. MAY was quite clear of the water where he was working. - William Beer, 11 William-street, Plymouth, deck hand on board the St. Patrick, said he heard someone calling for a boathook as there was a man overboard. He went at once and got a boathook, but before he had time to reach MAY the latter had disappeared. He then obtained a grapnel and after about ten minutes, succeeded in bringing deceased to the surface. Where MAY was working he could easily have slipped overboard as the protection chains had been removed to enable him to carry out his work. Everything that was possible was done to get the deceased out of the water. - The Coroner said it was a very sad case, but he thought it was one of those accidents which happened when they were least expected. He entered a vote of sincere sympathy with the widow.

EXETER - The Exeter Fatality. Overloaded Trap And A Rotten Bridle. - At the Inquest at Exeter yesterday on ALBERT GIGG, aged 40, farmer of W[?] Farm, Farringdon, Aylesbeare, who received fatal injuries at St David's Station, Exeter, on Monday, the widow said he left home to fetch wood for a greenhouse for Rev. A. Gill of Farringdon. The horse was a young one and quiet, and her husband was a very steady man. - Henry Marbey, brother-in-law, said GIGG was quite sober at 12.45 on the day of the accident when he saw him. - Fredk. Madge said GIGG came to the Station for [?] He pointed out the goods and told him the trap was not suitable to carry it. There was a large bundle of wood, about 16 feet long. GIGG said he had been given to understand it was short articles he was sent for and he did not think it worthwhile to go back without the goods. Samuel King said GIGG was driving an ordinary two-wheel spring trap, not suitable for long pieces of timber. Witness saw him hanging on to the shaft of the trap when the horse bolted. The horse had no bridle on. He shouted "Let go," but he took no notice. A little later he was obliged to let go and the wheel went over him. He did not move afterwards. The timber as it was hanging over the horse's head would tend to frighten him and make him run faster every minute. - The Coroner (to the Jury): If you look at the bridle you will find it an awfully rotten affair. he ought not to have driven a horse with it. - Dr Raglan Thomas said a post-mortem examination revealed bruises and abrasions on the left side of the chest. Some of the ribs were broken and also the breast-bone in the middle. The spleen and left kidney were ruptured. - The Coroner said it was one of those accidents in which a man decided to take the risk, with such unfortunate results. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." - On behalf of the chief goods manager at Paddington, Mr Wm. Lilley (goods superintendent, Exeter) expressed sympathy with the widow and relatives with which the Coroner and Jury concurred.

Western Morning News, Saturday 26 March 1910
EXETER - Exeter Lady's Sad Death. - At an Inquest at 7 Prospect-park, Exeter, on Thursday, on ELIZABETH ANN PALMER, 82, widow of MR HENRY PALMER, yeoman, of Cullompton, the evidence showed that deceased came downstairs about eleven o'clock on the morning of the 14th inst. Melina Davey, for 16 years servant with deceased, placed her mistress in an armchair, and put some books near her, as usual. She then went to prepare dinner and presently heard her name faintly called. On going to the sitting-room she saw her mistress in a sitting position in the fireplace with her back all ablaze. She pulled her out and extinguished the fire by wrapping a door mat around her. She then went to the window and sent for Miss George, a neighbour, who said deceased told her she had been sitting by the fire and rose to reach a book. She felt giddy and caught hold of the mantel-piece and remembered no more. Dr Duncan said deceased extensive burns on the back and she died on Wednesday from exhaustion and shock. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

DARTMOUTH - Cadet Poisoned. Strong Remarks On The Sale Of Deadly Drugs. Result Of Inquest. - Mr A. M. Davson, Dartmouth Borough Coroner, held an Inquest at the Britannia Royal Naval College on Thursday on Cadet HENRY ERNEST ADRIAN VANRENEN, aged 15, the only child of MAJOR J. E. VANRENEN, R.E., Lyncroft, South Farnborough, Hants, who died from the effects of taking cyanide of potassium on Tuesday evening. Mr K. Eyton Peck (Goldsmith and Peck, Solicitors, Devonport) attended on behalf of the Admiralty, and Captain T. W. D. Napier, R.N., of the Naval College, was also present. Mr F. C. Cousens was chosen Foreman of the Jury. - MAJOR VANRENEN stated that his son was in his second term as a cadet at the college. witness received a letter from him on the day the tragedy happened. It was a very happy letter, his son saying he had never been so fit in his life. Witness knew that his son had always been very fond of chemistry and of experimenting with various chemicals. He had no trouble whatever and was a happy boy. There was no insanity in the family. - Cadet George Allen Nunnerey said he was in his second term and deceased was in his class. On Tuesday, about 4.15 he saw the deceased in the power-house of the workshop before the ordinary work began, and he appeared to be in perfect health. Immediately after grace at tea was said, about 6.45 deceased went out and witness never saw him again. He knew that deceased was going to write away for some cyanide of potassium, and he thought he had some in his possession. One evening he was mixing some and said he used it for photographing purposes. He saw deceased taste the cyanide of potassium, he gave no reason for doing so. He said "Shall I drink this?" and witness replied "No." Deceased was interested in chemistry and witness thought he knew that it was dangerous to taste the cyanide of potassium. One day when witness was going to Torquay, deceased asked him to fetch him some cyanide of potassium, saying he wanted it for photography but witness did not get it as he knew that a chemist would not supply him with it. He saw deceased on Tuesday in the canteen at 2.45 p.m. and he then seemed to be all right. he was a "chum" of deceased's and saw a great deal of him, and he (deceased) never made any complaint of feeling ill except on one occasion, about a month ago, when he said he was sick from a cold. - Cadet Robert George Fenton-Livingstone, stated that he was with the deceased on Tuesday afternoon at 4.30 p.m. at the workshop. They did an hour's work and went into the examinations at 5.30. Deceased said he was feeling rather ill and that he should take some drug when he got up to the college. He did not say how he felt more than that he was rather bad. Witness did not know that deceased was in the habit of taking drugs. He did not say anything to deceased when he said he was going to take a drug, as he thought he was "feeling" at the time. He knew that deceased was keen on chemistry. Being in the same dorm with deceased, he knew him very well; he had never complained of feeling unwell until Tuesday. - Cadet Robert Stuart Laidlaw said he saw deceased about 7.50 p.m. in the gunroom. He appeared to be very sick and was lolling over the table, he was also very pale and appeared very sleepy. He was trying to read. After about two minutes deceased went out and witness never saw him afterwards. - Cadet-Captain Philip John Launcelot Skinner, stated that on Tuesday about 7.25 p.m., he went into the gunroom from tea, just as deceased was going out. At first witness thought that deceased was hurrying as if he had been sent on a message, and then he suddenly stopped, as if he had tripped over something. He fell by the corner of the table and half got up and then, after a sort of run, he fell towards the lockers and from the lockers to the drying-room door, just outside the gunroom. Witness thought deceased had fainted, and he went towards him and picked him up. He thought deceased was all right and had recovered, when he suddenly collapsed again. Witness then sent for another cadet-captain )Mr Whitelocke) who came and deceased was carried to the dormitory, having previously been sick when he was lifted up. Witness asked him what was the matter, but he did not answer and when he asked him, "Do you want water?" he replied "No." Deceased was again sick and a sick-bay steward came and telephoned for Surgeon Pick. Whilst the Surgeon was being telephoned for, deceased kicked. - Diary Extracts. - Capt. Harold Blunt, R.M.A., said deceased was in his team. He was a cheerful boy, rather reserved and not a boy that one could get to know very quickly. He had searched deceased's clothes and found a diary in which were the following extracts:- 10th March, 1910 - Try a diet of KCN; peculiar sensation. - 11th March, 1910. - That KCN diet does not improve the training. - Memorandum - On 7th I sent for bottle of KCN. - Witness asked that he took from deceased's chest and locker several letters and also a sealed letter addressed to a friend, which was given to his father, but he understood there was nothing in it which referred to the occurrence. - MAJOR VANRENEN, in reply to the coroner, confirmed this statement. - Surgeon Bryan Pick stated that on going to the dormitory he found deceased lying on the bed unconscious. Witness examined him and sent for Dr Turner, the other Surgeon at the college, and, after his arrival deceased was removed to the sick bay. Witness instituted a search for poison, this being suggested to him by the symptoms. He found a bottle of cyanide of potassium and two other bottles were also found in deceased's locker in another part of the college. The contents of the smaller bottle seemed to have the smell of [?] Cyanide of potassium was a deadly poison and five grains were sufficient to kill a full-grown man. - The Coroner: Is there any periodical search made of the schools? - I believe so, but it is not part of my duty, and therefore I cannot say. - To what do you attribute death? - The symptoms are consistent with poisoning by cyanide of potassium. - The Coroner, taking up the bottle of cyanide of potassium, drew attention to the label, upon which there was printed as follows:- " Potash cyanide; poison. From Townsend and Mercer, 89 Bishopsgate-street, Within, London. E.C." - In reply to the Coroner as to the extract from deceased's diary in regard to "a diet of KCN," witness explained that "KCN" was the chemical formula for cyanide of potassium. - Captain Napier, answering the Coroner, said there was a periodical search made of the chests. It was quite possible that a dozen might be looked into at any time, but there was no system of periodical searching into what was kept under lock and key. - "A Ghastly Poison." - MAJOR VANRENEN, with a display of some emotion, expressed the hope that the Jury would pass a vote of censure on the cruel and criminal iniquity of a firm in sending such a ghastly poison to a boy. - The Coroner, in summing up, said he was perfectly satisfied that deceased died from taking a dose of cyanide of potassium. There was no evidence that it was administered by anyone else. As to deceased's intimation he might have taken the stuff not thinking that it was a deadly poison, and under the impression that it would cure his ailment. There was not an atom of evidence to support the theory that he took it with the intention of taking his life. He could not imagine how any respectable firm of chemists - and he supposed the firm in question was a respectable one - could send a bottle of cyanide of potassium to a boy. They had no evidence in this respect except that deceased said he had written somewhere for it. It seemed an abominable thing for any respectable firm to send poison to a boy. He (the Coroner) should have thought it extremely difficult for him to obtain it, but this matter would no doubt be looked into by the naval authorities. He was sure that whatever their verdict, the Jury would join with him in an expression of the deepest sympathy with the deceased's parents. He should also like to express their deep regret to Captain Napier that this lamentable affair should have happened during his very successful term of office at the Royal Naval College. - Mr Atherton said he understood that the Police authorities would inquire as to who sold the poison. - The law required that a chemist should have a signature for all poisons. - The Coroner agreed that it was a matter that should be looked into, but said this was not within his province and no doubt inquiries would be made by the naval authorities. - The Jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by Misadventure through taking cyanide of Potassium, and they expressed their sympathy with the parents of deceased and also with the college authorities. - The Foreman added that the Jury considered it was a pity that poison could be obtained so easily and they hoped that the naval authorities would take the matter up. - The Coroner conveyed to the father of deceased the expression of sympathy by the Jury and his wish to be associated therewith. - MAJOR VANRENEN feelingly acknowledged this kind expression of sympathy and Captain Napier made a similar acknowledgment.

Western Morning News, Monday 28 March 1910
ILFRACOMBE - MR RICHARD JEWELL, of Hele, Ilfracombe, aged 56, died suddenly on Friday evening shortly after going to bed. At the Inquest on Saturday Dr Kettlewell said the cause of death, which might have been brought on through an extra strain, was heart failure. The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" and expressed sympathy with the widow.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 29 March 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest yesterday on ELIZABETH JACKSON, aged 62, widow, of Queen's-gate, Victoria park. Charles Allan, engine-room artificer, said MRS JACKSON, his aunt, had always enjoyed fairly good health. When he was called about 1.40 on Good Friday morning he found her breathing hard and apparently unconscious. Death occurred before Dr Lander could arrive. Dr Lander attributed death to heart failure, due to granular disease of the kidneys; and a verdict was returned accordingly.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 30 March 1910
KINGSKERSWELL - Sudden Death At Kingskerswell. - At Kingskerswell yesterday, Mr Sidney Hacker conducted an Inquiry into the death of ROBERT PATERSON. - . - JOHN PATERSON, Blackheath, London, said deceased, who was his brother, was a man of independent means, and had resided at Kingskerswell 15 years. he was a bachelor and was formerly in South Africa in an official capacity. - John Dyer said he waited on deceased and left him at 12 o'clock on Saturday night. At 3 o'clock he heard a fall and found deceased lying near the fireplace with his head in the grate. He was bleeding from the mouth. Deceased said, "It can't be helped; my legs gave way." Deceased bled a good deal. A Doctor was sent for at seven o'clock. - The Coroner: Would it not have been the proper thing to send for the Doctor at once? - I did not think he was in so much pain as all that. - Dr J. R. Hatfield said deceased was a chronic invalid and fell and broke a rib six weeks ago. When he saw deceased the latter's face was terribly swollen. He had two black eyes and blood was trickling from his mouth. He was suffering from shock, which aggravated his condition, so that he died. - The Coroner: Would you say his death was due to excessive alcoholism? - Not directly. His neuritis was the result of it, but he was not directly under the influence of drink at the time. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 31 March 1910
ILFRACOMBE - Dangers Of Flannelette. Sad Death Of Ilfracombe Servant. - At Ilfracombe yesterday Mr Geo. W. F. Brown held an Inquest on ELIZA LOUISA FRANKLIN, domestic, who received fatal burns at the Britannia Hotel, Ilfracombe. The case was a particularly sad one, the coroner remarked, as the girl, aged 29, had only been a few days at Ilfracombe and the Police had as yet been unable to trace her parents, although her identity was established through the people living at the house from which she had been engaged. - Edward Thomas Peaty, Pennywell-road, Bristol, who gave evidence and identification, said deceased had lodged with his mother when she was out of a lace and his mother looked after deceased's three-year-old boy. After being at Bournemouth she came to his mother for three weeks and only left for Ilfracombe on March 22nd. He never heard her mention her family, and she had had no connection with her home, he understood, for eight years, although he believed his mother had heard her say she had relations Taunton way. - Rose Clarke, a fellow-servant, gave evidence as to the accident. Deceased was on Sunday morning reaching over the range for a coffee-pot, when her clothes caught fire. Witness attempted to put out the fire, but very quickly deceased's clothes, which were all flannelette, except her dress, were in a mass of flames, and deceased ran out of the kitchen. - Wm. Edwards, boots, said he girl came running into the hall in a mass of flame. With a gentleman stopping there he wrapped mats and overcoats about her and put out the fire. - E. J. Tamlyn, proprietor, stated that from what deceased said, a spark flew out of the range and caught her clothes. With a cooking range it was impossible to have a guard, and if there had been one it would not have prevented such a thing as this. The whole thing happened and was over in ten minutes. - Dr Kettlewell gave evidence that there were extensive burns all over the body with the exception of the face. Wherever the flannelette was, the woman was fearfully burned. Death was due to consequent shock. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 2 April 1910
SIDMOUTH - Suicide At Sidmouth. - An Inquest was held at Sidmouth yesterday on JOHN DIMOND MAJOR, a retired builder, of Landport-villas. MRS MAJOR, the widow, said on Wednesday evening she dressed bad wounds on her husband's leg; he afterwards going to bed. She retired about ten o'clock, after wishing him good night, he answering "Good night, my dear." On going to his room in the morning she found he was not there and on going downstairs she saw him hanging behind the scullery door. She called for help and a neighbour came to her assistance. He was fully dressed. She had never heard him threaten to take his life. Her husband's age was 84 and he was a total abstainer. - Mr Levi Beacon said on being called by MRS MAJOR he found MR MAJOR hanging behind the scullery door quite dead. The body was cold. He immediately released the hook and went for the doctor. MR MAJOR was hanging a few inches from the ground and close by was a chair upon which he might have stood. - In reply to the Coroner, he said he could not say if deceased had hanged himself or not, but his wife, who was there, said to him "I did not do it." - Dr Pullin said he was called about nine o'clock and MR MAJOR had then been dead some hours. MR MAJOR suffered severely from bad legs. The pain of the [?] would be enough to drive him out of his head. - A verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane" was returned.

EAST STONEHOUSE - The Coaling Fatality. Recommendation To The Naval Authorities. - An Inquest was held at the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on ERNEST HENRY BILLINGS (32), petty officer, second class, of H.M.S. Queen, who met his death on the previous day by the derrick of a coaling vessel falling on him. Mr R. R. Rodd was Coroner and Mr J. P. Goldsmith represented the Admiralty. - Commander Charles Laverock Lambe, of H.M.S. Queen, said on Thursday they were coaling ship and about 8.40 a.m. a derrick fell upon the deceased and he died in about ten minutes. The derrick was a wooden spar about 30 feet in length and 3 inches in diameter. It was attached to the foot of the mast of the collier by a heel fitting and secured at the top by wire rope and in addition topping lifts belonging to the Queen. About 8.35 he observed that the topping lift on the Queen had become detached and called the attention of the officer in charge, Lieut. Sparling to it. He immediately took steps to secure the topping lift to the derrick. The derrick started to run at first slowly, but gathered speed as it came down. Witness called out "Stand clear." Deceased was standing on the deck of the collier, between the hold of the collier and the Queen, and there were three men in danger. He fancied deceased attempted to "duck" as he was in a stooping position when he was struck and pinned on some empty coal bags. Witness added that the collier, to his belief, had never coaled a man-of-war before. It had come straight from Cardiff and the captain told him that her derricks had not been used for years, as they had always before used cranes. Colliers generally had a standing topping-lift shackled on with chain, but there were no chain fittings to these derricks. - Lieut. Evelyn Sparling, who was in charge of the coaling operations, said the derrick was erected at 6 p.m. He described how it was secured. the derrick had been hoisted and at work for three-quarters of an hour before the commander drew his attention to the fact that the Queen's topping lift was unhooked. He immediately gave orders for the derrick to be lowered and the topping lift secured. This was being done, when he heard someone say "Stand clear," and the derrick came down. the only explanation of the accident he could give was that the hook of the block securing the topping lift of the Queen canted and the rope got cut. He afterwards found the rope snapped. - Petty Officer Marker said he assisted to lower the derrick. The wire topping lift of the collier was cast off, and the derrick was held in position by the Queen's topping lift, which jammed. As the topping lift of the collier was cast off and not made fast the derrick took charge. - Wm. Henry Collins, leading seaman, said he received orders from Lieut. Sparling to take the standing topping lift off the mast of the collier. then there was an order to ease the Queen's preventer topping lift, which was being down by Able Seaman Lake. As the topping lift was not overhauling, witness went aloft with the intention of overhauling it, but when he got to the top of the rigging he saw the derrick go down. - The Coroner: You did not know the block on the Queen's mast was unhooked; if you had you would have kept the wire rope of the collier fast? - Witness: Yes. - When you left, you were under the impression that the Queen's topping lift block was hooked to the derrick? - Yes. - Witness added he was not ordered to go aloft; he went up voluntarily. - The Coroner: Do you think you did right in leaving the collier's topping lift in order to go aloft? - Witness: Yes, with the preventor on, it had a double purchase. - A Juror: He only had orders to let go, he hadn't orders to stand by. - The Coroner: The question is whether he should have held on there. We believe that what was done was done with the best intention. But I want to know what would have been the safe thing to do. - A Juror: A man should stand by when the wire of the topping lift was let go. - Another Juror: I have no doubt Collins did what he thought was for the best. - The Coroner asked Captain Lambe what he thought of it. Even if you have a preventor topping lift, I gather from you that the collier's topping lift ought not to have been let go as it was? - Commander Lambe; No; if I had seen that I should have shouted immediately. - The Coroner said it would be a question for the Jury whether Collins ought to have left the topping lift or not. (To Collins): You had no orders to go aloft? - Witness: No. - Surgeon Samuel Bradbury deposed that deceased had a lacerated wound over the temple where the derrick struck him and that that was the cause of death. - This concluding the evidence the Coroner asked Commander Lambe if he considered Collins infringed his duty in going aloft and leaving the topping lift of the collier unattended and unsecured. - Commander Lambe: That is so; he exceeded his duty in going aloft. - The Coroner: Leaving the topping lift was the cause of the accident? - Commander Lambe: That was the cause of the accident, no doubt. - The Coroner: Have you known Collins long? - Commander Lambe: Yes; he is a very good man indeed. - The Coroner: Has there been an inquiry on board? - Commander Lambe: Yes, yesterday, but we don't know the result. - The Coroner, addressing the Jury, said he thought they had got at the cause of the derrick's taking charge. The accident happened in consequence of the collier's topping lift being cast off and not secured. After hearing what Commander Lambe had said they would probably be of opinion that Leading Seaman Collins exceeded his duty in going aloft without first securing the topping lift, though no doubt he did it with the best intentions. At the same time, the commander had told them it was an unpractical thing for Collins to do, in leaving the topping lift unsecured and under the circumstances showed a certain amount of neglect of duty. If that were so, however, no doubt they would consider that what Collins did he did in order to expedite the work and that his neglect was not culpable in any way. They would probably at the same time like to draw the attention of the Commander-in-Chief to the fact that the topping lift was left unsecured and that a warning ought to be issued against such a thing being done again. - The Jury intimated that they agreed in what the Coroner had said and returned as their verdict that deceased died from injuries sustained while coaling ship. They were not of opinion that culpable negligence attached to anyone, but they recommended that no topping lift should ever again be cast loose and left unattended.

Western Morning News, Monday 4 April 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Girl's Sudden Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest on Saturday at Wolsdon-street Schools, Plymouth, on BEATRICE ALICE BONE, baker's assistant, who died suddenly on Thursday evening. The evidence showed that the deceased had been staying with a friend, Mrs Susan Fitzwater, at Arundel-crescent, North-road, for the past six weeks. She was seen a few minutes before nine o'clock by Mrs Elizabeth Bennett of Ashley-place, who was standing on her doorstep. She stated that the deceased suddenly fell on her back as she was walking down the road. Mrs Bennett and two men went to her assistance, but she died shortly afterwards. Dr E. B. Thompson said death was due to failure of the heart's action and a verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

WEYMOUTH, DORSET - Plymouth Woman Killed. - An Inquest was held on Saturday at Weymouth on the body of an unknown woman, believed to belong to Plymouth, who was crushed to death under a traction engine. Evidence was given by Dr du Boulay of the terrible injuries from which the deceased was suffering when admitted to the Hospital. Deceased was in an excited state and the doctor thought she might have been intoxicated when the accident happened. she gave her age as 25, but he thought she was older. - A man named Arthur Symes said he saw the woman in the road putting her hat straight. She looked in the direction of the engine and then walked in a slanting direction and before the driver could pull up she was knocked down. Symes did not think she was intoxicated, and there was nothing to suggest suicide. Other witnesses were called and one of them said the woman was certainly the worse for liquor. - Sidney Damon, the driver, said he did not see the woman until the wheels went over her. - P.C. Richardson said there was nothing found on the body to identify the woman. She told him her name was GERTY SHAW, of Plymouth, but she also gave another name and address. The Plymouth Police could give no information whatever. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 5 April 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Ptomaine Poisoning. Death After Eating Fried Fish. - Mr J. A. Pearce opened an Inquest at the Military Hospital yesterday on PTE. ALFRED SAMUEL PLASTOW, of the 1st East Surrey Regiment, stationed at Crownhill. Deceased was removed to the Hospital on Friday morning suffering from ptomaine poisoning, believed to be due to eating fried fish bought in Union-street. During Friday he appeared to be benefiting from the medical treatment, but early on the following morning is condition became very serious and he died about 3.30 a.m. - The Coroner remarked that as there had not been sufficient time to make the necessary inquiries he proposed, after taking evidence of identity, to adjourn the Inquest for a week. Pte. J C. Smith, 1st East Surrey Regiment, said he had known deceased since he enlisted on February 22nd, 1910, and last saw him alive on Friday morning. The Inquest was then adjourned for a week. - After the Inquest the funeral took place at Plymouth Cemetery with military honours. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed from the Hospital to the cemetery on a gun-carriage supplied by the Army Service Corps. The whole of G. Company to which deceased belonged, attended in charge of Capt. C. R. T. Hopkinson and the battalion band and drums were also present and played along the route.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Stonehouse yesterday on GEORGE BENNETT ISAAC, aged 57 years, blacksmith in the Royal William Victualling Yard. The widow said her husband on Friday was at work as usual, but complained of shortness of breath. In the evening he was taken suddenly ill and died before a doctor could be summoned. Dr Leah said death was due to heart disease.

EXETER - Found Drowned At Exeter. - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on MICHAEL FRANCIS SANE, 63, of Wierfield-road, Exeter, whose body was found in the Exeter Canal, FRANCIS SANE of Manchester, said his brother was the last man he should think likely to commit suicide. He was certain he never took his own life. - MRS SANE said her husband left the house on March 7th to go for a walk. He was a pensioner from the Devon Regiment and had been assistant barrack-room warden at Topsham Barracks, but was discharged as being medically unfit. He suffered from attacks of giddiness. The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned."

STOKE FLEMING - The Late Rector Of Stokefleming. - Yesterday at Stokefleming, near Dartmouth, Mr Whiteway Wilkinson, Deputy County Coroner, Inquired into the death of REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, aged 61, rector of the parish. - NOEL EXELL said that on Saturday morning his father was taken unwell and a doctor was sent for. After that he seemed much better, but he subsequently died. - Dr G. M. Soper said he was called to see deceased on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. MR EXELL said he had eaten an enormous breakfast, and had had a very bad attack of indigestion. Witness left him and about twenty minutes later was called to the rectory again, but MR EXELL was dead in his chair. Witness had made a post-mortem examination and attributed death to syncope. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

Western Morning News, Friday 8 April 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Dockyardman's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest yesterday on CHARLES BUTT, aged 51, who died from injuries sustained while at work on board a vessel in the Dockyard. - MARY ANN BUTT, Victory-street, said her husband had been home ill since March 24th, he having fallen from a ladder while at work. He died on Tuesday. - Richard John March, Prospect-road, said he was working with BUTT on board D.W. 32. when he heard him shout out as if hurt. He informed witness he had hurt his leg. - Charles Martin, Fremantle-place, chargeman of fitters, said deceased came to him and reported that he had been to the surgery because he had slipped down a hatch and skinned his legs. He then resumed his work. The accident happened on February 14th, and he continued to work until March 23rd. - Dr W. H. Davis said death was due to cellulitis, the worst form of erysipelas, which was brought on by an abrasion of the skin. - The Coroner said there was a question as to whether the deceased was suffering from an ulcer or not prior to the accident. He thought it ought to be settled if possible and therefore he proposed to adjourn the Inquest until Monday, with a view to obtaining the evidence of the Dockyard surgeons, as to the condition of the man when they examined him after the accident.

BARRY, GLAMORGAN, WALES - Plymouth Dwarf's Death. Found Drowned After A Fire. - At Barry Dock last evening an Inquest was held on ALFRED WALTER WALTERS, 23, a dwarf, of Plymouth, in the employ of John Lloyd, a showman. WALTERS succumbed in a fire which broke out on Lloyd's premises early on Wednesday morning. - Lloyd, who identified the body, said he first got hold of WALTERS when he was aged 16, and exhibited him. Lately he had employed the dwarf as assistant at the cinematograph show he kept. - P.C. Phillips said that, hearing people talk about the dwarf being missing, he made a search and eventually found him in the cellar face downwards in a pool of water, quite dead. - Dr Bray said deceased must have taken the wrong turning and got into the cellar and was there overcome by the smoke and the water coming along drowned him. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned," and expressed the opinion that the cause of his being in the water was through suffocation.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 12 April 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Ptomaine Poisoning. 1st East Surrey Private's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce resumed the Inquest at the Military Hospital, Devonport, yesterday on Pte. ALFRED SAMUEL PLASTOW, 1st East Surrey Regt. Mr Percy Mills, a director of Dickeson and Co., was present. - Pte. F. Deacon, 1st East Surrey Regt., said on March 31st he left the barracks at Crownhill with PLASTOW about 6.30 p.m. In the Chester Cup, Union-street, they had two tots of whisky. They then went to the Brighton Inn, and with an Army Service Corps man had two or three "mild and bitters." On their way to barracks they purchased a ham sandwich each at a grocer's and ate it. they got back to barracks about 11.30 and up to that time PLASTOW appeared to be all right. he (witness) felt no ill-effects after eating the sandwich. - The Coroner: Did you have any fish in Union-street? - No. We had nothing but the sandwich each. - If PLASTOW said in his dying moment she had some skate in Union-street, how would you account for that. - He never had any with me and wherever he went I went with him. We had no shellfish. - Corpl. Albert Woods said on April 1st, PLASTOW, who was in bed apparently in terrible pain in his stomach, told him that on the previous day he had had a sandwich, bananas, fish, beer and whisky. - Private Thos. Mooney said about 4 p.m. on the 31st ult. he was in the coffee room at the barracks with PLASTOW, and they each ordered a pennyworth of cold fish and half-pennyworth of bread. On opening his fish, he (witness) found it all black inside and it smelt "rather funny." He said "This fish is bad." PLASTOW said "I can't help it. I am going to eat mine." PLASTOW'S fish was also black and he ate it all up. - The Coroner: Did you tell the attendant at the bar about the fish? - No. I didn't want to make a row about a penny. - do you know what fish it was you were having? - I think it was a bit of fresh herring. - A Juryman: You didn't know, I suppose, the fish was bad? - The smell was enough for me. - Fish At The Barracks. - Thomas W. McKenzie, coffee bar manager at the Barracks, employed by Dickeson and Co., said the fish came in that day. He received about twelve dozen fish, which he thought were whiting. They sold about ten dozen that day and he received no complaint whatever. The fish was cooked at the warehouse in Strand-street, Stonehouse. They did not go through every single fish to see if it was all right. On the following morning the medical officer examined the fish remaining over from the night before - about two dozen - and passed it as quite fit. - The Coroner: It might be possible that a piece of slightly stale fish might escape notice? - Witness said no fish was left over from the previous day. If a man had complained that the fish was bad, they would have given him his money back or something else in its place, and the whole of the rest would have been sent back. One member of the canteen staff had fish the same night. - Major N. Tyacke, R.A.M.C., said he saw PLASTOW at the Hospital at 11.30 a.m. He had collapsed and complained of intense pain in the abdomen and of thirst. He died at 3.15 on Saturday morning. when PLASTOW came into Hospital it looked like a case of acute poisoning. PLASTOW told him he had eaten bananas and fried skate. Asked if he got the fish at the coffee shop, he replied, "No, at Plymouth." - The Coroner said it was possible that PLASTOW, being in great pain, made a mistake. - Witness said the man was quite sensible at the time. A post-mortem examination showed that death was due to ptomaine poisoning, either by meat or fish, but not vegetable. - Mr Mills: You particularly asked him if he got the fish at the coffee-bar and he said "No"? - That is so. - A Director's Evidence. - Mr Mills said the fish used by his firm for frying purposes was procured from Grimsby daily. Every piece of fish was opened, cleaned and scrubbed and then fried in their own apparatus, and sent out to the barracks. They never had sufficient to have any left over the day after. On March 31st they sent out 1,352 pieces of fish, and had no single complaint from any place that it went to. The fish arrived about 8 a.m., and was at once cleaned and fried and sent out in the vans. He supposed it would be caught the day before and travelled through the night. It had to pass the doctors at the docks. - By the Jury: It was fresh fish, but ice was put into the boxes to keep it cool. He could not tell how long the fish was on board the vessels before leaving Grimsby. - The Coroner said the firm bought in the open market in the ordinary way. A lot of people bought fish from Grimsby. - Witness said the fish came in boxes, lined with paper and it was not fried in copper. - The Coroner said he did not think the Jury would be justified in saying the fish PLASTOW had on the Thursday afternoon was the cause of the poisoning. Nowhere was there evidence to show the ham sandwich was the cause, because the other man had a sandwich, and nothing happened to him. It would be very unfair to find that this poisoning was set up by the fish at the barracks, because it would be an isolated instance, and there was only the evidence of Private Mooney, and he might have been mistaken. The evidence showed how carefully Dickeson's business must be carried on, because they got immense quantities of fish daily. - The Jury, at the Coroner's suggestion, found that Death was due to Ptomaine Poisoning, but there was not sufficient evidence to show the cause.

SEATON AND BEER - Seaton Suicide. - Dr E. R. Tweed held an Inquest at Seaton yesterday on JAMES IRISH, who died on Sunday evening. - ANNIE IRISH, his daughter, said she found her father sitting on the floor of his bedroom on Wednesday morning with his throat cut. He had been in ill-health for some years, and had complained of pains in his head. She called a neighbour, Mrs Adam, who fetched a doctor. Her father had never threatened to take his life, and since the occurrence had made no statement of any kind. - Dr H. L. Pattinson said MR IRISH had been a patient of his for 40 years. The wound in his throat was from 4 to 5 inches in length. He could not articulate owing to the wound, which was self-inflicted. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during a fit of Temporary Insanity" and expressed sympathy with the family.

UGBOROUGH - At an Inquest held at Bittaford yesterday, on the son of S. AND G. FOLLEY, of Sunnydale, Dr Royle of Brent, who made the post-mortem, attributed death to heart failure.

STOKE DAMEREL - A Dockyardman's Death. - An adjourned Inquest on CHARLES BUTT, late of Victory-street, a painter's labourer, H.M. Dockyard, was held yesterday at Devonport by Mr J. A. Pearce. - George Beer, surgery attendant, Devonport Dockyard, said BUTT came to the surgery on February 24th and said he had had a fall and hurt his legs. There were abrasions on the legs, over old wounds. After these were dressed, he told him to come to the surgery daily. The old wounds had been extensive and were he thought, due to varicose veins. Dr Gordon Muir, Dockyard Surgeon, said he saw BUTT on March 22nd. He was then suffering from an abscess on the left knee. This was dressed and he returned to work. It was again examined on the following day, but on the 24th BUTT sent in a sick note saying he was unable to come to work. - The Jury found that death was due to erysipelas, caused by a wound on the knee, but there was not sufficient evidence to show what caused the wound.

Western Morning News, Friday 15 April 1910
PLYMOUTH - Sudden Death At Plymouth. - Mr John Graves, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest at Ivey's refreshment house, West Hoe, yesterday on REBECCA PEPPERELL, aged 41, the wife of PHILLIP JOHN PEPPERELL, carman, of 24 Bishop's-place. - Deceased who had recently been confined, was taken suddenly ill on the previous afternoon and died in a little over an hour. - Dr C. G. Russel Rendle said he had made a post-mortem examination and death was due to lung disease, combined with anaemia and a weakened heart. - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was recorded and the Jury expressed sympathy with the relatives.

TIVERTON - At an Inquest held at Tiverton Infirmary last evening on JOHN DAVEY, who died suddenly on Wednesday, his 90th birthday, at Canal Cottage, Tiverton, Dr Pollock said death was due to heart disease of long standing. MR JOHN DAVEY and his wife, (now 88) lived in the same cottage at Tiverton 56 years.

PLYMOUTH - MR JOHN PARDEW'S Death. Coroner And Jury's Sympathy. - The Inquest on MR JOHN PARDEW, professor of music, who died suddenly on Wednesday evening, was held at the residence of the deceased, No. 2 Buckland-terrace, Plymouth, before Mr John Graves, Deputy Coroner, yesterday afternoon. Mr George W. Quigley was elected Foreman of the Jury. - The Deputy Coroner said the Inquest was on the body of an old townsman, who had been well known amongst them for many years and who possessed a very kindly, genial nature that could be observed in his face and bearing always. They all regretted his death very much indeed and the relatives would have every sympathy not only from the Jury, but from everybody who knew him. He, (the Deputy Coroner) personally knew him as a friend, and he very much felt the occasion of the Inquest, as he was sure did everyone who knew him. It appeared that on the previous night he was taking a walk with his youngest daughter and was suddenly taken ill and died right away. Dr Russel Rendle was called in soon afterwards, but unfortunately too late. Dr Rendle had made a post-mortem examination, but he the Deputy Coroner had not heard the cause of death. - Dr Rendle: He had eaten a rather heavy meal and got a little indigestion. After walking he had slight trouble with his heart, of which probably he was not cognizant. - The Deputy Coroner: It was due to the heart then? - Yes. - Replying to the Deputy Coroner, Dr Rendle said MR PARDEW was 54 years of age, he would have been 55 next week. About 8.30 p.m. on the previous day he received a message over the telephone from Dr Glinn, who inquired whether MR PARDEW was a patient of his. Witness told him he was. Dr Glinn then said he had been called to 72 Beaumont-road to attend him. Witness drove at once to the address, and observed that death had just occurred. He had made a post-mortem examination. Death resulted from heart failure. He had not attended deceased for a personal ailment for four or five years. - A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was recorded and Mr Quigley said the Jury desired the Deputy Coroner to convey their heartfelt sympathy; also, he might say, of the town generally, with the relatives. - The Deputy Coroner said he would convey their kind expression of sympathy to MRS PARDEW, whom he would be seeing shortly. He was sure she would appreciate their condolence and sympathy with her in her trial.

Western Morning News, Monday 18 April 1910
SIDMOUTH - The Late ARCHDEACON BOURKE - An Inquest was held at Sidmouth on Saturday on ARCHDEACON BOURKE, who died suddenly on Peak Hill on Friday evening. - Professor Sonnenschein, of Birmingham, described his walk up the hill, Sidmouth, and the sudden collapse of the deceased, who was 68 years of age and unmarried. - Dr A. C. Bird, who had made a post-mortem examination of deceased, said the cause of death was internal haemorrhage and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly. The Foreman (Mr Jordan) expressed the deep sympathy of the Jury with the Archdeacon's sister, who had accompanied him to Sidmouth and Professor Sonnenschein said he would convey the sympathy to the family.

NEWTON ABBOT - Drowned In The Teign. - At Newton Abbot on Saturday Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on FRANK WELSH, bargeman of Newton, whose body was discovered in the Teign on Friday morning. - JOSEPH WELSH, father of deceased, said the latter owned his own barge and traded between Newton and Teignmouth. Deceased was 41 years old, had sixteen children and was a good swimmer. - Dr J. Scruse said death was due to drowning. - Frederick Lang said he was in deceased's employ and went with him on Thursday to Teignmouth for sand. they had to leave the barge there in the night, and started to row back in a small boat. At Netherton Point, witness got out to walk home, as it was raining. - The Coroner: Why did not deceased get out too? - He wanted to take his boat home to have it ready for next day. It was nearly high tide when they parted. Deceased had a little to drink. - Thomas Hunt said he saw deceased afterwards in the boat, which was drifting up with the tide. Deceased spoke and seemed all right. - George Wreford gave evidence of finding the body in shallow water. The boat was about 50 yards away and had not been upset; deceased's coat and basket being in it. - Henry Stigings, landlord of the Ferry Boat Inn, Coombe, said deceased only had a couple of pints of cider there after leaving work. The boat was newly tarred and deceased might have slipped. A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 19 April 1910
BOVEY TRACEY - Suicide At Bovey Tracey. - Mr Hacker yesterday held an Inquest at Bovey Tracey on NOAH NICKOLS, age 42. - EDWARD NICKOLS, a gardener, said NICKOLS, his uncle, was a blacksmith, and lost his wife in November 1909, and he had had a housekeeper and his three children living with him. Deceased had troubled a good deal over his wife's death. On Friday night he heard he was missing and he (witness) with P.C. Finch, searched for him. They continued the search on Saturday morning. On going across some fields in the direction of Challabrook Farm, he found the body in one of the fields dead, in a sitting posture, on the bank of a stream. - Annie Emond said she had been housekeeper for deceased about four weeks. He appeared in good health. He had been drinking heavily previously from Saturday to Tuesday, and each day came home intoxicated. She gave him notice on Wednesday morning and he promised to reform. On Friday she noticed he had been drinking a little. He left home a few minutes after two and that was the last time she saw him alive. On going upstairs she noticed a Lloyd's Bank envelope with pencil writing on it and as it was not his private drawer she looked at the writing, which read:- "I have lost my only boy and then my wife. My heart is broken. I am done for. I am leaving everything to the arms of the lawyer. My head is in a fearful state. N.N." - She then thought that something must be wrong, as he often appeared depressed. - Harold Davie, a carpenter, said he saw NICKOLS on Friday at dinner time near the level crossing in Challabrook Moors, walking in the direction of Challabrook Farm. He was alone and smoking his pipe. - P.C. Finch said on the right hand side of the body he found an open razor. The case was open on his left hand side. He also found a bottle on the right side, which had contained spirits of salts. On the body he found a watch, pipe, knife and 10s. 10d. in money. He had been a heavy drinker for some years. - Dr R. R. Huxtable said the lips and mouth showed signs of corrosive poisoning, such as would be caused by spirits of salts. A gash in the left side of the neck was deep and had severed the artery and vein. It was probably made by the razor. No other marks were on him. It was a self-inflicted wound. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane."

PLYMOUTH - The Mutley Suicide. Farewell Messages. - An Inquest was held at Plymouth yesterday on WILLIAM JAMES STETHRIDGE, 29, barber, of 46 Wesley-avenue, Mutley. MRS POLLY FELLICK, his sister, said he seemed depressed on Saturday evening. Later she heard he had been found hanging in the wash-house. - Dr Francis said death was due to hanging. - P.C. Osborne said STETHRIDGE had received a demand note for £1 4s., an instalment of the repayment of a loan. A note found on the body ran as follows:- "Dear Ea[?], - , I am very sorry to say goodbye. I am glad to do it. - Dear Mother, - I am sorry to say I am tired of this life. " - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Death of MR W. H. SATCHWILL. - MR WILLIAM HENRY SATCHWILL, aged 73, for the past thirty years in business as a tailor in Westwell-street, Plymouth, died suddenly on Sunday at May-terrace, Lipson. On Saturday he was engaged in his business but having caught cold he took to his bed on Sunday, and passed away shortly after midday in his sleep. Born at Torquay, he for some years conducted a tailoring business there. Later he went to London and became identified with the firm of Poole and Hill Bros. thirty years ago he returned to the West and started the business in Plymouth. His wife, who was before her marriage, MISS MARY ANN NIAS, of Torquay, died five years ago. MR SATCHWILL leaves six daughters and one son. Four of the daughters are married. For some years MR SATCHWILL was a Conservative member of Plymouth Board of Guardians. He was also a member of the Mercantile Association, and was one of the committee of the Sunday evening meetings for the people in the Guildhall. He for many years acted as sidesman of St Andrew's Church. - At the Inquest held by Mr R. B. Johns yesterday, Dr J. d. Moore, who had made a post-mortem examination, said death was due to heart disease caused by pleurisy of long-standing. The Jury expressed sympathy with the relatives.

Western Morning News, Friday 22 April 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - At the Inquest at Devonport yesterday on HANNAH PENWARDEN VOWDEN, Kensington-terrace, who died suddenly on Tuesday, Dr C. L. Lander said in his opinion death was due to heart failure.

TORQUAY - At Torquay last evening an Inquest was held on LOUISA MUNRO, 87, who died on Tuesday. JANET MUNRO said her sister fell just as they were going to church and was found in a semi-conscious state at the bottom of the stairs. Witness thought she tripped over a wrap she was carrying. Dr W. W. Stabb said she fractured her right collar-bone. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was given.

STOKE DAMEREL - Soldier's Suicide. A Devonport Gunwharf Tragedy. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at the Military Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, on FRANCIS JOSEPH PAUL, aged 22, private in No. 70 Company, Army Ordnance Corps, found hanging in a storehouse at the Gunwharf on Wednesday morning. - Company Sergt.-Major H. B. Johnson, A.O.C., at the Gunwharf, said PAUL, who belonged to Woolwich, enlisted in May 1908. On Monday he appeared sad and depressed. He had been discharged from the Military Hospital on the previous Saturday, and meeting him on Monday told him he was pleased to see him out of Hospital, and hoped he had completely recovered. PAUL looked at witness rather blankly and made no reply. He had been in Hospital about four weeks. About 11.15 a.m. on Wednesday he was informed by an orderly that PAUL had hanged himself in No. 16 store. Witness took an inventory of deceased's kit and found five private letters. PAUL deserted on January 20th and gave himself up on February 3rd at head-quarters at Woolwich. He was awarded 120 hours' detention and since then he had been depressed. A telegram had been sent to deceased's next-of-kin, and a reply had been received, "Please state at Inquest insanity in family." - The Coroner, after reading several letters produced, said PAUL evidently had nice friends, who gave him good advice. He (the Coroner) saw no reason for opening several sealed letters found. One letter written by deceased was as follows:- " The root of all my trouble started on the Plain last year. Can be told you by the ex-corps man, a saddler, if he will own up and try to act the game for once, who slept in the same tent as myself on Perham Down camp. He did me an injury: practically my own fault, because I acted the coward and was afraid of him." - Sergt.-Major Johnson said PAUL had no trouble in his company. He was always treated with the greatest respect and no one ever taunted him or interfered with him in any way. - P.C. Richer, Metropolitan Police, said he saw PAUL passing through No. 16 store about 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday. He spoke to him and did not appear depressed. Shortly afterwards he was informed that PAUL had hanged himself in the store. - Alexander Kilpatrick, labourer in the Gunwharf, said he found PAUL hanging from a beam behind a door in the store. Within a minute the body was cut down by P.C. Nadin. - Capt. Mcdowall, R.A.M.C., said that when he arrived artificial respiration was being performed by P.C. Nadin, who told him he had been doing this three-quarters of an hour. On examination there was not the slightest doubt that life was extinct. - The Coroner said he was informed that PAUL had been in the Hospital for enlarged glands in the neck. Everything possible was done for him and thanks were due to the Police for what they did. - The Jury found that PAUL committed suicide while in a state of Temporary Insanity, and expressed sympathy with his family. - The funeral will take place tomorrow morning.

Western Morning News, Saturday 23 April 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - The Fatality In H.M.S. Sutlej. Accident Explained: Inquest Adjourned. - Mr R. R. Rodd (County Coroner) held an Inquest at the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on THOMAS PEAK CRAZE (19), who died on Thursday from injuries received on board the cruiser Sutlej. Mr J. P. Goldsmith (Goldsmith and Peck) represented the Admiralty. - ABRAHAM CRAZE, general labourer, St Ives, identified the deceased as his son. - Able Seaman Harry Mervin, H.M.S. Sutlej, said on Thursday they were engaged in raising the ship's cable for survey. the cable was being hauled from the locker by a wire-hawser. The latter was attached to a capstan on the jetty, and was conducted to the after-deck of the ship by rollers. It was then brought inboard by a leading block, attached to the casemate by means of two wire strops. The work was commenced at 8 a.m., and went on continuously until midday. They were getting out the last shackle when the strop holding the leading block parted, causing the hawser to fly inboard, striking the deceased. The shackle was outside the forecastle door when the strop gave out. Witness did not think that the cable had in any way jammed in the pipe. The strop had not been used before as far as he knew. Everything ran smoothly until the time of the accident. He did not think the shackle was run right up to the loading block causing a sudden strain. - The Coroner remarked that it must have been a defective block, or there must have been a sudden strain somewhere. - Witness added that he could not say who fitted the apparatus for the work. - Lieut. R. B. C. Hutchinson said owing to their not having steam up on board the work was done by means of a Dockyard capstan on the jetty, alongside which the Sutlej was lying. Witness gave corroborative evidence as to the manner in which the wire hawser was led from the capstan to the cable deck. The wire hawser was a two-and-a-half inch one. They had cleared three lockers, comprising 37 shackles, and when the accident occurred they were hauling aft the last length of cable. Witness examined the broken strop and found the condition of the wire very good. - In reply to suggestions by the Coroner as to the cause of the accident, witness said the wire strop was not defective; the cable could not have jammed as it came from the pipe and the shackle was not run up to the leading block causing any strain. He did not consider that the tackle was arranged in an unseamanlike manner. The accident could not have been foreseen. The breaking strain of a 2 ½ in. wire hawser was 11 ¾ tons, and that should have allowed of a large margin of safety. The only suggestion as to the cause of the accident that he could make was that it was due to the nip of the shackle in the bale sling strop shackled to the casement; also to the fact that as the last shackle, which was being hauled in, was in a different position to the remainder, another leading block was fixed. This would cause additional strain, while there was also a weight of cable outside the hawse pipe. The work was carried out in the usual way when a ship had no steam up. Deceased was one of a party of men told off to arrange the cable on the starboard side of the deck. He should have been there when the strop parted, and had he remained there he would have avoided all injury. When the accident occurred deceased had voluntarily shifted his position to another part of the deck. - The Coroner remarked that the witness had taken them to a point where a good wire strop parted with a strain of three tons when it had been tested to a strain of 11 ¾ tons. The strop had been in use for some months. The petty officer in charge of the capstan had been warned, in case of any undue strain, to surge. He was not responsible for the rigging-up of the apparatus. He was simply in charge of the work, but, being in general charge, had he considered the apparatus unsuitable he would have had it altered. There was no eye in the strop and had there been he was of opinion the accident would not have occurred. It was the sharp nip of the wire which he believed caused the strop to part. - Fleet-Surgeon Hugh Macnamara, H.M.S. Sutlej, said he was in the gunroom and heard the hawser part. Deceased was taken to the sick-bay and died in a few minutes. The external marks of injury were very slight, and probably death was caused by dislocation of the neck due to the blow by the hawser. - The Jury concurred with the Coroner that it was advisable to visit the ship and inspect the strop and the Inquiry was accordingly adjourned until Monday at 11 a.m.

STOKE DAMEREL - Soldier's Suicide At Devonport. Tragic Discovery At Detention Barracks. - At the Military Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest on PTE. HERBERT WILLIAMS, 1st East Surrey Regt., who hanged himself on the previous day at the Granby Detention Barracks. - Capt. Austin R. O'Flaherty, R.A.M.C., said about 8.40 p.m. on Thursday he saw the deceased lying on his bed. Artificial respiration had been tried without success. The body was still warm, but life was extinct. There was a mark around the neck where a cord had been deeply embedded, and death was due to suffocation, through hanging. - Lieut. Damer Wynyard, 1st East Surrey Regt., said the deceased on the 15th inst., was sentenced to 28 days' detention for insubordination towards the colonel commanding the battalion. He had formerly been a lance-corporal, but had been reduced before being sentenced. He appeared to have been greatly worried through family matters during the past month. As soon as he was made lance-corporal he started making a fool of himself and had been so depressed of late that he had not been able to do his work properly. Deceased was twenty years of age and belonged to London. - Corpl. F. J. Andrews, Military Provost, Staff corps, stationed at Granby Detention Barracks, said he first saw the deceased on the 16th inst., and ever since he had done his work and drill all right. He appeared to be fairly cheerful and gave no trouble whatever. On Thursday evening about 7.50 he heard a noise as if someone was kicking a door. He immediately went to No. 32 room, occupied by the deceased, and discovered him hanging behind the door. The cord was attached to a ventilator just above the door. He cut the body down and released the cord around the neck, and whilst doing this the deceased groaned three times. Deceased had been working with witness during the afternoon and seemed all right. He also ate his supper. - In reply to a Juror, witness said the deceased would have had no difficulty in adjusting the rope to the ventilator. He last saw the deceased about 7.25 p.m. - Sergt.-Maj. A. C. Lipson explained what the detention-rooms were like and said he had had a conversation every day with the deceased. On Thursday whilst they were talking witness noticed that the deceased was unusually quiet, but he did the work that was allotted to him and must have finished it just before he hanged himself. - A verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane" was returned.

PLYMPTON ST MARY - Plymouth Carter's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the Lyneham Inn, Plympton yesterday on WILLIAM HENRY PIKE, 52, carter, in the employ of Chaplin and Co., - George Hornsby, carman, said on Wednesday he and PIKE were removing a load of furniture from Edith-avenue, Plymouth to Brent. They had nearly reached the Lyneham Inn when the chain of the near fore horse - there were three horses one in the shafts and two in chains in front - became detached in descending a slight decline. PIKE jumped off the wagon while it was moving to hook the chain on again and fell, the wheels passing over him. Dr Langworthy, Yealmpton, who happened to be passing, rendered assistance. Dr W. S. Langworthy stated that PIKE'S skull, jaw and thigh were fractured. Death was instantaneous. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. - Mr A. W. Jackson, representing Chaplin and Co., said PIKE was a reliable, trustworthy servant and his employers deeply regretted the sad accident.

Western Morning News, Monday 25 April 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Kingskerswell Woman's Death. - At Stonehouse on Saturday Mr R. R. Rodd opened an Inquest on RUTH LOUISE MITCHELL, 29, wife of a carter at Pennycross. - DAVID MITCHELL, the husband, said deceased had recently been under medical care at Kingskerswell and she went to Pennycross for the change of air. The Coroner said circumstances connected with the death rendered it desirable that further inquiries should be made. The Inquest was adjourned until tomorrow.

BELSTONE - The Dartmoor Fatality. - Mr J. D. Prickman held an Inquest at Belstone on Saturday on GEORGE ENDACOTT, of East Okement Farm, whose death took place on Thursday night. - JOHN ENDACOTT, his brother, said he heard from John Reddaway that GEORGE had met with an accident, and he rode out to the place where he was told it occurred, and found his brother lying in the road quite dead. The horse he had been riding was there. The saddle was in the roadway and the girths were broken. The widow said her husband left his home about 1 p.m. on Thursday to attend a sale at Coombe Head. He afterwards sent for his horse and she sent it to him. - Wm. Pyke said he took the horse to Belstone and started with him from there to go home. He stopped to get some bread and was thus delayed two or three minutes. He went on and after passing Culliver Steps his horse shied at something. He got off and found MR ENDACOTT'S saddle and on looking around saw his master lying in the road. He lifted him up, but he was not breathing. the horse was loose on the moor and had its knees broken badly. there was a pit behind a rock, into which evidently the horse had put its foot. - Mr W. J. Reddaway, granite merchant, Belstone, said he attended the sale with MR ENDACOTT, who afterwards went to his house and had tea. He stayed there until his man arrived with the horse. He was in no way the worse for drink. - Dr Bray said the wound in the head evidenced a very violent blow, which would cause concussion of the brain and lead to almost immediate death. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and expressed sympathy with the widow and family. The funeral takes place today, the cortege leaving the house at one o'clock, the interment being at three o'clock at Southtawton.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 26 April 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - The Fatality In H.M.S. Sutlej. Negligent Use Of Gear. - The Inquest on SEAMAN THOMAS P. CRAZE, R.N.R. (19), who was killed on board the Sutlej on Thursday last through the parting of a strop, was resumed yesterday at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse. Earlier in the morning the Coroner (Mr R. R. Rodd) and Jury had inspected the apparatus which is used to raise the ship's cable and examined the broken strop. - Evidence had already been given that the cable was being raised by means of a Dockyard capstan on the jetty, the Sutlej, in consequence of her engines being under repair, having no steam up. The work had been in progress four hours when the strop parted and the deceased was struck by the hawser, which flew inboard and killed him almost immediately. when the Inquest was resumed yesterday, - Mr Joseph Bennett, boatswain, said a 2 ¼ inch flexible wire strop without thimble or eye was being used. - The Coroner: Do you think if a thimble had been fitted in the strop it would not have parted? - Witness: With the same amount of strain, no. The reason for not using a thimble was that it could not have been shackled to the block, but a block could have been used to take a strop with a thimble. - What is your opinion as to the condition of the strop? - It is fairly good. - Only fairly good? - Yes, it was fitted in December last, and has only been used twice since. - Is it not customary to use strops with an eye for this purpose? - We do not often improvise gear. We use our own steam. The ship's gear has an eye in the strop. - The effect of using a strop without an eye would be to flatten the strands and weaken it? - Yes, but it did not appear to be so in this case. - Ought not a strop with a thimble to have been used? - I consider the strop used plenty good enough. - It could not have been, because it broke. - Yes, it broke, but we often use wire strops like that, in fact, it was made for cable work. - Mr J. P. Goldsmith (Admiralty Solicitor) questioned the witness, who stated that in his opinion the gear used was strong enough without having a thimble. The wire rope was in good condition and not at all rotten. - A Juror, having elicited that the strop when not in use was kept in the open, said it showed signs of wear and rot. - Witness did not agree. - Charles Myatt, P.O. 1, who was in charge of the capstan, said his instructions were to keep a sharp eye on the signals and if at any time there was a strain on the capstan to surge it at once. He had to surge on several occasions, but there was no special strain when the strop broke. - The Coroner: What do you think of the use of a strop without an eye? - Witness: I think if an eye had been there, the accident might possibly have been avoided. - You have seen that the effect of using a strop without an eye is to flatten the strands and weaken it? - Yes. - That is the view any practical sailor would take of the matter? - I think so, Sir. - The Coroner remarked that a second man was knocked down, but not seriously hurt. - Addressing the Jury, the Coroner said he thought it was quite clear that the sole cause of this fatality was the parting of the strop, which no doubt had suffered in the "nip" from the use to which it had been put and that the weakening or flattening of the strands was due to the absence of a thimble or eye. He thought the absence of a thimble showed that the gear on this occasion was not fitted in the usual and skilful way. It must seem to all a particularly sad thing that a young life should be sacrificed in the way the deceased's had been because the proper and ordinary precautions were not taken. He felt that no practical sailor would ever dream of running the risk and danger of using a wire strop without seeing that it was fitted with a thimble. If the Jury took that view their verdict would be that deceased died from injuries resulting from the breaking of a wire strop which was negligently fitted. He did not suppose for a moment that the Jury would consider there was neglect amounting to manslaughter on the part of any person. - The Jury deliberated for a considerable time, their verdict eventually being "That THOMAS CRAZE died from injuries received by being struck with a flying hawser, caused by the parting of a 2 ½ inch, flexible strop, in consequence of such strop being negligently used without thimble or eye, but such negligence was not culpable. - The Coroner said the Jury also wished him to say that in their opinion the commanding officer of the Sutlej should not have allowed this gear to be fitted and used in the way it was, but should have waited to examine the cable until such time as his ship could have used her own engines and gear, which were, of course, properly fitted for carrying out the examination of the cable in safety.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 27 April 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Kingskerswell Woman's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd at Stonehouse yesterday, resumed the Inquest on MRS RUTH LOUISE MITCHELL, aged 29, of Kingskerswell, who died on Thursday while on a visit to her sister at Pennycross Barton. - Dr Heppenstall of Weston Peverell, said on being called to Pennycross Barton on Thursday, he found MRS MITCHELL dying. A post-mortem examination showed that death was due to acute peritonitis, caused by the rupture of an abscess. He did not think there had been foul play. - Dr Thompson Marshall, locum tenens for Dr Cooke, said he was called early on Thursday morning to see MRS MITCHELL. Owing to the terrible pain she was in he was unable to examine her fully. She denied being pregnant. He noticed on the sideboard bottles of medicine bearing the label of a local chemist, and he began to entertain suspicions. He administered a dose of opium and told the people to let him know how the patient progressed. On the following morning he received a note saying his services would be no longer required, as they had called in another doctor. He attended the post-mortem examination by Dr Heppenstall and concurred with him as to the cause of death. Had a medical man been in attendance at the beginning of the week, an operation could have been performed and in all probability the woman would have recovered. - The Coroner said the only question for the Jury was whether MRS MITCHELL'S sister had been guilty of culpable ignorance in not sending for a doctor earlier. He thought she was to blame. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 3 May 1910
OKEHAMPTON - Suicide Near Okehampton. - Mr J. D. Prickman held an Inquest near Okehampton yesterday on GEORGE WARE. - Fanny Davis, wife of George Davis, who is in India, said WARE lived with her. On Saturday morning he went downstairs about eight o'clock. She heard him go out and then shout, "Fanny, I've take it; I've done it." She ran down and found him in the kitchen foaming at the mouth. He never spoke afterwards. She loosened his collar and called for help. Dr Young was sent for and came about 8.30, but WARE was then dead. The smell of the foam reminded her of some liquid she had bought last year for gapes in chicken. She looked for the bottle, but could not find it. Some rat poison was untouched. WARE had lately been worried with application from her sister in reference to a child in respect of which the justices had made an order against him. The letter produced was in her sister's handwriting:- By the Police: He threatened to kill himself about six months ago in consequence of her sister's letters. - Miss Dora Heale said she and her sister, who had received Red Cross training, went to Mrs Davis's assistance and rendered first aid. They also tried artificial respiration but death took place before the doctor's arrival. - Dr Young said death was caused by a strong corrosive poison, probably carbolic acid. WARE must have taken a big dose and having done so on an empty stomach was probably the reason for its quick action. - P.C. Wotton said he searched the body and found the letter produced. - Mr A. E. Berg, chemist, Hatherleigh, said he was the patentee of Berg's gape cure, of which a considerable quantity was sold. It was put up in 3oz. bottles and labelled "poison." He should not have considered the quantity was sufficient to kill a man. He did not remember having sold a bottle to WARE, but it might have been obtained from an agent. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in an Unsound State of Mind."

COLYTON - Suicide At Colyton. - Dr Tweed held an Inquest at Colyton yesterday on ANNE MARIA WELLMAN, aged 51, single, who was found hanging on Sunday. MRS WELLMAN, the mother, stated that her daughter had been very depressed of late. Witness left home just before 11 o'clock to attend church on Sunday morning, leaving her daughter to prepare the dinner. On returning about 12.45 she saw her hanging by a rope attached to a hook at the entrance to the stairs. A neighbour named Mrs Purse said that MISS WELLMAN had spoken to her at about 11.15, passing a remark about the weather. - Medical evidence having been called, the Jury returned a verdict that deceased hanged herself whilst of Unsound Mind.

HALBERTON - At an Inquest held at Halberton yesterday on HANNAH HINE, aged 74, wife of a retired farmer, who died on Saturday as the result of a fall downstairs on Easter Sunday, a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 4 May 1910
TORQUAY - Torquay Motor Fatality. Result Of The Inquest. - Mr Hacker held an Inquest at Torquay last evening on KATHLEEN MORRIS, 13, daughter of a labourer, who died at the Torbay Hospital on Monday, following injuries received in a motor car accident on Sunday afternoon. Mr S. H. Easterbrook watched the proceedings on behalf of the parents. - The mother said KATHLEEN was returning from Sunday-school when the accident happened. She took her to the Hospital. She (her daughter) was sufficiently conscious to say, "Oh, mother, mother," and repeated that during the night, adding, "I believe they've killed me." - Winifred Bartlett said KATHLEEN was crossing the road to her when the accident happened. She ran quickly and had almost reached the farther pavement when the car knocked her down. - Asked if she saw any necessity for the car to go to the right hand side of the road, she replied she did not. The tramcar which had been coming up the street had turned the corner when the car reached the bend. The girl was struck by the right wheel of the motor car. She heard no hooter sounded. The car was going fast down the street, but had slowed by the time it reached the corner. - Fredk. Powlesland, carter, said the car was travelling at a moderate pace. He heard no hooter sounded. - William Bridgman, porter, concurred that the car was travelling at a moderate pace. - James White, a gardener, described the pace as a "fairly good" one, and added there was nothing to prevent the driver keeping to the left of the road. Had he done so the accident would not have occurred. - The driver of the car, an electrician, named Frank H. Rippon, of Exeter, said he was driving a party of four, who had hired the car from him. As he reached Market-street corner he was driving in the middle of the road, at a speed of from 4 to 6 miles per hour. The road was clear, and as far as he knew he kept in the centre of the road. All at once he saw the child in front of the car, with no time to pull up. He did not go to the right, unless it was after the child was struck. - The Coroner pointed out that the evidence of previous witnesses was to the contrary, and witness replied that there was no necessity for him to leave the centre of the road, for it was clear. Directly the accident happened, he applied the brakes. The engine had already been cut off. He had sounded the hooter all the way down the street. - The Coroner emphasized the seriousness of the affair, and pressed for an explanation. - Witness replied, "All I can say is that the child ran suddenly into the road." - By Mr Easterbrook: When he first saw the child she was practically between the front wheels of the car. - Mr Easterbrook: I suggest you did not see her before she was struck? - It was almost instantaneous. - Samuel Bartlett, of Exeter, one of the occupants of the car, and sitting with the driver, bore out the latter's statement as to the suddenness with which the child appeared in front of the car. She was two yards away when he first saw her. The driver did all he could to stop the car. - P.C. Lake characterised the speed of the car as moderate. - After a somewhat long retirement the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

PLYMOUTH - At the Inquest yesterday on the one-month-old child of HENRY JOSLIN, fish hawker, Exeter-street, Plymouth, Dr Healey said suffocation, probably due to overlaying, was the cause of death. The mother said she woke on Monday morning and found the child dead by her side. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Friday 6 May 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Stonehouse Woman Choked. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest yesterday on ELIZABETH BUCKNELL, aged 84 years, widow of a naval pensioner and who resided at 24 Union-place. Amy Blatchwill, living in the same house, said she heard deceased moaning in her room on Tuesday afternoon, and found her on the hearth-rug choking and unconscious, and her neck scarf very tight around her neck. Witness thought she must have been sitting at the table eating at the time when she fell. - Dr Waterfield said death was due to suffocation. A large piece of pudding was obstructing the wind-pipe. Deceased might have been taken with a fit of coughing while swallowing the pudding. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 7 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Docks Fatality. - Mr R. B. Johns (Plymouth Borough Coroner) held an Inquest yesterday on THOMAS HENRY VARCOE, aged 50, of Furze Hill-road, a warehouseman, employed by the Western Counties Agricultural Association (Limited). John Willcocks, brother-in-law of the deceased, identified the body and said he knew nothing about the accident. - Frederick Uren, warehouseman, of Northumberland-terrace, said on Tuesday last, about 6.50 he saw deceased changing his clothes in the lift in the store known as Store No. 13, Great Western Docks. He was about three feet from the hatchway through which he afterwards fell. It was his habit to change his clothes in the lift, though there was a place provided for the men. Witness had spoken to him during the day, and he had seemed perfectly well. He thought deceased must have been leaning over the box, in which he kept his clothes, when the box tipped up. He heard deceased fall, and told the other men. They found that the fall had not caused death. There were two chains round the hatchway and one of the pillars to which they were fastened had given way, no doubt under his weight. - Simon John Uren, foreman at the store, said when he passed through, about five minutes before the accident occurred, the chains were in their proper place. The pillar was fixed to the wall by pins at the top and bottom. It had been in that position for four years, but had been overhauled a few months ago. - Dr T. Noy Leah of Stonehouse, said he was called on Tuesday evening, about quarter-past six. He found VARCOE unconscious. He lived for about five minutes after his arrival. The cause of death was a fracture at the base of the skull. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and said they considered that there had been neglect, inasmuch as the pillar was not fixed securely. - Mr W. Webber, secretary of the company, said that he had always taken whatever precautions were possible to secure the safety of the men. This accident was one which could not have been foreseen. - The Inquest was attended by the Inspector of Factories (Mr C. H. Morris), Mr Percy T. Pearce and Mr L. G. Sydenham.

Western Morning News, Monday 9 May 1910
BRIXHAM - Brixham Man's Death. His Brother Censured. - At an Inquest held at Brixham on Saturday on CHAS. BEDFORD, Mrs Eva Howe said n Wednesday last she asked JOHN BEDFORD where his brother CHARLES was. JOHN replied that he had fallen over the stairs and he did not like to go in as he was afraid he was dead. She found CHARLES sitting in a chair in the kitchen, unconscious and with no clothes on except a coat placed over him. The brothers always got on well together. - Dr G. C. Searle, who had made a post-mortem examination, said the only surface injuries was one at the back of the skull. Death was due to concussion of the brain. - GEORGE BEDFORD said his brother CHARLES was compelled to give up a seafaring life on account of fits. His brother JOHN would not lift a hand against him. - Sarah Furze, a neighbour, said she heard the brothers talking, but felt sure they did not quarrel. She afterwards heard what she considered was a fall. - JOHN BEDFORD said he had lived with his brother for 12 years. While he was at the Golden Lion on Tuesday, CHARLES, who was not the worse for drink, came in. They went home together, and after supper went to bed. Later on, hearing a noise, he found CHARLES at the bottom of the stairs. He picked him up and put him in a chair downstairs. It was dark as the lamp had gone out. In the morning he found him in the chair and he said "I am all right." He seemed semi-conscious. In the afternoon he found him as he had left him. He thought he would have come round again. If he had thought he was so bad he would not have left him and would have called someone in. Neither of them was the worse for drink. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death, the result of Accidentally Falling Downstairs," and censured the brother JOHN for leaving his brother such a long time without obtaining assistance.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 10 May 1910
EXETER - Exeter Woman's Suicide. Strange Letters. - At a Inquest at Exeter yesterday on ELIZABETH HARRIS, 56, whose body was found in the River Exe on Saturday, the evidence showed that she was of intemperate habits. She left a parcel at a public-house and asked the landlady to take it across the street to a friend next morning. The parcel contained a letter, which stated:- "Don't spare this to anyone. I feel just mad..... I feel just mad. Pray to God to forgive me. Look after grandpa. I owe him some money. Will you see that they pay him? the piano is mine. I am quite sure you could not understand, but I have suffered for a very long time. thanking you all for your great kindness to me. Regret having to leave so many nice things belonging to my mother, but trust I shall meet my dear Ned and parents once more. I cannot write any more, my head is fearful. I hope when they get the thins it will do them good, but they have driven me to do this." - In the parcel were her trinkets and jewellery. An interview with the deceased's grandfather, age 96, by the Coroner's Officer, disclosed that the woman had been worrying about the payment of twelve months' rent, which, it was stated, the landlord had demanded, as she required to leave the house in which she was residing. She had been greatly depressed of late, and had kept complaining. A letter found in her clothing, stated:- "I hope God will forgive me for my rash act. I feel I cannot stay here." - Something was said about her dear husband, but the letter being written with copying-ink pencil the words were indiscernible. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity."

TAMERTON FOLIOT - Tamerton Farmer's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest yesterday at Dunsburgh Farm, Tamerton Foliot on JOHN COLE, aged 66 years, farmer. - Prior to opening the Inquiry, the Coroner referred in sympathetic terms to the death of King Edward, and remarked that that was the first Inquest he was holding under the new Sovereign. - The evidence was then taken and the widow, MARY COLE, said on Saturday morning she got up at 4.15 and left deceased in bed. She made him tea, which, however, he declined. At 5 a.m. she went milking and returned to the farm at 6 a.m. A half an hour later she went upstairs and found her husband hanging by his neck with a cord to the staircase window. She summoned assistance and he was cut down within five minutes of the discovery. He was quite dead. She had never heard him threaten to take his life. For the past three or four years there had been many differences between herself and the deceased about money matters and her husband's intemperance. On one occasion she had to summon him for maintenance, but the matter was settled amicably. He had also complained to the Police of alleged violence on the part of his sons, who were now in the United States. For the past week he had not been sober. On Friday evening she had to undress him and put him to bed. He was drunk and wandering. He probably had drink on Saturday. She had been married 19 years, and had previously threatened to leave him. In her opinion drink had unnerved him. - William Wedge, farm labourer, deposed to cutting down the body. He was aware that COLE had been very unhappy in his home and drank more than was good for him. He could not say who was responsible for the quarrelling. COLE had recently had a fall from his horse. - A verdict of "Suicide while Temporarily Insane" was returned.

Western Morning News, Friday 13 May 1910
KINGSBRIDGE - A Fatal Scratch. - Mr S. Hacker yesterday held an Inquest at Kingsbridge Workhouse on RICHARD DAMERALL, of Goveton, about two miles from Kingsbridge. - LYDIA DAMERALL, widow, said deceased was 62 years of age. He had been ill a fortnight. On April 26th he went to work at Mr Baker's, Longclose, cutting wood, and came home in the evening. He asked for a piece of cloth, having scratched his leg by knocking it with a faggot of wood. Inside the calf of the left leg she noticed a mark with blood upon it. He put fresh lard on the rag and placed it on the leg. It looked better the next day and did not give him any pain. He finished his job on the Thursday night, and on the following Monday went to another job. When he returned he said he could not go any further as his foot was swollen and his leg hurting him. He went to bed and Dr Harston came and ordered his removal to the Workhouse on Saturday. He died on Wednesday. - Dr Lionel Harston said deceased was suffering from discharging ulcers in the leg. He did not mention anything about scratching his leg. Death was caused by blood poisoning, which might have been caused by a scratch. - He died of cellulitis. Verdict accordingly.

PLYMOUTH - Suicide At Plymouth. Servant Girl And Her Mistress. - ROSE EFFIE FLOOD, a servant girl, was found dead at a temperance hotel in Union-street, and an Inquest was held by Mr R. B. Johns yesterday into the cause of her death. It appeared that she was engaged to a sailor, now away, and a letter from him and also from her to her mother were found in her dress pocket. - WILLIAM FLOOD, of Victoria-place, Pack-street, Exeter, her father, said he regarded her as a jolly girl, but was afraid she must have been "queer in her head." She had a sister in the asylum. He knew she was engaged to a sailor and he did not object to it. She had no quarrel with her mistress that he knew of. - Mrs Packhard, an aunt of the girl, said she lived at Devonport and saw her once or twice a week. She was in service with Mrs Heard, at Stoke. - The Coroner: Do you know if she had been jilted by this young man? - No, sir; he is my son. Witness added that she had seen Mrs Heard, and understood that the girl had had some disagreement with her, but Mrs Heard did not tell her what it was about. - The Foreman thought they had better adjourn to hear Mrs Heard's evidence. - Miss Brokenshire, who keeps the temperance hotel, said the girl came in on Tuesday night about nine o'clock and asked the price of a bed. She had a cup of tea and went upstairs and next morning, as she did not come down, they looked into the room and found her dead. - P.C. Dimond said he found letters in the girl's pockets - one from a sailor to whom she was engaged, and one to her mother. There was nothing unusual in the sailor's letter. The letter from the girl to her mother, was as follows:- "My darling Mother, - I must say good-bye. I cannot face (here something was obliterated) again, after what has happened. forgive me for doing such an act, but I cannot return home as I intended. I have taken oxalic acid. Good-bye. Love to all." - The Constable also found pieces of wrappers of four packets which had contained oxalic acid. - Dr Stephens Ward deposed that deceased died of poisoning by oxalic acid. - The Inquest was adjourned until this morning for the attendance of Mrs Heard.

Western Morning News, Saturday 14 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - Exeter Girl's Suicide At Plymouth. - Mr R. B. Johns yesterday resumed the Inquest at the Plymouth Mortuary on ROSE EFFIE FLOOD, the servant girl who was found dead at a temperance hotel in Union-street, on Wednesday. - Eliza Heard, Argaum-villas, Stoke, for whose appearance the Inquest had been adjourned, stated that deceased had been her cook since August of last year. For some time witness had been missing articles, but had not suspected the deceased. On Tuesday morning she asked her to telephone to the laundry for a blouse that was missing. Later in the day she found that deceased had packed her boxes and witness asked her to open them. The girl refused, and exclaimed, "My God, it has come at last." Witness produced a portion of a letter which was in one of the boxes, the other half of which deceased had snatched away from her and torn to pieces. Witness told deceased that she was a "wicked, bad girl," and that she would have to leave as soon as she had finished her work that day. She then went to deceased's aunt, Mrs Packard, and made arrangements for deceased to sleep there for the night. When deceased left in the evening she promised to stay at her aunt's for the night and then to go on to her parents at Exeter. Witness had not noticed anything strange about her except that she was very excitable. - The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity," concurred with the Coroner's remarks that Mrs Heard had done everything in her power to screen the girl, and expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the evidence had been given.

Western Morning News, Monday 16 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - At an Inquest held at Plymouth Workhouse on Saturday on THOMAS DUNSTAN, aged 56, an inmate for four years, Dr Cooke said death was due to heart failure.

DARTMOUTH - Suicide At Sea. "Badly Swindled At Lisbon." - At Dartmouth on Saturday, Mr A. M. Davson held an Inquest on HANS PETERS, 33 years of age, chief engineer of the Ulla Boog. - Emil Ahens, master of the Ulla Boog, said on Friday morning, when the vessel was at sea, he saw PETERS at four o'clock and he was then in good health. - Paul Engles, mate of the Ula Boog, said at eight o'clock on Friday morning he was called to PETERS' cabin and found him dead. A letter written by PETERS read: " I have been badly swindled at Lisbon, and can do nothing else." the vessel had been to Lisbon, but PETERS had not landed there. - By Mr Chapman (a Juror): The vessel had called at Lisbon to coal. When PETERS wrote about being swindled, he took it he referred to the coals. - Tolga Sand, the steward, a Norwegian, deposed to seeing PETERS hanging in his cabin. He called the second engineer, who cut the body down. - The Jury found that PETERS committed Suicide, but there was no evidence as to the state of his mind at the time.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 18 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - The Plymouth Mystery. Inquest And Verdict. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on WILLIAM JOHN HUNT, a watchmaker, aged 47 years, of Beaumont-avenue, found in the water off Plymouth Hoe on Saturday. - William Broad, mason, of South View-terrace, St Budeaux, said HUNT, who was his daughter's brother-in-law, called at his house on Friday evening. He then appeared as usual. - Samuel Clatworthy, labourer, of Central-road, West Hoe, said he saw the body floating in the water off Pebbleside on Saturday morning. It was covered with seaweed. He took it out of the water and found that the clothes were burnt. - P.C. Wyatt said on the clothes he found three postcards addressed to HUNT, a pair of glasses and 2s. 7 ½d. in money. - Dr Williams, of Stonehouse, said he found a slight burn on the right thigh and the left side of his over-coat and the legs of the trousers were burnt. The conflagration must have been considerable as the flames had leapt up and burnt his head and face very badly. His beard and the hair of his head were completely burnt off. His left hand also as very badly burnt and the whole of the skin had peeled off. There was no smell of oil in the clothes. In his opinion death was due to drowning. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned and the Jury passed a vote of condolence with the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held at the Plymouth Mortuary yesterday on EMILY MINERS, spinster, of independent means, who was found dead in her room at Radford-road, on Sunday. Dr Price said death was due to heart disease. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

PAIGNTON - The Torbay Drowning Case. - Mr Hacker held an Inquest last evening at Paignton on ARTHUR HOOK, a stoker, R.N., recovered from Torbay on Monday. The Admiralty was represented by Chief Officer A. E. Lark, of the Torquay Coastguards. - JOHN HOOK, publican of Cheltenham, said he identified the body as that of his son, 28 years of age, a first class stoker in the Royal Navy, in H.M.S. Jupiter, chiefly by tattoo marks on the left arm. - Thomas Beck, able seaman, H.M.S. Jupiter, said the watch in which he and HOOK were, was called up at half-past three in the morning, of March 12th, the fleet being then anchored in the bay, to get the steam launch ready. HOOK was going to light the fire to get steam up and he got over the boom and went down the rope ladder, while the others were holding the boat up to the boom. There was a very rough sea and a heavy swell. The boathook which HOOK had broke, and he was washed off the boom and fell four or five feet into the sea. Another sea washed him to the foot of the ladder and he hung on for two or three minutes, then another wave washed him away. It was very dark at the time. the searchlights were turned on from the ship and a look-out was kept, but nothing could be seen of him. HOOK could not swim. If he could he might possibly have been rescued. - Joseph Wellick, another able seaman, gave similar evidence. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." - The funeral took place at Paignton Cemetery, Paignton, Torquay and Babbacombe Coastguards attending, under chief Officer A. Lark.

Western Morning News, 19 May 1910
MEAVY - Meavy Farmer's Death. Engine Driver And His Look-Out. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Lake Farm, Meavy, yesterday, on ISAAC MOSES, aged about 72 years, a farmer, killed on the Yelverton-Princetown Railway line, on Tuesday. - Chief Inspector Poultney and Mr T. H. Hodges, of the locomotive department, represented the G.W. R. Co. - MR MOSES MOSES aged 75 years, of Plymouth, who had been living with his brother for some months, stated that on Tuesday, at 8.30 a.m., MR MOSES left the farm with a flock of sheep which he was going to drive on to the moors. He had the assistance of two sheepdogs. His brother was born at Lake Farm and lived there all his life and was therefore well acquainted with the place and the running of the trains. There was a very high wind blowing at the time of the accident, but he did not think he was deaf. On an average he used the crossing about twelve times a week. The sheepdogs were good at their work, but the flock contained several young lambs. Before his brother left he told him to mind the train, and he replied that he thought the train had already passed. - Engine Driver's Story. - Geo. H. Newcombe, engine-driver of Princetown, said he drove the 8.43 a.m. train from Yelverton to Princetown. At Dousland they detached a truck and left one minute late, at 8.55. He was, as usual, keeping a look-out on the right side of the engine. On reaching the accommodation crossing at Yennadon Down he saw a sheep roll out from the front of the engine, followed by another. A moment later he saw a man's cap appear. He immediately brought the train to a standstill. He went back to the crossing and found MR MOSES cut in two. The lower portion of the body was lying between the metals, the upper portion outside the metals. Two sheep and a dog had also been killed. Nothing was visible to him until the sheep appeared at the front of the engine. The left gate of the crossing was open and the right one shut and fastened. The remainder of the sheep were running about the metals. - The Coroner: MR MOSES evidently passed one gate and fastened it? - Yes. - Continuing, Mr Newcombe said at the time of the accident his fireman was firing the engine. The weather was dry, with a gusty wind from the east. - The Coroner: If you were keeping a look-out, will you tell the Jury how it was you did not see the flock of sheep and MR MOSES until you were right on them? - At the time we were on a very sharp curve. My view was obscured by the front of the engine. - Are there any regulations in writing as to passing this crossing? - No. - Is it customary to sound the whistle? - No. I did not sound the whistle. - I suppose farmers and others used the crossing at their own risk? - I take it to be so. The train had left Yelverton at the same time for many years. At the time of the accident, I was travelling at 18 miles an hour. - A Son's Opinion. - MR MOSES, son of the deceased: Which way were you looking at the time? - Straight ahead. - And you saw nothing? - Not until I was right on them. - MR MOSES: I don't think if a man was on the look-out. - The Coroner: You must not express an opinion. The driver has said he could see nothing. - In reply to MR MOSES, the witness said he pulled the train up in about 40 yards. He was not aware he had killed anyone until he went back. It was impossible for him to have seen anything. - The Coroner: Do you accept that MR MOSES? - MR MOSES: No; I think the man could see ahead. If he could pull up in 40 yards, he would have then had time. - Walter J. Jones, the fireman on the engine, said he was firing at the time. He agreed that from his position the curve prevented the driver from seeing ahead. - A Juror remarked that he firmly believed that MR MOSES thought the train had gone by. Otherwise he would not have gone back and fastened the gate. He would have driven the sheep over as quickly as he could. - Discussion arose as to the desirability of the Jury visiting the scene of the accident, and the majority said that they had already seen the place. It was well known to them. MR MOSES expressed a wish that the Jury as a body should view the spot and in deference to his wishes the Jury did so. - Summing Up And Verdict. - On their return, the Coroner remarked that probably at the time of the accident MR MOSES was absorbed in his work and believed, as they would gather from the brother's evidence, that the train had gone by. Also the wind was high and with the barking of the dogs and the bleating of the sheep, he evidently did not hear the engine's approach. The second visit to the scene of the accident had only led them to confirm the opinion they formed on a visit before the Inquest; that the driver was unable from the position in which he was keeping the look-out to see MR MOSES or the sheep before he was actually upon them. To say the least, it was unfortunate that with regard to a man so well respected and known as Driver Newcombe was in that district, there should have been any question as to his veracity. He thought he had given his evidence in an absolutely straightforward way and that he took every step he could promptly to pull the train up. He did not consider any blame or reflection whatever rested on him for the sad death of MR MOSES. It was also perfectly clear that MR MOSES was well acquainted with the place and also with the running of the train. If they took that view their verdict would be one of "Accidental Death." Their sympathy would be with the bereaved family, and though he did not know MR MOSES personally, he believed he was a man highly esteemed in the parish and one who would be greatly missed. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed sympathy with the family.

Western Morning News, Friday 20 May 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Devonport Dockyard Fatality. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday on THOMAS SMITH, skilled labourer, Devonport Dockyard. - Philip Stevenson, chargeman of shipwrights of Nelson-street, Plymouth, said SMITH was under his charge on the 10th inst., and was planing a steel plate with a machine worked by a motor. After finishing the part of the plate he gave the order for the plate to be lowered. He got caught between the stool and the plate. Nothing had given way. SMITH was a capable workman and had worked in the shop 25 years. - Frank Tallack, skilled labourer, of P:ackington-street, Stoke, the driver of the overhead traveller in the machine shop, said the plate was hooked on to the slings, and he was given the signal to lift. After lowering once and lifting again, he received the order from SMITH to lower again. He did so and SMITH apparently slipped and was caught between the stool and the plate. Seeing something was wrong, he lifted at once. - The Inquest was adjourned until Tuesday for the attendance of H.M. Inspector of Factories.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Infant's Death. - An Inquest was held yesterday by Mr R. B. Johns at Plymouth on FRANK STUART GILBERT, aged three days, whose parents reside in Penrose-street. - Ellen Warren, wife of Thomas Warren, railway clerk, Exeter, said the child was her grandson. It was its mother's first child. On waking up just before 10 a.m. yesterday the mother found it lying dead by her side. Dr H. R. Corbett said he attended the mother and thought the child would survive. The child had all the appearance of having been suffocated. He had no doubt it was accidental. Both the grandmother and mother were sleeping in the bed at the time. - The Coroner: The usual result. A child in bed with two people again. I do not know what can be done to prevent it. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Woman's Fatal Fall. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on SARAH PITTS, aged 83, who died on Wednesday. - Ellen Wotton, of De la Hay-avenue, said her mother had lived with her. On the 4th inst., while in the garden, she fell. Witness heard her shout and on going out found her lying near some steps. With the assistance of her sister they took her indoors and to bed. Dr C. L. Lander said death was due to congestion of the lungs brought on by a fracture of the thigh bone. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

BOW - A little girl of Bow, BESSIE MANVILLE, died suddenly on Wednesday, and at the Inquest yesterday Dr Haycroft said in his opinion death was due to convulsions, brought on by congestion of the brain.

Western Morning News, Monday 23 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Street Fatality. - At the Homeopathic Hospital, Plymouth, on Saturday Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest on JOHN WILLIAM E. STEAD, the three-year-old son of a sergeant of Royal Marines. - The father said his son was, with another child, playing in Flora-street. - Daniel Powell said about 11.45 on Tuesday morning he was driving a single-horse van, belonging to Lyons and co., in Flora-street, at a slow trot. He did not see the child at all, but felt the wheels of the van go over it. - Herbert Stone, commercial traveller, said he was driving behind Lyon's wagon and saw the child run from behind the van right into the horse. - Dr McCandlish said when the child was admitted on Tuesday it was seen that the wheel had gone over the pelvis. The following day he showed signs of internal haemorrhage, and on an operation being performed it was found that the pelvis was fractured in several places. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Soldier's Suicide. Shocking Scene In A Devonport Barrack-Room. - Mr J. A. Pearce, (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the Military Hospital on Saturday on PTE HARRY BANNER, 1st South Staffordshire Regt., who on Thursday shot himself at the South Raglan Barracks. - Capt. J. S. S. Dunlop stated that about 12.30 p.m. he was in the company's store-room when the colour-sergeant told him that deceased had been very queer for several days and they were discussing what should be done with him while the troops were away in London, when he heard a shot fired. On leaving the room he met Pte. Banks, who informed him that the deceased had shot himself. He immediately went down to the dining hall and found the body just inside the door, lying on the floor. The right side of the head was practically blown away. Witness saw that the deceased was quite dead and ordered that nothing should be touched until the Police and Doctor had arrived. The body was afterwards removed to the mortuary at the Military Hospital. The deceased had been a quiet and good soldier, and bore a good character. - In reply to a Juror, witness said that in consequence of the deceased being queer he had been kept off parade and put on easy duty in the dining-room. Witness did not know where the ammunition had been obtained. - Colour-Sergt. R. Baker stated that he knew the deceased very well, as he was in his company. He first noticed that he was queer on Tuesday night, when he saw him in the square and deceased said, "Look here, I am not going to have all these people talking about me." Witness said, "Who and what are they talking about?" He replied, "Everybody," and also said accusations were made against him. The next morning it was reported to witness that the deceased had been acting peculiarly in the dining-room, but when witness saw him he seemed quite rational. On Thursday witness again saw him and did not think there was any necessity to have him medically examined; in fact, he was speaking to Capt. Dunlop about the matter when they heard the shot fired. Pte. Banks came running up to them in an almost fainting condition and told them the deceased had shot himself. The rifle was lying between the deceased's legs, with the muzzle towards his head. The rifle did not belong to the deceased and witness did not know where he could have obtained the ammunition, as he did not think the deceased had fired a ball cartridge this year. Personally, witness thought deceased's state had been brought on by drink, because when drunk the deceased was always very excited. - Pte. Thos. Banks deposed to going into the dining-room when he saw the deceased sitting down staring at a newspaper, but he was not reading. He also had a pipe in his hand. Witness cleaned his rifle and deceased asked him for a smoke of his cigarette. Witness gave him his cigarette and later deceased threw it back. Witness presently heard a noise and on turning round saw the deceased with the butt of the rifle on the ground, the muzzle close to his head, under his chin, and his right hand on the trigger. Witness ran forward, but the deceased had pulled the trigger before he could reach him, and fell to the ground. Deceased was not one of those who were going to London and for some time he had been very strange in his manner. Deceased must have put the cartridge in the rifle when on parade, because had it been done in the room witness would have heard it. - Lance-Corpl. W. Yeo said the deceased was in his company. On Tuesday deceased came to him and asked him why the men were "pulling his leg." Witness asked him what was the matter and he said the men were always "pulling his leg" about something. On Thursday when one of the men went up for some extra dinner, the deceased struck out at him. He had noticed that the deceased had been queer for some time, but he had not heard anyone "pulling his leg." - Capt. H. D. Packer, R.A.M.C. deposed to seeing the deceased lying in the dining-room. He had a severe injury to the head, for the bones had been blown away and the brain was protruding. The bullet had entered just below the chin. The deceased was quite dead, and death had been practically instantaneous. - The Coroner expressed his sympathy with Pte, Banks in the trying ordeal he had gone through by seeing the deceased commit the act, but unfortunately he was too far away to prevent it. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of an Unsound Mind."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 24 May 1910
NEWQUAY, CORNWALL - Newquay Visitor's Suicide. Affected By The King's Death. - Mr E. L. Carlyon held an Inquest at Newquay yesterday on MISS AMELIA HUNT, spinster, aged 52 years, daughter of the late DR WILLIAM COLES HUNT, of Exeter. MISS HUNT had been living with her sister at Stoke, Devonport and came to Newquay about three months ago for the benefit of her health. On Sunday morning she was found hanging to a bedpost, quite dead. - Lilley Trewin, domestic in the employ of Miss Rickeard, stated that MISS HUNT came as a paying guest, on or about February 21st, for the benefit of her health. She was queer at times in her actions. She never heard her threaten to take her life. MISS HUNT went out about 9.40 on Saturday night, in the hope of seeing the comet. She had been to see a doctor in the morning. On Saturday night she appeared much better. She went to call her at nine o'clock on Sunday morning, but got no reply, and found that the door was locked. she then informed her mistress, who sent for a doctor and on arrival he sent for Sergt. Johns. - Dr Hardwick stated that he visited MISS HUNT on Saturday morning for the first time and found that she was rather excited, but quite rational. She said she was afraid her brain was giving way. She had been in a state of mental agitation for some time. He was called at 9.30 on Sunday morning and, together with Sergt. Johns, forced the bedroom door and found MISS HUNT suspended by a motor veil from the pillar of the bed, quite dead. Death had occurred in the early hours of the morning. - Mr c. C. Osborne, her brother-in-law, said MISS HUNT was the daughter of the late WILLIAM COLES HUNT, surgeon, of Exeter. MISS HUNT had been staying at Devonport, but found that too relaxing, thought a change at Newquay, with its bracing climate, would prove beneficial. She had stayed at Newquay previously, and derived great benefit. There was no reason whatever to suppose she would take her life. She had been under the care of Dr Clay, of Plymouth. The King's death had greatly upset her and she was much depressed. It had been arranged that she should go into a nursing home at Newquay. Miss Rickeard had been exceedingly kind in every way towards MISS HUNT. - The Jury returned a verdict that "Deceased Committed Suicide whilst Insane," and expressed sympathy with the relatives and Miss Rickeard.

BARNSTAPLE - Devon Anthrax Victim. - At the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, yesterday, Mr A. Bencraft opened the Inquest on GEORGE MANNING, 25, a killer, who died on Sunday from anthrax. Dr J. r. Harper, M.O.H., attended and the proceedings were also watched by Mr A. F. Seldon, on behalf of the London and S.W. Railway Company, at whose slaughter-house deceased had been working and by Mr R. E. C. Balsdon, appearing for the Barnstaple and North Devon Butchers and Cattle Dealers' Association. - The Coroner said MANNING on Monday was at work at the South Western slaughter-house, Barnstaple, and punctured his arm with a spreader. The wound festered and on Thursday he was admitted to the Infirmary and found to be suffering from anthrax. All that was possible was done and he believed the man's life was prolonged in the Institution, but he died on Sunday. - Dr L. W. Evans, House Surgeon, said MANNING had a small punctured wound in the arm and the limb was very much swollen. MANNING told him he was passing between two carcases and ran the end of a spreader into his arm. Examination proved the anthrax germ to be present, from the effects of which death ensued. He should think the infection got to the wound on the Monday or the Tuesday, probably on the Monday. He could not tell if the infection came though the spreader. - Dr A. W. Lemarchand said he saw the patient late in the evening of Thursday. In his opinion the man undoubtedly died of anthrax. He agreed the infection probably got to the wound on Monday, but it might have come the next day. - The Coroner: But do you think it came with the puncture? - Judging from the condition of the arm, I should think it must have been about Monday. - Mr Seldon: I understand it is not possible to say where or when the infection entered the arm? - No, I don't think it is possible to swear where or when. - The Coroner intimated he had some inquiries to make, and adjourned the Inquest to June 6th.

PLYMOUTH - The Plymouth Suicide. Wife's Alleged Harsh Treatment. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest yesterday at Plymouth on SYDNEY JOSEPH W. JILLARD, aged 43 years, found at the bottom of a disused quarry at the west end of Plymouth Hoe on Friday. - The widow, ANNIE JILLARD, of Brunswick-road, said she and her husband had for some time been living apart. In November they were in monetary difficulties and had a quarrel and he left her. They had a girl and boy age sixteen and fifteen years respectively. Since her husband left her she had been keeping the home on her earnings of 5s. per week. During part of the time the boy had been earning 3s. per week. Twice since her husband left her he had wanted to come back. The second occasion was on Wednesday last, when she told him she wished to have nothing more to do with him. - In reply to the Foreman of the Jury (Mr. W. H. Parsons), she said that since the separation her husband had been out of work and had lived in the Workhouse. She would have been unable to support him in addition to herself and the two children on her earnings. He was not insured. - Deceased's brother deposed to giving JILLARD money on Thursday evening. He said he had no money and nowhere to spend the night. He believed his brother had never lived very happily with his wife. He was a blacksmith in Keyham Dockyard some years ago. After that they kept a grocer's shop in Landrake, but it did not pay, and they gave it up and came to Plymouth. - Emily Pellow, of Pier-street, West Hoe, the wife of a builder, said early on Friday morning she saw the body of a man at the bottom of the quarry near her house. He was alive and she sent for the Police. - P.C. Widdicombe said he found JILLARD lying unconscious and bleeding freely. He conveyed him to the Homeopathic Hospital, where Dr Wilmot said he had just died. At the mortuary witness found among other things, a pocket-book, which contained some notes written by JILLARD and a ticket for admission to the Workhouse. - The Coroner read the note written to the wife: - A Suicide's Farewell. - To my wife. - May God, if there is one, forgive you for your inhuman treatment. I know I am bad, but I repented and asked to be reconciled and you bitterly refused. - Your husband. - Anther letter, addressed by the deceased to his children, told them to forgive and never forget one who had been driven out of this world. - Dr Wilmot said death was due to a fracture at the base of the skull, caused by the fall. - The Jury found that JILLARD committed Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind, and that he had been harshly treated by his wife.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 25 May 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Devonport Dockyard Fatality. Jury's Recommendation. - The Inquiry into the death of THOMAS SMITH, which took place at the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, on the 17th inst., from injuries received while working in Devonport Dockyard, was resumed by Mr R. R. Rodd yesterday. Mr K. Eyton Peck represented the Admiralty and Mr C. H. Morris, H.M. Inspector of Factories, also attended. The evidence at the opening of the Inquest was to the effect that the deceased was working on a steel plate in the machine shop and, after finishing one portion of it, gave the order for it to be lowered, and was caught between it and the steel on which it should have rested. - George Felton Lancaster, skilled labourer, employed as a slinger in the machine shop, said the deceased asked him to call for the travelling crane. He did so, and slung the plate, and then went to the trestle end to steady it. He saw the deceased give the signal to lower and then noticed that he was caught. It was witness's duty to give the signals, but he was assisting on the plate at the time. There was only one slinger employed in the shop, and there were three cranes. If they were all being worked at the same time he might be wanted for all three. It was impossible for him to signal to all at one time. - In answer to the Jury, he said there was only himself and the man who was working on the plate to adjust it in the sling, and it was sometimes difficult to find the exact centre. - Replying to the Inspector of Factories, witness said he stood in the centre of the plate when giving signals. - The Inspector remarked that it showed a defect in the system for the deceased to have given the signal when it was witness's duty to do so. - Witness said that the planers frequently gave the signals. - Frank Tallack, driver of the crane, recalled, said the crane lowered the plate very quickly. He believed the deceased put out his hand to touch the plate, and did not give the signal intentionally. There were only three signals - lift, lower and hold on. - In reply to questions by the Inspector, witness said he had been driving a crane since 1903, and had never made a mistake. If a slinger was provided for each crane he could see that everyone was clear before he gave the signal, and such an accident as this would be impossible. - Replying to Mr Peck, witness said the man to whom the deceased gave the signal was 33 feet above him. - The Coroner remarked that if the driver took orders from no one but the slinger, such accidents could not happen. If the slinger had not been called away to steady the plate, he would have seen that the deceased was clear before the signal was given. - Fleet-Surgeon W. H. Stalkartt, R.N. Hospital, said the deceased was admitted on the 10th inst., suffering from a fracture of the spine. He died a week later. A post mortem examination showed that the spinal cord had been completely crushed in one place, causing paralysis below the seat of the injury. Deceased said the plate had been lowered on to his neck and had caught him between it and the stool. He did not suggest that anyone was to blame for the accident. - The Inspector of Factories remarked that there should certainly be an extra man to signal when plates were lowered, and plates should not be lowered unless he was at his post. - The Coroner concurred and said if there were three cranes there should be three slingers. It was a very sad case, as deceased left a widow and five children. He thought the verdict of the Jury would be one of accidental death, for though it was the slinger's duty to signal when a plate was to be lowered, it seemed to be the custom for him to steady the plates when necessary. He would recommend them to suggest to the Admiral-Superintendent of the Dockyard, that there should be a slinger with nothing to do but to make the signals whenever a plate was being slung. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and agreed to the recommendations suggested by the Coroner.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 31 May 1910
PLYMOUTH - Worried By Debts. Plymouth Sergeant's Sad Fate. - The Inquest on Company-Quartermaster Sergeant GEORGE R. BARRETT, of the Royal Engineers, found shot at Elphinstone Barracks, Plymouth, was held yesterday. - The Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) mentioned that letters found on the body were not important, except that they referred to matters of debt. One letter, received that morning, referred to a matter of £8, and there were other sums mentioned in the correspondence relating to about £11. - Sergeant Facey stated that BARRETT, 36 years of age, came from Weymouth about two months ago. His manner was quite cheerful. He did not know of his having been "[?]" for debts. He last saw him at half-past eight on Saturday morning and observed nothing unusual. At a quarter-past nine he went to the quarter-master-sergeant's store and drawing the curtain from the bed, saw him lying on it, fully dressed, with his face covered in blood. A revolver was in his right hand, laying across his chest. He was alive, but unconscious. - Sergeant-Major Derby said the revolver had two chambers loaded; one cartridge was exploded. When BARRETT arrived at Plymouth a bill for £22 followed him. It came under his (witness's) notice as an official matter. BARRETT agreed to pay off the debs by instalments. He had already paid £6 10s., and another £1 10s. was "stopped" last Friday for the same purpose. - By the Coroner: He did not know of the reasons for BARRETT being in debt. No doubt the matter worried him, but he did not show it. He was not being unduly pressed. He had agreed to pay off £1 a week. - Dr F.F. Parkes said when called at ten o'clock he found BARRETT unconscious and practically dying. the bullet had entered just above the roof of the nose, had grazed the skull and come out an inch and a half above the forehead. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity."

PLYMOUTH - A Fatal Telegram. Plymouth Woman's Suicide. - Mr R. B. Johns, Borough Coroner, held an Inquest yesterday on MRS ELIZABETH TURNER, aged 63, of 32 Lime Tree-road, Peverell, Plymouth, found hanging in a wardrobe on Saturday. - BENJAMIN TURNER, naval pensioner, stated that his wife had been queer for a considerable time, but had never threatened to take her life. He last saw her alive at half-past eight on Saturday morning, when she was in a low, despondent state. He went out and during his absence she received a telegram announcing the death of a brother-in-law. He believed that affected her. She was found by her sister hanging by a rope from a hook in a wardrobe. He tried to restore life, but failed. - Dr Heppelstall said on being called he found MRS TURNER dead. Death was due to heart failure, caused by pressure on the great nerves of the neck, the result of hanging. - MR TURNER, recalled, added that his wife had been under medical treatment for nervous depression for some time. No doubt the telegram "did it." - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity."

DAWLISH - The Dawlish Suicide. Deceased And His Accounts. - Mr R. de V. Whiteway-Wilkinson held an Inquest at Dawlish yesterday on CHARLES STONE FORD, head clerk at the offices of Messrs. Whidborne and Cole, solicitors. - GEORGE STONE FORD, hairdresser, said his brother was 43 years of age and he thought he would be the last man in the world who would have taken his own life. - MRS FRANCES MARY FORD, the widow, said she last saw her husband alive on Saturday at breakfast. He had never complained to her of any worries and she did not think he had any. - Arthur Powlesland, farm labourer, stated that on Saturday, about noon, he was returning from the Fairfield, when he saw a body in the stream at Dawlish Water and he went for assistance and told his master. - William Edward Scott, farmer, Shiverstone Farm, said he took the body out of the water and saw a wound in the left side of the throat. - Mr Francis Simcoe Cole, solicitor and clerk to the Urban District Council, said MR FORD had been in his employ and that of his predecessors for nearly 25 years. Witness went away about April 23rd and about a week afterwards he received a letter from MR FORD stating that the audit of the district accounts would be held on Friday last. MR FORD had full charge of the books and made out the balances. For a day or two before the audit witness went to the office and asked MR FORD if the Burial Board accounts were all right, and, so far as he recollected, he replied that they balanced. He signed the statement which MR FORD had prepared for him. After the auditor had arrived on Friday morning he handed witness a couple of books with counterfoils and receipts for payment of fees, and called attention to the fact that there had been some manipulation. He was not prepared to say whether this manipulation took place to cover up anything, or to make the accounts balance. The effect of it was that the auditor asked witness to consider the position and to settle matters he paid a sum of money into the bank the same day. He asked MR FORD to come to the office on Saturday afternoon too put the account right between them. On Friday afternoon MR FORD was much affected and shaken all to bits and he advised him to pull himself together and be a man. Before MR FORD went away he was quiet and he again advised him to pull himself together and said he hoped he would have a good night's rest. The next morning, about 9.30 MR FORD came to the office and brought in the letters as usual. He said he could not pull himself together and asked if he might go out for an hour or two for the purpose. He gave his consent and never saw him again. He waited for him in the office until 1.30. he had not yet been able to go through the books, but hoped and trusted he should find it was purely a matter of account between MR FORD and himself. - The Deputy Coroner said he had known MR FORD for 15 years, when he (the Deputy Coroner) was in the volunteer Artillery. A more straightforward and honest man he never met and it came as a great shock to him when he heard of the sad occurrence. He did not think there was any doubt at all that he did something wrong or imagined that he had done so, and that it preyed upon his mind, so that he asked leave to go out and then in a mad moment committed this terrible deed. A letter was found on the body which he (the Deputy Coroner) did not wish to read unless it was desired by the Jury as it referred simply to domestic matters. In it deceased said, "The end is come, and I am heartbroken and quite off my head." - His razor-case had been found, but not the razor. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind," and expressed sympathy with the relatives.

EXETER - Exeter Boy's Death. - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on WILLIAM ERNEST FRANCIS BROCK, aged 12, of Prospect-cottages, Bath-road, RICHARD J. BROCK, the father, a painter, said his son had lately complained of sickness. - ELLEN BROCK, the mother, said she had given the boy medicine for it. On Thursday he seemed well, but in the early evening a Constable brought him home ill. He vomited, and she sent for Dr Duncan, who attended to him. He became worse, however, and died on Friday morning. - P.C. Hill said he found the boy in great pain in Belmont Pleasure Ground. He took him home and advised the mother to get a doctor. - Dr Duncan said he had made a post-mortem examination, and found that an ulcer, evidently of considerable duration, had set up acute peritonitis, which was the cause of death. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" and expressed their sympathy with the relatives, with which the Coroner concurred.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Woman's Death. - Mr Albert Gard held an Inquest yesterday on ANN COLE, aged 61, of Gloucester-street, Devonport. JOHN PAIGE COLE said after tea on Saturday he did not see his wife again until nearly midnight, when he found her dead, in a kneeling attitude beside the bed. - Dr Fleming attributed death to heart failure and the congested state of the organs of the body, and a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 2 June 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - MRS MARY ANN KITE, age 56, wife of a shipwright, 28 Gloucester-street, Devonport, had had fairly good health, but was suddenly taken ill on Tuesday evening, and became unconscious. Before a doctor could be fetched death occurred. At the Inquest yesterday Dr J. Nixon Morris attributed death to heart failure.

Western Morning News, Friday 3 June 1910
PLYMOUTH - Sudden Death On Board Ship. Inquest At Plymouth. - GEORGE HAVENS, chief engineer of the collier Paragon, died suddenly yesterday morning while the vessel was discharging coals at the North Quay, Plymouth. As the boat was due to leave Plymouth for Newport at midday, the second engineer, Mr George W. Armstrong, went to the deceased's bunk at 11 o'clock to call him, but received no reply to repeated knocks at the door. The captain, Mr T. Davies, arrived on board a little later and on the door being forced open MR HAVENS was seen lying huddled upon the floor. Dr E. Clarke, who was summoned, found that he was dead. P.C's Lyle and Williams brought the ambulance from the Harbour Avenue Station and conveyed the body to the mortuary. - The deceased was a native of Bristol, but resided at Newport, Mon. He was about 49 years of age and leaves a widow and family. - At the Inquest Dr E. R. Clarke, of Brunswick-terrace, said he made a post-mortem examination and found the cause of death to have been heart disease. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

YELVERTON - Suicide At Yelverton. The Inquest. - Early yesterday morning MR JOHN LANCASTER, C.E., residing at Crapstone-cottages, Yelverton, was found dead under circumstances pointing to suicide. Deceased, who was 33 years of age, held an appointment at Rangoon, in Burmah. His health breaking down, he returned to England in December on sick leave and about four months ago, with his wife and two children, took up his residence at Yelverton. His health not improving, he latterly became very depressed. He retired to bed at his usual hour on Wednesday night. When his wife awoke at seven o'clock yesterday morning, he was missing from the room. On going downstairs to the sitting-room, MRS LANCASTER found her husband lying dead on the floor with his throat cut and a razor by his side. Dr Revell was called in, and pronounced life extinct. - Last evening Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest. - Dr Revell expressed the opinion that the injuries were self-inflicted and that death was instantaneous, the windpipe having been severed. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during a fit of Temporary Insanity."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 7 June 1910
ST MARYCHURCH - Torquay Lady's Tragic Death. Carbolic Acid Poisoning. - Mr S. Hacker, County Coroner, held an Inquest yesterday at St Marychurch, Torquay, on the body of MARY LOUISA ROBERSON, aged 53, wife of CAPTAIN THOMAS ROBERSON, R.N. (retired), of Maisonnette, St Marychurch, who was found dead in the house on Saturday. - CAPTAIN ROBERSON stated that he and his wife had lived at St. Marychurch for eleven years. They had two children - a son in Chicago and a daughter who lived at Blackheath, London, but was at present staying at St. Marychurch. Deceased had been suffering more or less from nervous depression. She was in low spirits on Friday, but seemed better in the evening, when they went to the lawn tennis ground. She got up about 8.30 on Saturday morning, feeling again depressed, but after breakfast went about her usual duties. Witness was in the garden about 10.30 when the maid came to him frightened and said she had been to the bathroom, but could get no response from her mistress. Witness went to the bathroom and found deceased leaning against the seat of a chair with one arm over it. He could get no response from her and she was unconscious. He carried her into the bedroom and went for a doctor. When witness went into the bathroom he noticed a strong smell of carbolic acid and it so suggested itself to him that deceased had taken some that he lost no time in going for a doctor. Deceased had never taken carbolic acid before and he never had the slightest reason for thinking that she contemplated such an act. He did not know there was any carbolic acid in the bathroom, although he knew there was some in the house, kept for disinfecting purposes. He could tell the Jury absolutely nothing to throw any light on the occurrence beyond what he had said as to deceased's occasional mental depression, which was fitful, she generally recovering towards the close of the day. When under treatment by Dr Winter deceased nearly always kept her medicine bottles in the bathroom and took the medicine there. She was naturally of a nervous, timid disposition and there was nothing on her mind to account for the occurrence so far as he could see. She would go out and take part in the life of the place from time to time. She had been suffering from depression for about two years and it showed itself in melancholy and taking no interest in things, as well as in a disinclination to social intercourse. She went out notwithstanding, but she was not as she used to be. Her increasing deafness, he thought, added to her depression. - Dr G. M. Winter said that when he saw deceased on the bed she was quite unconscious and her breathing was stertorous and laboured. There was not much to show on deceased's face as to the effects of the carbolic acid; but these marks had increased since. The servant girl brought from the bathroom a glass which contained a small quantity of carbolic acid and also the bottle containing the acid. The burning of the mouth and tongue showed what had been taken. Deceased never regained consciousness and died in a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Witness had made a post-mortem examination, and found the mouth, throat, larynx and stomach corroded as the result of taking carbolic acid, which was the strong solution for disinfecting purposes. The bottle had upon it a label stating that it contained poison. The cause of death was poisoning by carbolic acid. Witness had attended deceased professionally for nearly three years and during the whole of this period she had periodical bouts of depression of spirits with sleeplessness at times. She was naturally of a nervous disposition. He thought deafness was a great worry to her. Owing to deafness, her son was unable to get into the navy and there was no doubt that deceased worried also about this. The depression was partly due to the change of life. Deceased and her husband lived together very happily and she was a bright and happy person except for the periods of depression. - Captain R. C. Dyer, R.N., father of deceased, said she had been a good deal in hot climates and was generally of a bright disposition. - Dr Winter added that the quantity of carbolic acid taken would be about the same as a dose of medicine. - In reply to a Juryman, he said deceased would have become unconscious in a minute or two after taking the acid, so that, if it was taken in mistake, she would have had no power to call out. - The Coroner having summed up, the Jury returned a verdict that Deceased met her death by taking a dose of Carbolic Acid whilst in a state of Temporary Insanity. They expressed their sympathy with CAPTAIN ROBERSON and the family in their bereavement. - The Coroner said he endorsed the expression of sympathy, and CAPTAIN ROBERSON, with emotion, made an acknowledgment.

PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns yesterday held an Inquest on MARY MOXEY MOON, aged 74, of Beaumont-road, Plymouth. Mrs Ward, of St Austell, daughter of deceased, stated that on April 2nd her mother and herself went for a walk. At Derry's Clock deceased fell and received injuries. Dr Wilkinson, who had attended the deceased, attributed death to embolism, caused by the injury. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Sudden Death At Plymouth. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on WILLIAM VOSPER, 60, gardener, employed at Plymouth Cemetery. - MABEL VEALE, deceased's daughter, said about 8 p.m. on Saturday she was passing through Endsleigh-place with her father, when he fell down on the road. - Dr Dawe said the left side of deceased's heart was exceptionally weak and dilated. Death was due to syncope and a verdict of "Natural Causes" as given.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held on THOMAS STEPHEN CROCKER, dock Policeman, aged 31, of Union-street, Stonehouse. Thomas Morris, one of deceased's colleagues, said on Saturday morning, while CROCKER was on duty near the G.W.R. Co.'s tender, he fell over on his back and expired immediately. He had been in the company's employ for about seven years. - Dr Parsloe said death was due to heart disease and a verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned. As CROCKER was a member of Stonehouse Fire Brigade he will be accorded a fireman's funeral.

BARNSTAPLE - Barnstaple Anthrax Case. The Jury's Recommendations On Slaughter-House Cleaning. - At Barnstaple yesterday, the Borough Coroner (Mr A. Bencraft) resumed the Inquest on the body of GEORGE MANNING, 35, a killer, who died last month of anthrax. Mr A. F. Seldon appeared for the London and South-Western Railway Company, who own the slaughterhouse; Mr R. E. C. Balsdon (Messrs. Toller, Orton and Balsdon) representing the local Butchers' Association; and Mr James Bosson attending on behalf of the relatives. - The Coroner recalled that MANNING went to work at the slaughterhouse at the South-Western Railway premises on May 16th and there received a punctured wound in his right arm. Anthrax developed and death took place at the North Devon Infirmary on May 22nd. The medical evidence was that the infection got to the wound either on Monday 16th, or Tuesday, probably on the first-named day. Inquiries had been made, the Coroner added, but they could find no trace of anthrax in the district at all. - Evidence that deceased was working at the slaughter-house was given by W. J. Balment, another killer, who said MANNING did not complain about the wound, more than to say he scratched his arm on a "spreader." On the Wednesday following, however, he showed witness his arm, which looked very bad and he advised him to see someone about it. The wound was very little, but the arm was much swollen. The "spreader" caught deceased as he was walking between two carcasses. - By Mr Seldon: He could not say whether the "spreader" was on one of the sheep deceased had himself killed. - Asked who supplied the "spreader" witness said they supplied them themselves; they got their own "spreaders". The "spreaders" might go to London, and they saw no more of them. - Alfred Hall, railway porter, said deceased was at the slaughter-house killed on the Monday, and a large number of sheep were killed that day for different owners. Witness had been in charge ten years and never heard of any anthrax being brought there. - The Coroner asked if it was a fact that two bullocks were killed there a week or two ago and that one was cut up for the pigs or something like that? - Witness: I don't know what became of it; I believe it was done away with as soon as it was killed. The other the inspector examined. - Was it all right? - I believe it passed. - He condemned the other? - I can't say he saw it. - Were they to be sent away? - It was said to me when they were killed they would go to London. - But the one passed did not go to London? - No. - Witness explained that the slaughter-house was for the convenience of customers of the railway and they did not allow anyone else to slaughter there for the town. The reason these bullocks were slaughtered there was an act of kindness, as the two people dealt with the company. Witness, of course, thought they were going to London. - Never Seen The Bye-Laws. - Questioned as to the cleansing of the slaughter-house, witness told the Coroner he was responsible, and he used cold water to clean it; hot water was not provided. They had the company's rules in the slaughter-house, but not the borough of Barnstaple bye-laws which the Coroner produced. He had never seen them. - The Coroner: Well, there are the bye-laws which regulate the slaughtering of animals and the cleaning of slaughter-houses, and the ninth bye-law says:- "Every occupier of a slaughter-house shall cause the same to be thoroughly washed and cleansed within three hours after the completion of the slaughtering and dressing of any cattle therein. ..." Is that always done? - Done every day except Saturdays. - Witness said the place was thoroughly washed with cold water and he disinfected with carbolic powder. He could not say the walls were as clean as he should have liked them to have been. He whitewashed them when he could - generally about once a month. At the time the deceased scratched his arm there was no bullock there. - How long ago was this questionable bullock slaughtered? - Three weeks or a month, but it was not in the same house where MANNING was working, and MANNING did not kill it. - By Mr Seldon: In washing he used a hose-pipe and a good force of water. Killing on Saturday nights sometimes went on until 10.30 and then there was a thorough clean on Sunday morning. - Does Sanitary Inspector Hill frequently visit there? - He comes there occasionally. - Chief Constable Eddy, Inspector under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, said he could find no case of anthrax in the districts where the sheep came from that were being slaughtered at the time. He saw the slaughter-house and there was blood on the legs of the stocks which looked as if it had been there some time. - Mr E. W. Grant, Council foreman of works, spoke to taking eleven men to scrape the walls of the slaughter-house on the instruction of the M.O.H. (Dr J. R. Harper) and they burnt the stocks and some other utensils. He thought it impossible to clean the stocks with cold water and had himself to use the strongest acids. There could have been an improvement as regards the walls. - More Examination Advisable. - Dr J. R. Harper, M.O.H., said he did not think the condition of the slaughter-house in any way responsible for the presence of anthrax. Cases of anthrax were liable to arrive until every animal brought for slaughter was examined by a veterinary inspector, and his own opinion was that no beast ought to be brought into the borough unless it was inspected by a veterinary officer, nor should the carcass be disposed of unless it was re-inspected. He detailed the disinfection carried out at the slaughter-house after the case was notified. - Witness, replying to further questions, said the anthrax bacillus had been known to live and germinate after being more than 50 days in caked blood. Hot water would be very much better for the cleansing slaughter-houses, but it was not in the Bye-laws or the model Bye-laws of the Local Government Board. Deceased may, of course, have got the anthrax germ away from the slaughter-house. As to anthrax being brought in by a sheep, an anthrax sheep died almost suddenly, and even if not sufficiently bad for that, he thought it questionable whether an animal could be brought as far as Barnstaple. There was not a large amount of anthrax in the district. - By Mr Bosson: The cause of the man's death was primarily the wound in the arm. - Mr Seldon: Can you tell us whether all the sheep killed at this slaughter-house are examined at the other end of the rail? - Yes, by a meat inspector. - And it is fair to assume the sheep did not suffer from anthrax? - Certainly. - In 1907 did you make a complaint to the railway company and they carried out extensive alterations, spending nearly £300? - Yes, and have been most pleased to carry out any suggestion I have made. - Sanitary Inspector's Answers. - Sanitary Inspector Hill said he saw the slaughter-house on May 13th, when it was clean and sweet. It had been kept right, according to regulations. Hot water was not provided for in the regulations, and was not used anywhere in the town. He thought fat and grease could be got off with cold water if scrubbed with a broom. - The Foreman (Mr D. Moxham): How often do you visit? - According how busy; three or four times a week. - How often do you believe the place is whitewashed? - More than four times a year. - How often I asked? - Our bye-law say. - How often? - According to how much it is used. - I asked how often it is whitewashed? - Well, I will say four times a year then. - The Foreman: I expect an answer to my question. - The coroner (to the witness Hill): I believe you told me it was more frequently whitewashed than that. How often do you think? - About every two months. - Another Juryman: Who was the owner of the bullock? - I don't know that that makes any difference. The veterinary said there was nothing the matter with it before it was killed. When they saw there was something the matter with it, it was taken away. - Tubercular Beef As Pig's Food. - The Coroner: What was done with the carcass? - Given to the pigs, and I believe the pigs would have been dead by this time if it was anthrax. - The Coroner: They are not so susceptible as bullocks, I believe. Do you know what was the matter with the bullock which was given to the pigs? - Tuberculosis, I was told. - A Juryman: And that was given to the pigs! - Mr Seldon: Have you ever made any complaint to the railway company about the way they have kept their slaughter-house? - No; I have only recommended whitewashing when required and it is always done immediately. - Mr Seldon asked to explain that the little discrepancy about the frequency of the whitewashing was due to the fact that Porter Hall whitewashed the walls to about six feet high on an average once a month, and the whole place from floor to ceiling was whitewashed four times a year. - The Coroner said they had the fact beyond doubt that deceased died of anthrax, but how the germs got into the wound in the arm, so far as he could see, it was impossible to say. Dr Harper admitted the longer they had dirt about the more was the probability of preserving the anthrax germ. In this case some of the dirt, he was sorry to say, might have been of long standing and it was possible the germ might have been preserved there. Then again, the man might have had it about his clothes. He could not consider the slaughter-house altogether satisfactory in two respects. First, he did not see how it was possible for the men, with all the best intentions in the world, to clean their stocks and the walls of the place without a sufficient supply of hot water being provided, although he knew that was not in the bye-laws. In his opinion the bye-laws were wrong and should be altered. Secondly, he did not think the walls of large slaughter-houses, were such a tremendous number of beasts were slaughtered, could be properly kept clean unless they were faced with some sort of glazed tiles and the corners bevelled off. If that was provided, and the water, he thought a very great improvement would be effected in that slaughter-house. The matter was material in this way, that it might have been on account of the dirt in those utensils and things that the infection was preserved and got into the wound in deceased's arm. - Jury's Recommendation. - The Jury found that deceased Died of Anthrax, the result of a punctured wound in the arm, Accidentally sustained whilst working at the L. and S.W.R. Company's slaughterhouse. - The Coroner remarked that the Jury wished him to say they considered it a very grave matter indeed and a very great danger to the public, that a bullock suffering from tuberculosis could have been killed at this slaughter-house and be given to pigs and they hoped more care would be exercised in the future, and that such a thing as that would not occur again. The Jury recommended to the L. and S.W.R. Company that they should supply hot water in their slaughter-house for the better cleansing of the place and that the walls should be coated to a certain height, say, six feet, with either glazed tiles or cement and the corners bevelled off. That was their recommendation, because they did not see how, with their very large business of slaughtering, they could possibly comply with the ninth bye-law, as to cleansing the slaughterhouse, unless they made these additions and alterations. - Mr Somerfield (Stationmaster) wished to explain that the bullock in question was intended to go to London, but after it was opened it was found unfit. It was brought from a gentleman in the neighbourhood. - The Coroner: But would it not be dangerous to give it to the pigs? - Mr Seldon: That has nothing to do with the railway company. The owner took it away, boiled it, so I am told, and gave it to the pigs. - A Juryman: That might be a case for inquiry elsewhere, I should say.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 8 June 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Torpedo Instructor's Death. Error Of Judgment. - Mr R. R. Rodd (County Coroner) held an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on ALFRED EDGSON (50), retired pensioner, R.N., residing at 3 Eton-avenue, North-road, Plymouth. Mr K. Eyton Peck (Goldsmith and Peck) represented the Admiralty. - Richard Oliver, retired corn dealer, Hayle, said the deceased, his son-in-law, had been a torpedo-instructor serving in the Indus. He was formerly an artificer in the navy. He was a healthy man, but witness believed he occasionally suffered from haemorrhage. - Fred Emsley, engine-room artificer, said on Sunday evening, shortly before 8 o'clock, he and the deceased were having supper on board the Indus. EDGSON complained of headache, and went to the other side of the mess to lie down. Before he had finished his meal witness heard a noise and on looking over a partition which divided the mess, saw the deceased staggering about. Witness went to his assistance and at his request he was taken to the sick bay. He was laid on a cot in a fainting condition and after receiving attention rallied and seemed a lot better. Witness saw him at 9.15 p.m., and he had then been put to bed. Witness again visited the mess at 6.15 a.m. on the following day, and EDGSON then appeared to be asleep. The sick berth steward said deceased had been restless during the night. - Thomas Edward Pitts, sick berth steward, said the deceased at first simply showed the symptoms of an ordinary faint. He soon came round. As witness was about to send for the doctor the deceased said he need not trouble as he was subject to such attacks. Witness gave him some salvolatile. Deceased was restless, but apparently asleep during the night. The next morning at 7.15 he suddenly sat up in bed and made an attempt to reach his clothes. Soon after he fell back on the pillow. Witness sent for the doctor, but EDGSON died at 7.50 a.m., just before the doctor arrived. - The Coroner: What are your instructions with regard to sending for a doctor in such cases? The question is whether you are capable of discriminating as to when a man is dangerously ill or not. - Witness: We send for the medical guard when there is any doubt. - Was this not a case where you ought to have sent instead of listening to what the deceased said? - Witness: Unfortunately, this was a case in ten thousand. - The Coroner: Our experience here does not tally with that. Only a few weeks ago we had a similar case. - Witness: When the man told me he frequently had such attacks I thought he would be all right. - The Coroner: I think it would be safer if you would adhere to the regulations. I am more concerned as to whether you have infringed the regulation by not sending for a doctor. - Witness: I do not think I have done that. I did not think under the circumstances I ought to have sent. What the deceased said had no weight with me. - The Coroner: If the regulations are so indefinite as to leave it to your judgment in a case like this, I think the Jury would like to suggest to the commander-in-Chief that they should be made more definite, and that you must send for a doctor in all cases. - Replying further to the Coroner, witness said he took the deceased's temperature twice and on each occasion it was 98 deg. The pulse was strong and full, and was beating about 72 to the minute. - Staff-Surgeon C. H. Rock said he had made a post-mortem examination, and found that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. There was a slight disease of the outer covering of the heart and of the brain, while there was slight congestion of the lungs. The other organs were healthy. - Replying to the Coroner, witness said he did not think the case would have had any other ending had the medical guard been called on the Sunday evening. In his opinion the haemorrhage commenced on the Monday morning. - The Coroner: But it was a case for which the doctor should have been summoned? - Witness: Yes. Orders should have been sent to the medical guard. Witness added that of course in trivial cases, such as a cut hand, the doctor was not summoned. - The Coroner: The regulation does not leave the sick berth steward to judge for himself in such a case as this? - Witness: If there was any question about it, he should send for the medical officer. It is not the steward's place to take the responsibility. He could understand Sick Berth Steward Pitt's position, seeing that the deceased appeared to get well almost at once. He thought it was nothing, but he should have sent for the doctor. - Replying further to the Coroner, witness said he had known Pitts for five and a half months, and had found him capable. He always did his work well. - The Coroner: do you think the regulations are sufficiently stringent to prevent a recurrence of this? - I think so. - The Coroner: Would the temperature be misleading? - Witness: In such a case it would not help you much. - The deceased's temperature was in common with the condition of a man in a faint. - The Coroner, addressing the Jury, said the evidence was clear that the deceased died from natural causes, and he gathered from Dr Rock's evidence that had EDGSON been medically treated before death the result would in all probability have been the same. There was the question as to whether the sick berth attendant ought not to have done his duty and sent for the medical guard. By not doing so he appeared to have infringed his regulations. In considering that question they would no doubt agree with Dr Rock that it was an error of judgment in yielding to the request of the deceased not to send for the doctor. Pitts would be more careful in future to see that he carried out his duties strictly. - The Jury returned a verdict of Death from "Natural Causes" and added that they were of opinion that Sick Berth Steward Pitts committed an error of judgment in yielding to the request of the deceased. - Pitts: I shall never take such a request into account again, sir.

Western Morning News, Thursday 9 June 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Sergeant's Death In A Train. Brain Trouble. - Mr Albert Gard (Deputy Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the Military Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, on SERGT. WILLIAM WHITTAKER, 119th Battery, R.F.A., who died while being removed from the camp at Okehampton to the Station Hospital, Devonport, on Monday. The Coroner pointed out that although the medical officer was prepared to give a certificate, it had been thought advisable to hold an Inquest as the deceased had died in the train. - Corpl. F. w. Vaughan, R.F.A., said the deceased, who was 33 years of age, joined the service in 1895. He was a married man, and left a widow and two children. - Sergt. J. Robinson, R.A.M.C., stated that on Monday morning it was reported at the camp hospital that the deceased was ill. Witness tried to give him some brandy, but he refused to take it. With assistance they then removed him to the Hospital. At 1.15 p.m. on the same day witness removed deceased by ambulance to the Station, where they entrained for Devonport. He did not appear to get worse until just before the train reached Tavistock, when he seemed to be gasping for breath. This continued for a few minutes and he then died. In reply to the Coroner, witness said deceased was in a fit condition to be removed to Devonport. - Capt. E. M. Glanvill, R.A.M.C., said when the deceased was removed to the camp hospital there were signs of brain trouble. Witness then ordered his removal to Devonport. - Capt. A. R. O'Flaherty, R.A.M.C., Devonport, said he had made a post-mortem examination and found the left ventricle of the brain enormously extended with blood. There was also a ruptured artery of the brain. In his opinion death was due to compression of the brain brought on by haemorrhage. - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Friday 10 June 1910
LUSTLEIGH - Lustleigh Mining Fatality. - A Lustleigh miner named GEORGE WILLIAM DRUETT met with a shocking death at Kelly Mine, Lustleigh, on Wednesday. Deceased was engaged during the dinner hour in loading ore underneath the main shaft of the mine. One car load, weighing between five and six cwt., had just been despatched to the surface and deceased was setting about loading another. As soon as the preceding car - technically known as a "kibble" - reached the head of the shaft, preparatory to its being hoisted upon the trolley line wagon, the wire rope with which it was fastened broke or became unravelled and the kibble fell down the shaft upon deceased, some 80 feet below. He was killed instantaneously, his body being crushed out of all recognition. - The Inquest at Lustleigh yesterday afternoon was conducted by Mr S. Hacker, County Coroner. The Jury visited the mine and the foreman, Mr S. Hill, was closely questioned as to the condition of the rope. - The Coroner stated that as the Government Inspector from Birmingham would have to be present the Inquest would be adjourned after formal evidence. - ELLEN DRUETT said deceased, her brother, was 28 years old, and lived at home with her mother and sister. - Dr R. R. Huxtable said he found deceased at the bottom of the mine dead. The body was crushed all to pieces. - Samuel Hill, Brookfields, captain of the mine, said he instructed deceased and other men to continue work whilst he was at dinner. Witness could not say whether the rope of the car broke or became unloosed. Witness spliced the rope on to the spring hook himself some time ago. There was no periodical inspection of the ropes unless anything wrong was noticed with them. - The Inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday next.

PLYMOUTH - Mystery Of R. PENGELLY. His Bank Books. - The Borough Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) held an Inquiry at Plymouth Workhouse yesterday concerning the death of RICHARD PENGELLY, otherwise RICHARD PENGELLY GREET, who attempted suicide at the Great Western Docks on Tuesday, and afterwards died at the Workhouse. - Dr Cooke, Medical Officer, said the deceased was admitted to the Workhouse about one o'clock on Tuesday in a state of collapse. He was just able to speak. Restoratives were applied and he lived about five hours. A post-mortem examination showed that he had a weak heart and the beginning of pleuro-pneumonia in the left lung. There was a good deal of water in the air passages. In the early stages of pneumonia a man was apt to be delirious. The immediate cause of death was shock, caused by immersion. - Alice Saltern, lodging-house keeper, King-street, said deceased had lived with her about five weeks. He was very reserved, but she never heard him threaten to take his life. He always seemed to have money, although he did no work. - Edward Turpin, Garden-crescent, was working at the docks on Tuesday when he saw deceased struggling in the water. He threw him a lifebuoy, but deceased made no attempt to take it. Another man, called Tutten, caught deceased with a grappling-iron and dragged him ashore. Artificial respiration by the dock-master and Mr Fisher brought him round and he then said he was going to have a bathe. - P.C. Pearce, who took deceased to the Workhouse, said he found a number of heavy stones in his pockets. - The Jury returned a verdict that deceased was Temporarily Insane when he got into the water, and that he died of shock, accelerated by a weak heart. - Bank-books showing about £200 on deposit were found on PENGELLY and £3 12s. 4d. in cash; also a form of will, stating that deeds of other property were to be found at the Chancery-lane Safe Deposit, Box 5757, and also in his bag at Rowton House, Hammersmith. All this property he left to an illegitimate son at Fowey, and, failing him, to some charity, Roman Catholic by preference. GREET was born at St Germans.

Western Morning News, Monday 13 June 1910
ST BUDEAUX - Inquest At St. Budeaux. - Mr Albert Gard held an Inquest at St. Budeaux on Saturday on EMMA LOUISA ARCHER. Her son, MR ALFRED E. ARCHER, said his mother was 63 years of age, and had been suffering from a weak heart. During the dinner hour of Thursday she was apparently well, but about 5 p.m. he was fetched home in consequence of her sudden death. ELLEN ARCHER stated that on Thursday, about 4.15 p.m., MRS ARCHER went into the garden, and suddenly called for assistance. Witness found her in a state of collapse and took her back to the house, but she died before a doctor could arrive. - Dr H. B. Palmer, Plymouth, deposed to attending the deceased at Christmas last for heart trouble. - In his opinion death was due to syncope. - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 14 June 1910
REVELSTOKE - Drowned Cawsand Fisherman. - Mr R. Robinson Rodd held an Inquest yesterday at Noss Mayo on the body of a fisherman discovered by two Newton Ferrers fishermen on Saturday, about a mile and a half outside Stoke Point. The body, which was brought from the old Stoke Church, where it had been lying, was identified by WILLIAM MARKS as that of his brother, SAMUEL JOHN MARKS, fisherman, of Cawsand. Witness recognised a pocket-handkerchief found on the body. SAMUEL left Cawsand alone in his punt on May 12th. A gale sprang up and he was driven towards the Eddystone. The empty boat was picked up near Charlestown, but nothing was discovered of his brother until Saturday. - William Clark, fisherman, of Newton Ferrers, said he and his mate saw the body floating off Stoke Point. The towed in ashore. - It was stated that MARKS was 46 years of age, single and lived alone, and was not able to swim. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned, there being no evidence to show how deceased got into the water.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Drowning Case. Help Which Came Too Late. - Mr J. Pearce yesterday held an Inquest on ALFRED STANLEY HOBLING, shipwright in Devonport Dockyard, living in Granby-street, drowned while bathing at Mount Wise on Sunday. - ALICE ROSE HOBLING said her brother left home about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning, saying he would be home to dinner. She did not know where he was going. He was subject to fainting fits. - Samuel G. Reynolds, caretaker of the bathing-place, said HOBLING borrowed a bathing costume and towel on Sunday morning about 11.40. He told him he would have to be quick as he closed at 12. He saw HOBLING enter the water, and then went on with his duties. At 12 o'clock he noticed that HOBLING'S clothes were still on the beach. there were five other bathers in the water at the time HOBLING entered it, but they had all come in at noon. HOBLING was nowhere about the bathing-place and he could see no one in the water. he waited ten minutes to see if he would come and then went to the Police-Station. On the way back to the bathing-place he was told the body had been recovered. He tried artificial respiration until a doctor arrived. - The Coroner thought witness had not done all he could have done. Instead of going to the Police Station he might have obtained a boat to look for the body. - Witness said it was difficult to know what to do in the emergency. - A Juror: You might have sent someone else for the Police. - Thomas B. Hemmett, shipwright, said about 12.30 on Sunday he saw a couple of sailors pulling at one of his father's boats. He went down to see what they were doing, and then saw one of them lifting a body out of the water. He waded in and brought the body ashore. - Surgeon Parker, R.N., H.M.S. Impregnable, said he went ashore and found the body in a shed. Artificial respiration was being tried and he continued it until 1.45, but without success. Death was due to drowning. - In reply to the Coroner, witness said when he arrived the body was cold. He might have been called a little earlier, as half an hour's delay had probably ensued after the body was recovered. - A verdict of Accidental Death from Drowning was returned, the Jury concurring with the Coroner that it was a pity Reynolds had not at once attempted to find the body instead of going to the Police Station.

CULLOMPTON - Octogenarian's Death. Suffocated whilst Drinking At A Stream. - Mr Gould yesterday held an Inquest at Cullompton on FRANCIS SEARLE DANIELLS, aged 81, formerly a carpenter of Cullompton, but of late living retired with his married daughter, MRS OWENS. The latter said he father left home about ten o'clock on Saturday morning for a walk, taking his Bible and pipe, as was his custom. She did not worry at his not returning, as she was told he was having refreshments at an Inn, and thought he did that to save her trouble, as she was removing to Exwick. - The Innkeeper in question said MR DANIELLS did not call at the Crown and thistle. - Frank Peters, grocer, who took the body out of a small stream of water near the Cricket Ground, said DANIELLS was lying on his face with arms outstretched, his face being in about three inches of water. His coat, pipe and Bible were on a form near the cricket pavilion. He believed DANIELLS had been reading his Bible there and had gone to the stream to drink or bathe his face. - The daughter, recalled, said her father had had fainting fits of late, and was in the habit of bathing his face when he felt faint. - Dr Alleyne said death was due to suffocation and not drowning. - The Coroner thought it was a case of accidental death. - There was no evidence whatever that deceased was likely to take his life. - Verdict, "Accidental Death by Suffocation."

Western Morning News, Wednesday 15 June 1910
LUSTLEIGH - Lustleigh Mining Fatality. Practice of Working Under Loaded Kibbles. - The adjourned Inquest was held at Lustleigh yesterday by Mr S. Hacker relative to the death at Kelly Mine of GEORGE WILLIAM DRUETT on Wednesday last. DRUETT was engaged during the dinner hour in loading ore at the bottom of the main shaft of the mine. One kibble (or car) load of ore, weighing about five cwt., had just been sent up the shaft to the top and DRUETT and his mate were about to load another. As soon as the preceding kibble reached the head of the shaft the wire rope became detached and the kibble fell upon deceased, nearly 80 feet below killing him instantly. At the first Inquiry Samuel Hill, captain of the mine, said he could not say whether the rope broke or became unloosed, adding that he spliced the rope on to the spring hook some time ago and that there was no periodical inspection of the ropes unless anything wrong was noticed with them. The Inquest had been adjourned to allow of the attendance of the Government Inspector of Mines. - At yesterday's Inquiry there were present Mr H. Walker, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Bath; Mr F. Watts, solicitor, Newton Abbot, representing the owners of the mine; Mr J. H. Hutchings, Teignmouth, on behalf of the relatives of deceased; and Police-Superintendent Carey. - Men Unaware Of Danger. - Samuel Hill, captain of the mine, was recalled, and said that after examining the broken rope, he thought that some of the wire strands were pulled out from the thimble by the weight and that some were broken. He could not suggest what caused the rope to break or pull out. There was a slight accident at the mine five years ago, when, owing to a man at the bottom of the shaft forgetting to put in the catch, a lump of granite dropped out of the kibble upon his shoulder and he was home for a week. There had never been any instructions given to the men not to stand or work under the kibble as it was going up loaded. he had stood under the kibble himself. - The Coroner: What! And risked your life. Is it not well known that it is a most dangerous position to put yourself in under a kibble with five or six cwt. in it? - Of course, there is a certain amount of danger, but I have never taken any notice of it. - Witness, continuing, said no regulations had ever been made as to providing for the safety of the men in regard to standing under an ascending kibble, nor had it been spoken about. An accident of this kind did not happen very often. The men did not see any fear, and he had not cautioned them about it, but he must. When he weaved the rope in question he was satisfied that it was strong and right when he put it into use. He had never had a rope break or pull out before this one during the eight years he had been at the mine. He had never inspected the ropes to see if they were gradually getting worn out and weak, although he supposed the time would come when one of them might become too weak to hold the weight in the kibble. - The Coroner: Unless you take some precaution to ascertain how a rope is getting on, and whether it is getting weak, an accident must happen at some time. That is the logic of it, I suppose? - Yes, I suppose it is. - The Coroner: I don't understand why you don't look at the rope or nozzle now and then to prevent accidents? - Witness replied that this particular rope had been spliced only about six weeks. - Mr Hutchings¨ In consequence of this accident, what alteration are you going to make? - We shall send the kibble up and shut down the doors before the next one is filled. - You could very easily have done that in the past, and now you say you are going to do it in the future? - That is quite right. - By Mr Watts: The rope in question was supposed to carry five tons, and the weight of ore in the kibble on this occasion was four or five hundredweight. He saw the rope the day before, and it then seemed to be perfectly secure in the thimble. - "I Don't Think Of It." - George Rice, miner, who was working with deceased at the time of the accident, said he guided the kibble away from the bottom and he and deceased then started filling another kibble just under the shaft. They were supposed to be at work filling the empty kibble whilst the other was going up. He had never done differently. He had often thought there would be an accident from working in this way, and he did not altogether like to have to stand right under the ascending kibble. They had no orders to stand there; their orders were to keep the kibbles going. They could not fill them on one side, because there was no room, although he supposed that the platform could be extended. They did not wait until the kibble got to the top of the shaft before they commenced filling the other, because there would not be time to fill one before the other came down. As to the accident, he heard a crash and when he looked around he saw the kibble on deceased, about four or five feet away. Witness pulled the kibble off and called assistance from two other miners. He also informed the man in charge of the engine. Witness had gone up and down in the kibble the same day and he thought it was safe enough. - The Inspector of Mines asked witness what he thought of himself working under a kibble when it was going up. - Witness: I don't think of it; I think about my work. - Was it necessary for deceased to be under the shaft when the accident happened? - I should say it was. - Are you going to work under the kibble in future? - No, I don't think I shall. - The Inspector: I am surprised that you have done so. I should have given you credit for more sense. - Replying to the Jury as to whether he had expressed fears as to the rope being safe, witness aid the same morning deceased said he did not like the rope and witness said the same. - The Coroner: What did you see to make you fear? - The rope seemed small in the middle part. Of course, the rope might be strong enough and it was only my opinion. - Why didn't you mention it to the captain if you had any fears about it? - The captain was not there. The rope broke ten minutes or a quarter of an hour afterwards. I should have told the captain if he had been there, and no doubt he would have looked at it. - John Olding, miner, said after working in an adit he came up in the kibble and saw nothing wrong about it. He took charge of the engine, and immediately the kibble stopped at the proper place at the top of the shaft it fell. He had also worked under a loaded kibble and never thought of the risk he ran. He did not think they could load the kibble far enough away to be safe, because the stuff was there on the platform, which was filled up. The only way to load the kibble safely would be by having a trigger platform. - The Official View. - William Arthur Gowan, managing director of the Scottish Silvoid Company, owners of the mine, said there was nothing to prevent the men at work at the bottom of the shaft from keeping back whilst the kibble was going up. The owners liked to get the material up with expedition, but they never thought of insisting upon a man standing directly under the kibble. The correct way of working would be for the men to stand aside whilst the kibble was going up. He was afraid that the foreman, or captain of the mine, had got into the same way as the men and that it was a case of familiarity. It had not occurred to the owners to give the foreman any instructions on the matter. The Government did not think it necessary to insist upon this, and had made no statutory regulations concerning it. In view, however, of what had happened, the owners proposed to place a fence at the bottom of the shaft, which was quite exceptional. - Mr Walker, Inspector of Mines, said he had examined the wire rope. There were no official rules with regard to men working under a kibble, and there were no such rules in force in this mine. There were certain special rules and rules for individual mines, but no general rules. The manner of working was left to the captain and the men. The rope which broke was drawn out be weight. There was no rule for the inspection of ropes in metalliferous mines, this being different to coal mines. As to the prevention of a similar accident in future, the men should stand out of the way until the kibble had gone up. He was amazed at the men having stood under it, but they had become so used to the practice that they did not take any notice of it. - The Coroner remarked that there was no question as to the cause of death: it was established by the evidence that the poor fellow was crushed to death by the falling of the kibble. The question for the Jury to consider was what caused the kibble to fall, and they should also consider as to whether there ought not to be some other arrangement in regard to working. He thought there should be some recognised rule whereby the men should stand aside whilst the kibble was going up the shaft. - The Jury, after a few minutes' deliberation in private, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." They recommended that the company should enforce a rule that all men working in the mine should stand away from the shaft whilst the kibble ascended and returned, and that the Government should be asked to enforce the same rules in metalliferous mines as in coal mines. The company should likewise be required to see that the ropes should be put on the thimbles at the rope-works. The Jury further expressed their sympathy with the relatives of deceased and their appreciation of the services rendered by P.C. Hurford in bringing up the body from the bottom of the shaft. - Mr Watts, on behalf of the owners of the mine, also expressed great sympathy with the deceased's relatives. The Jury gave their fees to the mother of deceased.

CHULMLEIGH - Old Age Pensioner's Death. - At Chulmleigh yesterday, Mr Geo. W. F. Brown held an Inquest on GEORGE JOSLIN, farm labourer, aged 74, who died suddenly on Monday. Medical evidence showed death to be due to syncope, and the Coroner remarked on the sad circumstances that deceased, who was an old-age pensioner, had only buried his wife a week since. Natural Causes was the verdict returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 16 June 1910
MARIANSLEIGH - Married Seven Weeks. North Devon Farmer's Shocking End. - "Good-bye, FLORRIE, dear," read the letter addressed to his seven weeks' bride, left by ALFRED JAMES WEBBER, a farmer, 33 years of age, who lived at Hill Town, Mariansleigh, near Southmolton, and whose death was the subject of an Inquest held by Mr G. W. F. Brown yesterday. - FLORRIE WEBBER, the widow, said her husband got up about 5.15 on Tuesday morning, saying he was going "out round" as usual. He never returned. He appeared to be in his usual health. - Percy Shapland, brother-in-law, said hearing about eleven o'clock that WEBBER had not been home to breakfast, he made a search and came upon the body in a field about half a mile from the farmhouse. WEBBER was on his back by the side of a hedge, in which was the gun, fixed between two steeples, with a piece of string tied to the trigger and to a stick in the fence and another piece of string tied to the barrel. The gun pointed towards WEBBER, who had evidently stood in front of it, about six feet away, and pulling the string exploded the gun. WEBBER had said to him on one occasion that he thought his farm too dear. He took it at Lady-day last, and had only been married about seven weeks. He knew of nothing calculated to worry WEBBER. - The Coroner read a vaguely-worded letter found on the body by P.C. Ashby. It stated:- "Good-bye, FLORRIE, dear. You will (? wonder) why I did this, but it is too much worry. I cannot stand it any longer. It is like, I may just, so many sins I have to bear. Give uncle my pony and what you like to give him else. I have put Bessie's cheque in the cupboard. P.S. - Manage it for her. Give my watch to Reginald." - Dr Tucker (Chulmleigh) said there was a gunshot wound directly over the region of the heart and the whole of the pellets in the gun had penetrated the wound, which was four inches in circumference. Death must have been instantaneous. - JOHN W. WEBBER, brother, said he knew of nothing to cause deceased to commit such a rash act and the Jury returned a verdict of Felo De Se.

Western Morning News, Friday 17 June 1910
EGG BUCKLAND - Crownhill Fatal Quarrel. questions As To Cause Of Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Crownhill yesterday on WILLIAM JOHN ELLIOTT, aged 56, Dockyard skilled labourer, Whitleigh-terrace. Two brothers, John Howard, age 22, Dockyard labourer and William Howard, boy in H.M.S. Carnarvon, both living at Whitleigh-cottages, Crownhill, who were arrested in connection with ELLIOTT'S death, attended and were represented by Mr Elliot Square, of Plymouth. - The Coroner, addressing the Jury, said they were called there to Inquire into a rather serious case, in which it was alleged that the deceased died from the result of injuries inflicted by two brothers named Howard. He begged them to disabuse their minds entirely of anything they might have heard or read in connection with the case. - Widow's Statement. - The widow, HARRIET JANE ELLIOTT, said on Saturday, June 4th, she returned to Crownhill from Plymouth by motor 'bus, arriving at 10.15 p.m. It was her husband's custom to meet her on her arrival, but on that evening he did not do so. She walked home and found he had gone to the doctor. When he returned his head was bandaged. On the following day she went to see John Howard and asked him what he thought of himself for the way in which he had served her husband. He replied, "I am very sorry for it." He offered to pay any expenses. Mrs Howard, the mother and the boy's sister were present at the time. Witness said they had better see her husband on the matter. Later the same day the two brothers, John and William Howard, called on her husband. he had just returned from a visit to the doctor and was sitting on a chair in the kitchen. Her son and daughter and Private Shepperd were also present. On entering John Howard said to her husband, "I am very sorry for what I have done. I should not have done it if I had not been in drink." Her husband said he desired to go to bed, as he was feeling bad and the brothers then left. - At this point the witness was quite overcome and had to leave the Court. - A Soldier's Story. - Pte. W. H. Shepperd, 1st East Surrey Regiment, stationed at Crownhill Barracks, stated that on June 4th, at 9.30 p.m. he was in ELLIOTT'S kitchen with MISS ELLIOTT, to whom he was engaged. Her father came in and said he was going up to meet the 'bus. Five or ten minutes later he returned with his face covered with blood and in a shocking condition. MISS ELLIOTT fainted and whilst he went to her assistance ELLIOTT went to the doctor's On Sunday afternoon the Howards called. John Howard expressed his sorrow for what had occurred and offered to bear all expenses so long as he was not taken to court, as he had a widowed mother to keep. ELLIOTT said he could not overlook the matter as William Howard struck him from behind. He then said to John Howard: "When you insulted my wife, I said I will knock you down as flat as a bullock, or you should me. Little did I think this was coming off." - Mr Elliot Square: Did you notice any cut when you first saw the deceased? - I could not see for blood. - You could not tell whether the injury was caused by a fist or a fall? - No. He had his handkerchief to his face where it was injured. - Have you heard that ELLIOTT threatened to knock John Howard down? - Yes; on account of his having insulted MRS ELLIOTT. Howard had said he would kiss her. The deceased resented that. Witness believed that occurred on May 5th, but he was not there at the time. - By the Coroner: Witness had not heard of anything occurring between the parties from the date of the alleged insult to the day of the assault. - Medical Evidence. - Dr Thomas Olver said deceased had a wound over the left eye about two inches long, but it was not a deep wound. The cut was jagged, and was quite superficial. There were abrasions on the nose and below and above the left eye. He washed the wound carefully with an antiseptic solution and as an extra precaution filled it with iodoform. He then applied a dressing and a bandage. On the following day the wound looked healthy. On Monday evening and again on Tuesday, the wound was going on all right. After that witness went on his holidays and handed the case over to his locum tenens, Dr Burkitt. Witness ordered ELLIOTT not to go to work. - The Coroner: How do you account for the wound? - I think it must have been caused by the deceased's coming into contact with some hard substance. - Would it require much violence to cause what you saw? - I do not think of necessity it was caused violently. Witness added that he was present at the post-mortem when it was found that the primary cause of death was tetanus or lockjaw, and the secondary cause was the wound near the left eye. The other organs were healthy and the deceased was of a fairly muscular and healthy constitution. - By Mr Square: The wound was in line with the eyebrow and any hard knock would cause it. - He was not very much knocked about? - Witness: There was no other injury. The fractured bone would require a more violent blow than the wound itself. It was a fairly thick bone and would require some force to fracture it. - Cross-examined: When ELLIOTT left he appeared to be in no danger. he died from traumatic tetanus, which was always set up in a wound. It could be caused by a germ. The deceased might have picked up the germ when he received the wound. Dirt in a wound would account for tetanus setting in. There was some dirt in the wound when the man came to him on the day of the assault. Witness used iodoform to kill the germs in the wound. Tetanus germs were hard to kill. He filled the wound with the solution, and took every precaution. - The Coroner: You cannot guarantee that all the germs were killed in the wound? - No, I could not, for the wound was a jagged one. - Coroner And Solicitor: A Scene. - Dr R. W.Burkitt, locum tenens for Dr Olver, said the deceased was under his treatment from Wednesday night, the 8th inst., until Tuesday, the 13th inst. He died about 2 p.m. The injury looked of an ordinary every-day nature. The parts were not, however, healing. He washed them with antiseptic and applied ointment. There was no evidence then but that the man was in ordinary health and witness looked upon the wound as an ordinary superficial scrape. - On Thursday witness used a stronger antiseptic because things were looking suspicious. Though he did not then suspect tetanus, he could see some serious poisoning was taking place. On Saturday he became more suspicious and wired for some anti-tetanic serum. He treated the case then as one of tetanus until death took place. He assisted at the post-mortem. The fractured bone, which had no connection with the malar bone, was almost pulverised. Witness did not think the wound was caused by a fist, but if a blow sent the man against a wall or to the ground, that would account for it. If the man aimed a blow at anyone and fell to the ground that also could have caused it. There must have been weight behind the blow, or else there would not have been pulverization of the bone. - Mr Square: Did the injuries cause the death? - No. - The Coroner: The tetanus was due to the entry of bacilli through the injury? - Yes. - Mr Square, who said that the Coroner was putting the words into the witness's mouth, sought to put his question again, and this led to some words between the Coroner and himself. - The Coroner, after Mr Square had made a remark as to what should be put on the depositions, said: "I will not allow Mr Square or any other advocate to dictate to me in this Court. When the witness gives an answer kindly take it." - Mr Square: I want you to take it. Can I ask questions? - Yes, but the witness has fully answered the point you raised. The Coroner added that he thought it was very unbecoming of Mr Square. - Mr Square: I absolutely decline to ask any more questions. - The Coroner: You may do as you think fit. - The Coroner then read over Dr Burkitt's evidence, and asked the witness if it was exactly what he wished to convey to the Jury. - The witness replied in the affirmative, and the incident closed. - The Coroner observed that they had to complete the widow's evidence and there were several other witnesses. He proposed to take the evidence of all concerned in the case, as he wished the Inquiry to be a full one before the Jury pronounced their verdict. - After lasting three hours the inquiry was adjourned until Monday afternoon.

Western Morning News, Saturday 18 June 1910
SHEERNESS, KENT - Sudden Death In The Hogue. Exmouth Youth's Heart Disease. - Mr Charris, County Coroner, held an Inquest at Sheerness yesterday afternoon on ALBERT E. GIBBONS, a youth serving on the cruiser Hogue, who collapsed during the washing down of the boat-deck on Wednesday. The evidence showed that the deceased had been employed with others coaling ship, his duty being to hold the bags. After ten minutes; "stand easy" he commenced, with others, to wash down the boat-deck. He fell backwards whilst carrying a bucket of water and expired. - MR S. GIBBONS, 16 New North-road, Exmouth, deceased's father, said his son had never had any complaint except measles. A post-mortem examination made by Surgeon A. Tredell, of the battleship Bulwark, showed that death was due to heart disease of long standing. Deceased had been twice medically examined during the past six months, but heart disease had not been suspected. He had not complained of illness while in the Hogue. A verdict of "Death from Heart Disease" was returned. The funeral took place last evening with naval honours.

PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on MARTIN GROGAN, dock labourer, Moir-street, whose widow said he died suddenly in bed that morning. He had for some time complained of his heart, but had not seen a doctor. Dr Pearse said death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 21 June 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Pensioner's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest yesterday on WILLIAM SPILLER, aged 84, naval pensioner, Alcester-street. - THOMAS J. SPILLER, Dockyard labourer, living at St. George's-terrace, said deceased, his uncle, enjoyed fairly good health considering his age. At 6 p.m. on Saturday he seemed to be in his usual health, but complained of his feet. About 2 ½ hours afterwards witness found him sitting unconscious on a chair, with his feet on another chair. - Dr Ingram said when he was called SPILLER was dead. He attributed death to syncope, due to dilatation of the heart, probably caused by the hot weather and a little unusual exertion in assisting to move furniture. Verdict - "Natural Causes."

EGG BUCKLAND - Crownhill Quarrel. Accused's Story Told At The Inquest. The Verdict. - The adjourned Inquest on WILLIAM JOHN ELLIOTT, Dockyard labourer, aged 56, of Whitleigh-terrace, Crownhill, was resumed by Mr R. R. Rodd at Crownhill yesterday. The deceased died on the 14th inst., and in connection with his death two young brothers, John Howard, age 22, Dockyard labourer and William Howard, age 17, seaman boy on the Carnarvon, both living at Whitleigh-cottages, Crownhill, are being proceeded against by the Police. - At the last hearing Drs. Olver and Burkitt agreed that the primary cause of death was tetanus or lockjaw, and the secondary cause was the injuries the deceased had received. - At yesterday's Inquiry, Mr E. Elliot Square again appeared for the brothers Howard. Mr Maybourne Pearce (instructed by Bond and Pearce) appeared for the relatives. Mr T. Wolferstan, clerk to the magistrates and Inspector Joslin of the Stonehouse County Police, were also present. - The widow, who at the first hearing was unable to complete her evidence owing to her being so much upset, continued, and said that on the Monday after the assault she saw John Howard and asked him if he was going to carry out his offer of the previous day and he replied that he would not, as her husband had not accepted it at the time. She remarked that it was very hard for her to have to pay all expenses, and, later in the week, in answer to a question put by her, there came a reply that she could take proceedings. - By Mr Square: When you saw Howard, did he not say, "I won't pay because your husband started the row?" - I don't remember it. - He might have said so? - I cannot say. I was upset at the time. - Mr Square observed to the Jury that at that Inquiry it would be unnecessary to go into the alleged "kissing incident" of a month before. - The Daughter's Story. - LILIAN ELLIOTT, daughter of the deceased, said that on Sunday, June 5th, at 4.30 p.m. John Howard and William Howard visited her father at his home and John Howard expressed their sorrow, and offered to bear expenses if the deceased would not summon them. He replied he could not overlook it. John Howard added that he would not touch drink any more if MR ELLIOTT would overlook it. He said he and a widowed mother and then left in company with his brother. - By Mr Square: Did not William Howard say he did not touch the deceased? - Yes. - The Coroner pointed out that the witness Shepperd said that when William Howard said that, the deceased remarked it was William Howard who came up and struck him from behind. To witness: Did your father say that? - Witness: Yes. - Continuing, the witness said that on May 5th the deceased said he would knock John Howard down, because he said he would kiss his (the deceased's) wife. On May 20th, at midnight, she was standing at the front door of her home when her father came down the road and with him was John Howard and Samuel Collins. Her father, as was his custom, was speaking in a loud voice and she heard him say "If you interfere with my wife or my family again I will knock you down like a bullock or you will me." Howard said goodnight to witness and passed on. - By Mr Pearce: On the Sunday after the assault John Howard said "I am sorry for what has occurred," and Wm. Howard denied striking the deceased. - Yes. - Annie Grace Jones, wife of Thomas George Jones, general labourer, 1 South-view, Crownhill, said that on June 4th, at about 9.30 p.m. she went from her house to the village and met MR ELLIOTT. He spoke to her and asked her if she had seen John Howard and she replied, "No." As they stood talking John and William Howard came round the corner. John Howard said "Here is the b...." No name was mentioned. MR ELLIOTT then said "Good night," and passed down into the lane, followed by the Howards. - By a Juror: The deceased was going towards his own home when she met him and he told her he was going home to keep the fire in. - As soon as he saw the boys appear the deceased said "Good night" and went down the lane. - Witness replied that that was so. - The Coroner: You are quite sure that the deceased went down the lane and the Howards followed? - Witness: Yes, sir. They did. - Elizabeth Glass, wife of George J. Glass, Clarendon-cottages, Crownhill, said that on the day in question at about 9.30 p.m. she saw Mrs Jones and MR ELLIOTT talking at the top of Whitleigh-lane. She heard Mrs Jones say to MR ELLIOTT, "Well, I suppose I must be getting up into the village." The deceased said "Good night," and walked part way down the lane with witness. He then walked on ahead, after wishing her good night and went to his own backdoor. She saw nothing of the Howards. - By a Juror: She heard no row or noise subsequently. - By Mr Square: She actually saw the deceased go into his back door, so the Howards could not have touched him up to then. - P.C. Francis Bone, Crownhill, said that on Saturday, June 4th, at 11 p.m., from information he received, he went to the deceased's house in Whitleigh-terrace, and from what he said, witness went into the back lane. Immediately outside MR ELLIOTT'S back door he saw a pool of fresh blood about two feet from the door step. When he saw the deceased his face was bandaged up. On the 12th inst. he heard the deceased was very ill; he obtained a written statement, but the Howards were not present. - By the Coroner: There was no evidence of a scuffle in the lane? - No. - Threats. - Samuel John Collins, 26 Whiteleigh-terrace, Crownhill, market gardener, was called to give evidence by Mr Square. He stated that on May 20th he met John Howard in the village at about midnight. Howard walked with witness to his home, which was on the way to his own. The deceased was walking along behind, also on the road to his residence. The deceased spoke to John Howard and said: "If you ever speak to me again, I will knock you down like a bullock." Howard made no reply. ELLIOTT repeated his threat all the way down the road. At the time the deceased was excited and talked loudly. - The Coroner: did he attempt to strike Howard? - No. - Mr Square: Nor did Howard attempt to strike the deceased? - No. - By a Juror: Howard made no comment on the deceased's threat? - No. At Whitleigh-terrace the deceased entered his own house. MISS ELLIOTT was standing at the door. - John Howard's Version. - John Howard was then called. - The Coroner: I suppose, Mr Square, Howard remembers he is a prisoner on bail? - Mr Square: I have thoroughly explained that to him. - The witness said that he had known the deceased all his life and was on good terms with him up to the unfortunate accident. On May 6th he was in Mr Roberts's shop at 1 Whitleigh-terrace, and the deceased's wife was there. MRS ELLIOTT remarked to him that if she was his mother she would turn him out of doors for drinking. Witness said in reply, "You ought to have something for this. You ought to have a kiss." On the next day he met the deceased in a hotel at Crownhill and witness said that if he had insulted his wife in any way he was sorry. The deceased said "That's all right, Jack." - On May 20th he met the deceased while going home at midnight and MR ELLIOTT continually threatened to knock him like a bullock. Witness made no reply. The deceased did not attempt to strike him. - On June 4th he left Crownhill to go home at 9.30 p.m. with his brother William. As they were approaching the back door of 24 Whitleigh-terrace, the deceased came out and spoke in an angry tone. Witness went back and said, "A few weeks ago you were going to knock me down like a bullock." The deceased replied, "You have been drinking and I will do it now." Then the deceased went into his shed through his back door and put down his hat and took off his coat. He came out and made a rush at witness, and aimed a blow at him. He struck witness under the right eye. They sparred around until witness had his back against the deceased's back door. The deceased then rushed at witness and tripping, he fell on his face. His brother William did not strike the deceased at all. - Mr Square: And whatever responsibility there is in the case you take it on yourself? - Yes. Witness added that the road in the lane was rough. - Continuing, he said that the evidence of MRS ELLIOTT as regarded the interview in the first place were substantially correct. On the 8th inst. MRS ELLIOTT came to his house and said she would accept witness's offer to pay the expenses. He refused, saying that the deceased was the aggressor. - Replying to the Foreman, witness said he and his brother went away, and left the deceased lying on the ground. He went up to see MR ELLIOTT and offered to pay expenses because of what a friend told him. - A Juror: Do you mean to say you did not strike the deceased at all? - I believe I might have got one blow in. - The Coroner: You do not appear to have made the allegation that the deceased was the aggressor on the Sunday afternoon when all the witnesses were present. - No. - Answering the Coroner, witness said that the deceased showed his resentment of the kissing incident, for on May 7th MR ELLIOTT said he would have hit witness under the "earhole" if he had been there. - The Coroner: Did he attempt to strike you at that time? - No. - A Juror: On what part of the body did you hit the deceased ? - In the face, I think. - Mr Pearce: If it was the deceased's fault, why did you offer to pay the expenses? - Witness replied that he did not know what took him to go up and make the offer. - Mr Square: Had you any intention of striking ELLIOTT on that day until he came out of the back door? - None at all. - You say you only hit him in self-defence? - Yes. - Dr Olver said it was the frontal bone near the orbit of the left eye which was fractured. It was not the malar bone. He wished to correct his depositions to that effect. - Answering Mr Square: Dr Burkitt said that a germ could enter any cut. - The Coroner: The injury you found on the deceased was the means by which the tetanus arose. - I believe so. - The Coroner: Of course, all other matters are theory. - I believe the wound was the cause of the tetanus. - Mr Square: Can you swear that tetanus germ went in any particular wound? - No. - Mr Square: Of course, you can't prove it. - The Coroner handed the doctor a paper in which he stated that in his opinion the injuries received led to the inoculation of the tetanus bacillus. - Witness said he adhered to that opinion. - For The Defence. - Mr Square said that with the permission of the Coroner he would address a few words to the Jury. He would ask them to say that the deceased died from tetanus and how he got it they did not know, or that he died from misadventure. They would be justified in coming to either of those verdicts. Dr Burkitt had given his evidence most fairly. He said that the blow over the eye could not have been caused by a human fist. He wanted them to put out of their minds the reference to wounds. There was only one wound and that was only serious because it bled. Such wounds could be received by an ordinary common knock. There was evidence that it was caused by the deceased's falling on the ground. There was no evidence that the deceased was struck from behind. Unless the deceased received his injuries from John Howard - the brother William, they were told, was yards away at the time - they could not say John Howard was responsible for his death. The only way the man could have met his death was by the mischance that there was one of the deadly tetanus germs in the lane, or that he picked one up afterwards. There was no doubt that tetanus was on the increase in England. Mr Square laid emphasis on the fact that the doctors were most thorough in applying the strongest antiseptics after the wound had been received. He asked them to believe that John Howard did not assault the deceased, but that MR ELLIOTT was the aggressor. - Summing Up And Verdict. - The Coroner, in summing up, said that there was no suggestion at the interviews that the deceased was the aggressor, or that he struck any blow at all. ELLIOTT implicated the Howards, especially William, and neither attempted to repudiate the statements. Instead of that they offered to pay the expenses to hush the matter up. There was also the evidence of Mrs Jones, who heard one of them say, "here is the b...." There was no evidence of a scuffle in the lane. His own view was that when the deceased was knocked down he picked himself up as quickly as he could and took off his coat for the purpose of defending himself. It was then he found that the boys had gone. They admitted they left him lying on the ground. He could not see there was any possible doubt whatever that the attack was made on the deceased, from which, as the doctors had told them, tetanus arose. That was the primary cause of death. The secondary, or conducing cause, was those wounds received when he fell on the ground. Mr Square had attempted to explain that the germs might have been picked up days afterwards. If it was picked up days afterwards by those injuries it was immaterial. The doctors were of opinion that the tetanus was picked up when the deceased fell. It was not long before he was receiving attention from a doctor, and his injuries remained bound until the day of his death. The doctor said he could not guarantee the antiseptics killed every germ, for, as he pointed out, the wound was a jagged one. If they took the view of the case as presented to them on behalf of the deceased they would have no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the Howards had in the case been guilty of manslaughter. - After retiring for three-quarters of an hour, the Jury found that ELLIOTT met his death by Misadventure.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Drowning Case. An Open Verdict. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on WILLIAM WILLIAMS, aged 19 of Russell-street, whose body was found on the Tinside beach, under the Hoe, on Friday. - Wm. Hy. Thomas, general dealer, said WILLIAMS, his nephew, seemed in his usual health on Thursday night. At 11.30 p.m. he left the house, and as he had a latchkey, his absence was not noticed. On the following morning it was found that his bed had not been slept in. Witness had never heard WILLIAMS threaten to take his life. - Robert Kittle, age 16, of Vauxhall-street, said on Friday evening while bathing at Tinside, he noticed the body, quite dead and fully dressed, wedged between two rocks. It was practically out of the water, but it was then low tide. At high tide it would have been covered. - P.C. Knight said WILLIAMS'S watch had stopped at 12.30. There was nothing found on the body which threw any light on how he came into the water. - Dr Brenton said he attended WILLIAMS in March for laryngitis. It affected his voice, and he seemed a little concerned about it. However, there appeared to be nothing wrong mentally. The lad was, in fact, looking forward to his holidays, when he could complete the cure of his illness. His mother had been on the verge of insanity for some time. Having only examined the body very superficially he could not express an opinion as to the cause of death. Some of the bruises on the face might have been caused before death and some afterwards. Such was the condition of the body that he failed to recognise it at first. There was an amount of bruising which caused him to be taken aback when he saw it. - Mr F. N. Grant, of St Philip's Old Boys' Club, said WILLIAMS, who was a member of the club, and had been a member of witness's Bible-class for ten years, was a very straightforward and capable fellow. On Thursday evening, WILLIAMS attended a club committee meeting and up to ten o'clock could have had no idea of impending death. He spoke of assisting in the arrangement of several future events which the club intended prompting. - The Jury having expressed a desire that there should be a post-mortem examination, the Inquest was adjourned for three hours for that purpose. - On the Inquiry being resumed, Dr Brenton said the whole of the bruises were caused after death, and that death was due to drowning. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned. - The Coroner said there was a suggestion that there had been a family quarrel on the Thursday night. - The uncle of WILLIAMS said there was no such thing. - The Jury expressed themselves quite satisfied and passed a vote of sympathy with the relatives.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 22 June 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Ropemaker's Death. Result Of An Injury At Devonport Dockyard. - Mr R. R. Rodd (County Coroner) opened an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on WALTER P. P. STEPHENS (56), rope-maker in Devonport Dockyard and who resided at 75 St. Leonard's-road, Prince Rock, Plymouth. - Robert Ashley, stoker 1st class, gave evidence of identification. The deceased was his father-in-law. - Surgeon T. E. Blunt, R.N., said the deceased was admitted to the Hospital on June 2nd suffering from a compound fracture below the right knee. An operation was performed to unite the bones. The deceased progressed very well until Monday evening. At 8.30 p.m. he was taken ill and the sick berth attendant summoned witness, who found life extinct. He had made a post-mortem examination and found that death was due to heart failure caused by an embolism in the right lung. The injury probably produced this. The deceased did not inform witness how he received the fracture. - The Inquiry was adjourned until Thursday at 2 p.m., when evidence with regard to the manner in which the deceased received his injuries will be given. - It is understood that the deceased fractured his leg while at work in the West Ropery.

Western Morning News, Thursday 23 June 1910
PLYMPTON ST MARY - Plymouth Man's Suicide. Affecting Farewell Letters To Relatives. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest yesterday on HENRY SAMUEL ISAACS of College Park-place, Mutley, a lamp-lighter, aged 39 years. - Alfred Wm. Slee, sawyer, of Stanley-terrace, Plymouth, his brother-in-law, said ISAACS had been in the employ of the Plymouth Corporation for the past ten years. His wife died about two years ago, and left him with four children, all under the age of 15 years. - The Coroner read the following, written on a card found on ISAACS' body, and addressed to witness:- "Dear Brother, - Forgive me for Lily's sake. Look after FLORRIE; you will have your reward. Love to Nell, and will you get some of my pictures, two clocks and washing set and look after it for FLORRIE, and if you have any insurance left, leave my sister 10s.; that is all I owe them. - HARRY. " - Other letters addressed to his daughters were:- "Dearest NELLIE, - Try and forgive me for your dear mother's sake; do not think too hard of me. For years, my dear, I have had a lot of worry. Thinking that living out here would be better, but I find the strain too hard for me. Charley will be all right - Father." - "My Dearest MAUDIE, - Forgive me darling for old time sake. I have not been right or happy since your poor mother died. - Father." - Joseph Williams, foreman of lamp-lighters, in the employ of Plymouth Corporation, said ISAACS was on seven days' leave last week, and should have returned on Monday evening. The card produced, addressed to him, was in ISAACS' handwriting. It ran as follows: - "Dear Joe, - I have not been happy for years. forgive me for what I have done and do not trouble the club about the money, there is quite enough to bury me. Tell the chaps not to think too hard of me." - Witness, continuing, said the loss of a child by consumption, and then of his wife, had caused ISAACS a great deal of worry, and he had been a different man since, and had been very depressed, especially when alone. He was a steady and good workman, his lighting round was in the neighbourhood of Mannamead. ISAACS sent him a message to put another man in his place for Monday night and Tuesday morning, as he was going to Coxside to see some friends, and might not be home until late. - John J. Matthews, engine driver, G.W. Railway Company, said on Monday he drove the 10.10 p.m. up goods train from Laira and noticed nothing exceptional on the journey. The following morning, on examining the engine at Plymouth, he observed hair and bloodstains on the leading left-front bogey wheel. ISAACS was found on the left side of the railway. - James Pearce Hawton, engine driver, said when driving the 11.2- p.m. goods train from Exeter on Monday he noticed about a mile past Plympton, the dead body of ISAACS lying, with his head towards Plympton Station, on the left bank of the railway. He had been very badly injured. - P.C. George Band, stationed at Ridgeway, deposed to removing the body to Plympton Workhouse Mortuary. The letters which had been read were found upon it. There was also a purse containing 10s. 10 ¼d. and a knife. - Dr Daniel Stamp, of Plympton, said the whole of the right side of the body, from the spine outwards, had been crushed. There was a wound in the throat, and it looked as if an attempt had been made by ISAACS to cut his throat before the train hit him. The wound in the throat would not account for death. The injuries were quite consistent with his having been struck by a train. - Chief Inspector Poulteney, who represented the G.W.R. Company, said there was no right of way on to the line where ISAACS was found, and anyone there would have been trespassing. ISAACS had probably gone through a field to reach the line. - The Jury, returning a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" expressed their sympathy with the relatives.

Western Morning News, Friday 24 June 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Death of Naval Man. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital yesterday on ARTHUR LANCASTER, stoker petty officer, who died on board the Indus on Tuesday morning. Staff-Surgeon Cecil Howard Rock, who had made a post-mortem examination, found that the deceased had suffered from pneumonia of the right lung, pleurisy and disease of the heart. - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - At the Inquest on MRS M. H. RITCHIE, aged 75, Ordnance-street, Devonport, Dr McElwaine attributed death to heart disease, accelerated by long-standing bronchitis.

Western Morning News, Saturday 25 June 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Able Seaman's Death. "Found Drowned." - Mr J. A. Pearce, Borough Coroner, held an Inquest at Devonport North Yard yesterday on a sailor whose body was picked up in the Hamoaze the previous day, and is supposed to be that of BARTHOLOMEW DORNEY, able seaman, of H.M.S. Empress of India, who was missed from his ship on April 8th. - Staff-Surgeon G. C. Ross said the body was in an advanced state of decomposition. It was impossible to see whether there had been any violence before death. The legs, forearms and head were missing. - Lieut Joseph Man, H.M.S. Empress of India, said the deceased, an able seaman, was missing from his ship on April 8th, about 7.30 a.m. He was 30 years of age and a native of Temple Brady, Ireland. He was a quiet man and bore an excellent character. - The Coroner: Do you know of anything happening which might have induced him to take his life? - Witness: It so happened that the day before the occurrence he applied for re-engagement, but the captain, remarking that the man looked ill, said he had better see the doctor before he re-engaged. - Samuel Colligan, second class P.O., Empress of India, said he had known the deceased about four months, and last saw him alive at 12.10 a.m. on April 8th, when he was in his hammock. Witness asked him how he felt, as he had complained of being unwell during the day. He replied that he was about the same, and witness told him to stop in his hammock, and suggested that he had better see the doctor the first thing in the morning. The deceased would have had to come up two ladders to get on deck, but if there had been a splash someone would have heard it, as everything was very still that night. The deceased had complained of feeling unwell for months. - The Coroner: Had he ever threatened to take his life? - Witness: No; in fact, he seemed to be looking forward to hearing his 14 days' re-engagement leave. - Patrick Garde, able seaman, H.M.S. Driver, said on Thursday, at 6 a.m., he saw a body floating on the port side of the ship. He reported the case to a leading seaman, and together they lowered a boat, put a rope around the body and towed it back to the ship. - Inspector Maddeford, Metropolitan Police, said in the clothing there was a silver watch, which had stopped at 12.12. - Calligan, recalled, and asked how he identified the body, said the deceased had a pocket in his jersey in which he carried his watch. He could also identify the watch, as the number corresponded with the number that deceased had mentioned to him some time ago, when they were having an argument about it. - THOMAS DORNEY, brother, said he last saw the deceased on March 8th, when he appeared to be in good health. He had never heard him threaten to take his life. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Naval Painter's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on Petty Officer 1st Class JOHN LOGAN HEATLY, painter, of the battleship Repulse, who died at that Institution on Tuesday, from injuries received while at work in the Dockyard on the 15th inst. - Charles Bulley, blacksmith, of the Royal Oak, said on June 15th, he with the deceased and two other men were hauling cable from a lighter on to the Royal Oak, by means of rope strands. The strand which the deceased was holding slipped through his hands and he fell into the hold of the lighter. As far as witness could see the strand had not parted and there was no sudden jerk of the cable. - Some of the Jurymen thought a painter should not have been ordered to haul a cable, but the Coroner remarked that it was not a task which required skilled labour. - Staff-Surgeon Leonard Warren said the deceased was admitted to the R.N. Hospital suffering from a fractured spine. He died on June 22nd. - In reply to Mr K. Eyton Peck, who attended on behalf of the Admiralty, witness said the deceased was physically fit for the work he was performing. He was a well-built man. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Monday 27 June 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Man's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce, Devonport Borough Coroner, held an Inquest on Saturday on ALBERT ERNEST WILLIAMS, aged 24, of 122 Albert-road. - EMMA JANE WILLIAMS, widow, identified the body as that of her son, who was an assistant to the canteen manager on board H.M.S. Impregnable. He died at 3.30 on Friday morning. - The Coroner said he did not propose to take any further evidence that day. The contents of deceased's stomach had been sent to the public analyst (Dr Bean) for analysis. - The Inquest was adjourned until Monday, July 4th.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 28 June 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Girl's Misadventure. - A verdict of "Death from Misadventure" was returned yesterday at the Inquest on WINIFRED EMILY FARMER, 15, daughter of a park keeper, living in Kensington-place, Plymouth. She died on Friday, after taking an ounce and a half of carbolic acid, the Jury considering that she took the poison to relieve acute toothache. - JOHN FARMER, the father, stated that, although his daughter had been suffering from severe toothache for four or five days previously, on Friday morning, when he left home, she was, as usual, cheerful. The bottle of carbolic acid had been brought into the house sometime before by an elder sister, who had injured her arm, and intended to apply the acid externally. The bottle was not labelled "poison", and deceased did not know it contained it. He believed she took it for the toothache. - George H. Paddy, carpenter, deposed to being struck by the strange appearance of the girl when on Friday afternoon she opened the back door that painters might work upon it. She looked as if about to faint, and some minutes later, with this impression in his mind, he looked into the kitchen and there found the girl unconscious. He called a neighbour and also fetched a doctor. Dr J. Gardiner proved the cause of death, and the Jury returned a verdict as stated, expressing sympathy with the family.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 5 July 1910
BARNSTAPLE - Devon Hayfield Fatality. Playmate Exonerated From Blame. - Mr Geo. W. F. Brown last evening held an Inquest at Herton, near Barnstaple, on FREDERICK C. AVERY, aged 8, who lived with his grandparents in Pengelly's-court, High-street, Barnstaple. - Willie Gammon, another little boy, said Mr Gaydon was carrying hay on his farm and he (witness) was playing with AVERY at the bottom of the field. AVERY took up the pick and tried to hit him with the handle, but he stumbled and fell on the pick, which ran into his chest. Witness called Mr Down, who was working in the field and the boy was carried into the house. - Dr Walter Cooper (Barnstaple) said the pick had entered the right side, gone across the chest through the lining of the heart and through two large blood vessels at the bottom of the heart, causing death. - The Coroner said the lad, as children would, got hold of a dangerous weapon, which they seemed to prefer to safe ones. The explanation given by Gammon was, he thought, quite feasible. It was an unfortunate thing, but there was no blame attaching to Gammon, and there was no reason to bring prejudice into the case. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and exonerated Gammon from blame.

NORTHAM - Bideford Fisherman's Death. - At Northam yesterday, Mr Geo. W. F. Brown held an Inquest on JOHN FOLLEY, 61, fisherman, of Bideford, whose body was washed ashore on Northam Burrows on Saturday, two months after he was lost whilst trawling in Barnstaple Bay. - WILFRED FOLLEY, son, age about 17, said his father and himself had been trawling in the bay and were coming home in the evening. It was cold and rough and he went below to make coffee, leaving his father at the helm. When he came up after ten minutes or a quarter of an hour he found his father missing. There was no sign of him in the sea, or anywhere. The waves were coming over the trawler, but his opinion was the tiller swung round and knocked his father overboard. Later a man named Keen came aboard from another boat, and they cruised round, but could see nothing. - Foreshore-Inspector Edwin Stevens spoke to recovering the body at high water mark on Saturday. As a mariner, he quite agreed with the son's explanation that the man was knocked over by the tiller, the bulwarks being low. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

COMBEINTEIGNHEAD - Farm Labourer's Suicide. - At Combeinteignhead, near Teignmouth, yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on WILLIAM P. SARAHS, farm labourer, of Coombe, whose body was found hanging in a cowshed on Townsend Farm, belonging to Mr R. S. Lang, on Saturday. - JOHN M. SARAHS, gardener, said his father, who lived with him, lost his wife about thirty years ago, and had a housekeeper to look after his children. She had lately been removed to the Infirmary on account of her age and infirmities. His father had been anxious to get her out again and on Friday night told him he was going to Newton, to fetch her. He had had one or two illnesses, but never threatened to take his life. He was 61 years of age, and was in constant employment. - P.C. Mogridge said after a long search he found the body hanging in the loft of a cowshed. He was a very respectable man. He had 18s. 10d. in his pockets. - Richard S. Lang, farmer, said SARAHS had been in his employ and told him he did not know what to do about getting his old housekeeper out of the Infirmary. - Dr John R. Hatfield said SARAHS had been dead about 30 hours when he saw him. He was usually a cheerful man. A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Pensioner's Suicide. - Mr John Graves held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on JOHN RICHARD STADDON, 48 years of age, Dockyard pensioner, who lived in Gibbon-street. - HARRY STADDON said his brother lived with him. On Sunday night on reaching home, just before ten o'clock, he found the kitchen door locked. He forced it open, and saw his brother sitting in an armchair with a tube, connected with a gas ring, in his mouth. He appeared to be dead. He suffered from a very weak heart and in consequence had of late been despondent. - Dr Lynch said he was called about half-past ten. Death had apparently occurred an hour before. STADDON'S heart was diseased and very little gas killed him. One might almost say death was due to heart disease, accelerated by gas poisoning. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Man's Death. Overdose of Veronal Tabloids. - The Inquest was ALBERT ERNEST WILLIAMS, aged 24 years, assistant canteen manager on H.M.S. Impregnable, was yesterday resumed at Devonport Guildhall by Mr J. A. Pearce, Borough Coroner. The deceased, who resided at 122 Albert-road, died on June 24th, having been unconscious for two days. - The mother of deceased, continuing her evidence, said her son on June 21st was bright and happy when he went to bed. For several days he had complained of a slight headache, which he attributed to the heat. He came home from work at 7.30 and having had his tea, wrote several letters to young men connected with his church. these he posted and on coming back, he had supper, wished witness good night, and asked to be called early in the morning. He had not suggested that he would take anything for the headache. Next morning she went to the deceased's room as usual to call him, but got no answer. She went to him, but could not rouse him and she then found him to be unconscious. One of her sons also failed to rouse him and a doctor was summoned. From then until the Friday morning her son did not regain consciousness. He had been on H.M.S. Impregnable about ten years and had had no trouble. All he thought about was his mother and his church, and he had never threatened to take his life. She was much surprised to find that he had the tabloids. He had been looking forward to becoming a lay reader, and for that purpose had been studying rather hard. At the beginning of the week he had been planning what he would do in his holidays. She did not think he slept very well, as he would often read and write a lot in the evenings, and he had complained of not sleeping. - In reply to a Juror, witness said deceased had not been disappointed in any way. - WILLIAM GEORGE WILLIAMS said he knew his brother was studying very hard and it came as a great surprise to hear that he had been taking tabloids. - THOMAS WILLIAMS, another brother, living at the same house, remembered on previous Sundays seeing the deceased get out of bed; he did not appear to be refreshed as others. - Charles Stevens, tenant of the boys' shop on H.M.S. Impregnable, said deceased had been in his employ for 9 ½ years. When he left work on June 21st he seemed in his usual health and was quite cheerful. He had since been informed that in the afternoon deceased had complained of a dull, heavy pain at the back of his head. WILLIAMS had always been happy in his employment and had been one of the best fellows witness had ever met. He could not have got the tabloids from the ship. Witness was positive that he had no thought of committing suicide, as he had always considered that a man who did that was a coward. - Dr R. J. Fleming deposed that on June 22nd he found deceased unconscious, breathing heavily. He could not rouse him. He found the bottle of veronal tabloids, made up by a London firm, underneath the left hand of the deceased. Witness adopted treatment suitable to bring him round, and consulted another medical man, but they could do nothing, as there was no regular antidote. In his opinion death was due to veronal poisoning. The veronal drug was one of the latest and he had used them occasionally for sleeping. It was not a scheduled poison. - The Coroner: If I could not sleep, and was under your care, how many of these tabloids would you give me? - Witness: I should give you two, but not every night. - Dr Bean, of Plymouth, wrote stating that there were signs of veronal in the contents of the stomach submitted for analysis. He had examined the small quantity of white dust adhering to the bottle and a solution of it gave characteristic signs of veronal. Cases of veronal poisoning were fairly common, and the poisonous dose appeared to be variable, differing with the person taking it. - Rev. E. C. Atherton, vicar of St. James-the-Great, Keyham, said he knew deceased intimately, as he was a member of his church. He had been secretary of the C.E.M.S. and was a hard worker. He gave that up so that he could study to become a lay-reader, which he was very eager to do. Deceased had made arrangements to hold meetings on July 17th and also in September. Witness was sure it was not a case of suicide as deceased had a horror of it. Nothing would induce him (witness) to bury a man who had taken his own life, but in this case he had not only conducted the burial service, but had helped the family as much as possible. He had never heard the deceased mention anything about tabloids. - The Coroner did not think there could be any doubt that death was due to veronal poisoning. He did not think deceased took it to end his life, as he was an able young man, with an excellent character and everyone spoke highly in his favour. There was an absence of any motive which would induce him to take his life, and he was looking forward to taking a greater interest in the Church. There was a question as to whether the tabloids should be sold without any restriction, but there were the directions plain enough on the label. There had been other deaths from veronal, but the poison was not scheduled and a chemist could sell it to anyone who asked for it. That, however, was a case for other authorities. They all sympathized very deeply with the relatives and with Rev. Atherton, who had lost a hard worker. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death by Misadventure in taking an Overdose of Veronal Tabloids."

SIDMOUTH - East Devon Mystery. Open Verdict At The Inquest. - At Sidmouth yesterday, Dr Tweed, Coroner, held an Inquest on CARRIE AMY CAMPION, who was found on the beach near Salcombe Regis on Saturday afternoon. - Mary Elizabeth Reed, married, of Sidford, said she was walking with friends on the beach when her attention was attracted to a body lying face downwards. She first thought it was a man asleep, but seeing no signs of life, she went to the Post-Office, where a message was despatched to the Sidmouth Police. The body might have been five or six yards from the foot of the cliffs. She thought it was brought there by the tide, and a large rock prevented it from washing back when the tide receded. It was her impression that the body had just been washed up. There were no marks of blood on the body. - Bessie Reed, cook in the employ of the deceased, deposed that she knew her as MRS NORTH, of Ridge House, Stockland, near Honiton. Deceased and MR NORTH, as far as she knew, were husband and wife. Her mistress disappeared on Thursday morning, having previously told her what to cook for dinner. She also spoke of the orders for groceries. They never quarrelled, and witness had not noticed any change in the deceased's manner. The man and woman were of temperate habits and as far as witness knew, there were no financial difficulties. Deceased had never complained of illness, except of a headache a fortnight since. - Thos. Baker, coachman, employed by MR NORTH, said he had frequently driven the deceased. He had noticed no change in her demeanour lately, excepting that on the morning of her disappearance she seemed to be in a hurry. As far as he knew, deceased and her companion lived very well together; no one met a happier pair. Deceased employed the greater part of her time in literary work and study. He had posted five hundred letters at night and even as many as a thousand. Last Thursday he saw her at five minutes to eleven, when she had a letter rolled up in her hand. The deceased left the house by the back door (which he had never seen her do before), passed through the orchard and walked across the fields. She appeared as if she could not get away from the place fast enough. - Beryl Carter-Fey, of Dalwood, private secretary to the deceased, said that when MRS NORTH did not put in an appearance at dinner, MR NORTH said she would not like them to wait. MR NORTH appeared to think it unusual that the deceased did not come to dinner. - TRUMAN PRESS, journalist and publisher, of Ridge House, Stockland, said he was known as "ALLAN NORTH." - His reason for adopting the name was that the deceased used the name as a professional nom de plume. Her name was CARRIE ANN CAMPION and she was an authoress, aged 35. She had been in good health and he could not account for her disappearance, unless it was that she suddenly lost her mental balance. There had been no unpleasantness and he had never heard her threaten to take her life. She had been depressed of late, but it was not due to financial trouble. He could not account for her being discovered on the beach. She had, he thought, been overworking her brain of late, as she had been writing three or four books a year. The deceased had been writing historical works for the past 17 years. She went to the British Museum for a fortnight every two months to pursue her studies. He was not alarmed at her disappearance until late in the evening, when he went out to look for her. She was not in the habit of going away like that. After dinner on the day she left, he found a note on the book shelves, which ran, - "Please don't wait dinner, as I shall not be in." - Deceased was fond of Branscombe and Beer, and very often took walks in that direction. - Dr Robin, of Sidmouth, said the lungs showed signs of drowning. There were no fractures. - The Coroner remarked that the question of whether it was a suicide or not would remain a mystery. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Found Drowned," adding that there was not sufficient evidence to show how the deceased got into the water.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 6 July 1910
ST BUDEAUX - The St Budeaux Suicide. Sad Case Of A Petty Officer's Wife. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at St. Budeaux yesterday on SUSAN ELLEN TOWNSEND, aged 33 of Elliott-street, the wife of a chief petty officer, H.M.S. Cornwall. - Sidney Rich, compositor, of West Hill, Plymouth, said he last saw MRS TOWNSEND alive on Sunday evening. She had given birth to a child the previous Monday. She appeared to be cheerful and told him she had lately heard from her husband, who had been away about six months, and that he was coming home shortly. She had lived happily with her husband. They had two other children. - Mrs Sarah Mortimer, of Elliott-street, said she attended MRS TOWNSEND, who had a doctor. She stayed with her every day from 5 p.m. to midnight. On Monday morning she saw that MRS TOWNSEND was not in bed, and on searching the house she found her lying on her face on the floor of the back kitchen. Her head was in the gas stove, an ordinary square one. On the dressing-table in her bedroom were pieces of letters she had received during her illness. The gas-meter was a slot machine. When she (witness) left the previous evening there was no gas left in the meter. MRS TOWNSEND must have put a penny in the slot, as one penny was missing from a cupboard which witness had placed there the previous evening. MRS TOWNSEND had always lived very cheerful on the Sunday evening and was recovering rapidly. - Dr Howard Slater said he was called on Tuesday morning. Deceased appeared to have been poisoned by gas some hours previously. Death from coal gas, as at present mixed with water gas, was much more pleasant that pure coal gas, death being quick and painless. This form of suicide was for this reason becoming more popular. It was very popular in France. Death was due not to suffocation, but to carbon-monoxide poisoning. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned, the Coroner and Jury expressing their sympathy with the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - Driver's Accidental Death. - An Inquest on SAMUEL ELLIS, 37, of Gibbon-street, a driver, was held by Mr R. B. Johns, at the S.D. and E.C. Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday. P.C. Hutchings said on May 19th he found ELLIS on the main road to Crownhill, with injuries to his leg. He said he had been driving a horse and wagon to Crownhill, when the horse suddenly started and he got his leg caught under the wheel. - Dr Roberts, House Surgeon at the Hospital, said ELLIS was admitted with a broken leg, which had eventually to be amputated. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

AWLISCOMBE - At the Inquest on MR T. FARRANT, aged 74, who was found dead in bed in his cottage at Awliscombe, Dr Heddon said that in his opinion deceased died from convulsions engendered by Bright's Disease, and a verdict was in accordance with this evidence.

Western Morning News, Thursday 7 July 1910
CHUDLEIGH - Exeter Man's Suicide. Remarkable Story By A Newton Girl. - At Ugbrooke, Chudleigh, the residence of Lord Clifford, of Chudleigh, yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on WILLIAM TURVEY, 46, late landlord of the New Golden Inn, Market-street, Exeter, whose body was found in the middle pond of Ugbrooke Park on Monday. - John T. Waite, County Court bailiff, Newton Abbot, said TURVEY was an old friend of his. He took a man to Exeter Gaol on Monday and visited TURVEY'S house, where he was told that TURVEY was out. When he (witness) returned home he found that TURVEY had been there. - Lydia May Waite, 19, daughter of Mr Waite, said TURVEY came to her father's house unexpectedly about 10.30 on Monday. He said he had to go to Chudleigh on business and asked her mother to accompany him. Eventually she herself went with him in a cab. They visited Chudleigh Glen, and drove back through Lord Clifford's park, Ugbrooke. TURVEY expressed a wish to get out and walk and they alighted, the cab preceding them. TURVEY attempted to assault her, but she got away. He overtook her and assaulted her. She managed to escape, and let him sitting upon a boulder beside the lake, exclaiming "My God! I am a ruined man." She was very much frightened and after asking the cabman to go back and look for TURVEY, ran nearly all the way home. They had stopped beside the "Wishing Well," and the driver of the cab had gone on to the lodge so that he did not hear her repeated screams. TURVEY threatened her "If you scream again I'll strange you and throw you into the lake." - MRS EMILY TURVEY, the widow, said they had three grown-up children. Her husband left home on Saturday, saying he was going to the bank to cash cheques, and would be back again to lunch. She had not seen him since, but heard he had been in Teignmouth. She thought he was gone away "on the spree." She did not think he was quite right in his head. The other day he went off to Ascot Races suddenly without saying a word to her. he had been drinking a good deal lately, but had never threatened to take his life. She did not know that he had any financial worry, as she looked after the business. - Phillip L. Taylor, landlord of the Clifford Arms Hotel, Chudleigh, said TURVEY came there on Monday, and acted rather strangely. He had no drink. - William Wellington, the cabman, said he waited some time and then Miss Waite came up looking very much upset. She asked him to go back and look for TURVEY. This he did, not having received his fare, but he could not find him. - Frederick Hill, groom in the employ of Lord Clifford, said he found TURVEY in a part of the pond 15ft. to 20ft. deep. - P.C. Hoile said 24s. 6d. was found on the body. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity."

STOKE DAMEREL - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on AGNES ROTHWELL, aged 33, who died suddenly the previous day. WALTER E. V. ROTHWELL, 47 Ker-street, shipwright. H.M. Dockyard, said his wife had enjoyed fairly good health, with the exception of a cough for the past twelve months. She had been receiving medical treatment from Dr McElwaine. About 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning he was roused by his wife, and found her vomiting large quantities of blood. He gave her some water and fetched her mother. He went for the doctor, but by the time he arrived deceased had died. - Dr T. McElwaine said death was due to haemorrhage caused by tuberculosis in the left lung. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Monday 11 July 1910
DARTMOUTH - Plymothian's Fatal Ride. - At Dartmouth, on Saturday, Mr Hayne Smith, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest on THOMAS HOSKIN, son of GEORGE HOSKIN, builder, Compton Gifford, Plymouth. - JOHN HOSKIN said deceased, his brother, about 48 years of age, rode on Thursday afternoon to Dartmouth on a pony. THOMAS weighed seventeen stone and witness thought he might have been too heavy for the pony, and he was not accustomed to horses. - William R. Gardiner, farm labourer, said he saddled the pony on Thursday. It was quiet and was a safe animal for a heavy man to ride. He tested the saddle before deceased left the farm, and the girth was perfectly tight. - James Bastard said that at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday he stopped the pony which was galloping down Woodbury Hill. The saddle was hanging loose. Round a bend he found deceased lying down. Witness noticed a quantity of man in deceased's left hand and also saw marks as if the body had been dragged along the road. HOSKIN was breathing very hard. With assistance witness placed him in a trap and he was driven to the farm, but died about a quarter of an hour afterwards. - P.S. Rogers said that deceased had been dragged about twelve feet along the roadway. He considered the saddle had become loose when the pony was going downhill, and that deceased had slipped off. - Dr. J. H. Harris said death was due to a broken neck, and the Jury found that deceased was Accidentally Killed by a Fall.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 12 July 1910
PLYMOUTH - Naval Pensioner's Death. - At the Oxford-street School, Plymouth, yesterday, the Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) held an Inquest on PATRICK HARRINGTON, Oxford-street, who died somewhat suddenly on Sunday night. The deceased was a naval pensioner, 63 years of age. - MARY ANN HARRINGTON said her husband was quite well on Sunday, but during the night he had a fit and died a couple of hours after. She sent for a doctor, but he did not arrive until after death had occurred. - Dr Wagner having made a post-mortem examination, said that death was due to apoplexy and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Western Morning News, Thursday 14 July 1910
KINGSWEAR - Dying Patient Neglected. Remarkable Evidence At Kingswear. - At Kingswear on Tuesday Mr Sidney Hacker held a long Inquiry into the death of CHARLES ALBERT COLE, 22, of Woodland-terrace. - SUSAN COLE said deceased, her son, was boots at the Royal Dart Hotel. She wanted to know why Dr Phillpotts had taken her son to the Hospital at Dartmouth and left him without seeing him again there. Last Thursday her son was taken ill at the Hotel, and she found him in the bedroom in great pain. The land-lady sent for Dr Phillpotts, of Kingswear and witness said she would like to have Dr Soper and went to Dartmouth to see him. When she returned to Kingswear she found Dr Phillpotts had had her son taken to Dartmouth Cottage Hospital. She did not want Dr Phillpotts because she did not think he attended many poor people. She saw Dr Phillpotts again and he said he had left her son in great pain. On Friday morning, between 10 and 11, she saw her son again. He was very ill and all he wanted was to see a doctor. He said he had not had a doctor since he had been taken to the Hospital. He was admitted between 4 and 5 o'clock, and did not see a doctor until 24 hours after Dr Phillpotts saw him. She went four times to both Dr Soper's surgery and house. Witness described how after the arrival of Dr Soper, her son was removed to Kingswear again, Dr Soper telling her she was to take him home. In the evening Dr Phillpotts saw her son again and he came again with Dr Harris after the arrival of the midnight train, but her son was then dying. he died about a quarter of an hour after the doctors left him. - Doctor's Explanations. - Dr H. McDonald Phillpotts said he attended the case as an emergency one. When he first saw deceased at the Hotel the young man's condition was very unsatisfactory. he was in a very serious condition, and had evidently suffered for some time from chronic constipation. Witness ordered his removal to the Hospital as quickly as possible. The mother had sent for Dr Soper, and witness therefore regarded it as Dr Soper's case. He left instructions for Dr Soper to be communicated with if deceased got worse. The mother told him Dr Soper had undertaken the case at her request. Dr Phillpotts also gave evidence as to being again sent for and to attending the deceased on Friday night. - Miss Wild, of St Marychurch, Torquay, said she was acting as locum tenens for the Matron of the Hospital. She gave evidence as to the arrival of the deceased at the Hospital and admitted that he was not medically attended for some 24 hours. She had sent for Dr Soper and meanwhile was expecting him to come in. Before Dr Soper came to the Hospital he gave instructions as to the treatment of deceased and morphia was injected. As she thought the case was Dr Soper's she did not consider it her duty as a matter of professional etiquette to send for another doctor. - When Dr Soper arrived about 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon, deceased was very abusive and would not let the doctor attend him. The doctor attended one of his own cases first and deceased then got out of bed. When the doctor came over to him he abused him badly and said he would go home. The doctor told him to go back to bed, and he would attend him, but he would not do so and he believed he knocked an instrument out of the doctor's hands. As he declined to be attended he was sent home. - Dr J. H. Harris gave evidence as to attending deceased with Dr Phillpotts on Friday night. - Nurse Key, of the Cottage Hospital, also gave evidence. - Mr H. C. Binmore, J.P., ex-chairman of the Cottage Hospital, was called, and answered a number of questions as to the management of the Hospital. - Dr Soper said he was on the medical staff of the Hospital. He gave evidence at length, and stated that he considered the case to have been Dr Phillpotts' He denied that he had been communicated with by the mother eight times after the removal of the deceased to the Hospital and said he only saw MRS COLE once then. He repudiated responsibility for the case. He went to the Hospital on Friday afternoon because of the urgent message he received, but deceased would not let him attend him and wanted to go home. Witness told the young man and the mother that he would die if he went home. - "A Scandalous Thing." - Summing up, the Coroner said it was very unpleasant to contemplate that it was possible in this country for a man to lie in an Institution like the Cottage Hospital for 24 hours without medical attendance. It was a frightful thing to contemplate. If there was any silly rule in connection with the Hospital that in a serious case a doctor should not be called to see a patient because it was another doctor's case, it had better be wiped out, otherwise they would never see any patients in the Hospital at Dartmouth and he should think they would never get any subscribers. It seemed to him a most scandalous thing that a man could be in a Cottage Hospital 24 hours without being attended by the medical staff. - The Jury retired, and upon their return the Foreman announced that they considered death to be due to Natural Causes - an Intestinal Obstruction. He added that the Jury expressed extreme regret that the etiquette observable in cases of this nature when handing patients from one medical man to another was not sufficiently observed as to prevent a patient being left unattended in the Hospital for 24 hours by a medical man. The Jury recommended to the notice of the Hospital Committee that the rules should be so revised in the interests of humanity to prevent in the future such mismanagement. The Jury considered that in all the circumstances they refrained from censuring the Matron of the Hospital. - Rev. H. F. Tracey, the Chairman of the Hospital, promised to being the recommendation before the committee.

Western Morning News, Friday 15 July 1910
PLYMOUTH - Death After An Accident. - The death of MARY R. COOMBE, widow of Police-Constable COOMBE, Stanlake-terrace, was the subject of an Inquest held at Prince Rock Police Station, Plymouth, yesterday, by the Coroner, Mr R. B. Johns. - THOMAS COOMBE, son, stated that on July 2nd his mother met with an accident whilst shopping, fracturing the left thigh-bone. Death occurred yesterday. - Dr Aikman attributed death to pneumonia, following upon the fracture of the thigh-=bone, and a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Monday 18 July 1910
TEIGNMOUTH - Teignmouth Skipper's Death. Verdict Of Suicide. - At Teignmouth on Saturday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on BENJAMIN ROBINSON, of Littlehempston, master of the brigantine Adela (London). The deceased disappeared from his vessel in Teignmouth Harbour a week ago and his body was recovered in the river on Friday evening. It was mentioned that the father of deceased, 90 years of age, was unable to attend. - ALEXANDER ROBINSON, master mariner, of Arundel-road, Littlehempstone, stated that the deceased was a bachelor, 31 years of age. He had been master of a ship for a number of years. - The Coroner observed that in the absence of a certificate the correct description of deceased was "seaman." - Witness said deceased came to Teignmouth on June 18th with a cargo of coal from Hull. He knew of no trouble that deceased had had, unless it was that his ship got damaged whilst loading. He took that more to heart than he need have done, because their father, the owner of the Adela, sent down an expert, which took all responsibilities from him. Upon visiting the Adela after his brother's disappearance, he noticed that the cabin was somewhat disarranged. He was handed the two letters (produced). Both were in deceased's handwriting. One read: - "Dear Father, - Good-bye to you all. May the grace of God which passeth all understanding keep your heart and mind in the knowledge and love of truth for His dear Son's sake. God bless you all. - BEN." - The other letter addressed to Mr Prescott, the expert stated:- "George, the cook, knows where the money is - £38 10s. in purse. O God, for this hour save me. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit. I took papers - posted them to you tonight." - The Coroner said the letter contained other statements which he should not read publicly. It mentioned, amongst other things, that deceased had had something the matter with him for years. It was a rambling letter and seemed to point to deceased having some delusion; it appeared as if his mind was unhinged, and as though he had religious mania. - John Anderson, mate of the Adela, who had been with deceased for nearly six years, said he had not shown signs of anything being wrong in his mind. During the last few days he complained of very bad headaches. On Sunday last about ten o'clock deceased left his bed and was in his cabin writing letters at eleven o'clock when witness went to bed. The next day witness found the two letters which had been read, and on going ashore learnt from a pilot that the ship's boat had been found down the river at the entrance to the harbour. - William Henry Hitchcock, fisherman, gave evidence as to the recovery of the body. - Arthur Ernest Hayward, Surgeon, said he had found no marks of violence. The appearances were that death was due to drowning. - The Coroner observed that in the letter to his father deceased suggested that he intended taking his life. Apparently after he had tied the chain round him he rolled over the side of the boat. the Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 19 July 1910
GREAT TORRINGTON - Torrington Fatality. Jury Condemn Viewing Of Bodies. - The Inquest was held at Torrington yesterday by Mr Geo. W. F. Brown on WILLIAM HOCKING, 20, of Torrington, the brakesman run over by the traction engine on which he was working on Saturday. - Wm. Lane, driver, in the employ of Stapleton and Son, Torrington, said he was driving the engine, with two trucks of bricks behind, to Beaford. HOCKING, who had only been at the work a week, was at the rear, which was his duty. At Portbridge, St Giles, they passed two horses and carts. The first passed all right. HOCKING went forward to assist with the second, which was driven by Mr Darch, but that went all right as well and he did not stop the engine, but was going very slowly. When Mr Darch was just opposite the engine HOCKING passed over to one side and he thought the front wheel must have caught the man's heel. The wheel went over the man's body, Mrs Darch, who was in the trap, shouted and he stopped at once, before the hind wheel went over him. He did not stop for the horses to pass because it was not necessary. It was an 18 feet road, of which he took up about 8 feet, and he was going very slowly. - The Coroner: Can you see the road directly in front of your engine? - One can see the top of the front wheel. The whole thing happened so quickly that I did not see anything. I was watching the trap going on behind to see if it passed the trucks all right. - Asked by the Jury if the steersman had a better chance of seeing anyone in front, witness said the steersman could not see where HOCKING was, as he was the other side. He did not know that he should have seen HOCKING himself, even if he had not been looking back, it was so sudden and HOCKING must have fallen directly the wheel touched him. - A Juryman remarked that the third man having gone in front, it was natural for the driver to look back to see that the horse and trap passed the tail of the wagons safely. - Mr John Darch, farmer, Dolton, said his horse was not restive and when HOCKING came towards him he called to him that the horse was all right. The man then stood to one side, with his back to the approaching engine and the front wheel of the engine, he thought, must have caught him as he fell, and was under the engine before it could be pulled up. There was plenty of room to pass, and he did not think there was any blame on the driver's part. - Dr Macinloe said HOCKING was badly crushed and lacerated. The right ear was nearly torn off, the face lacerated and there was apparently a fracture of the base of the skull, pointing to the man having been thrown down violently by the wheel. He was killed practically instantly. - Mr Stapleton, the man's employer, was of opinion that HOCKING must have suddenly stepped backward instead of forward. - The Coroner said it was evident the man was not seen by the driver. He did not want to say there was any negligence on the driver's part, but it would be very much better when traps were passing if the drivers of the traction engines would stop. Certainly the place for a driver's eyes was in front. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Misadventure" and were of opinion no blame attached to anyone. They were desirous that the law compelling Juries to view the body of a deceased person should be no longer enforced. It did not help them in arriving at their verdict, neither was it in harmony with present day laws, and they requested the Coroner to forward their opinion to the proper quarter with a view to getting the law amended. This the Coroner promised to do. - The Jury gave their fees to the widow.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 20 July 1910
PLYMOUTH - At an Inquest on CHARLES WILLIAM JONES, aged seven weeks, the son of a labourer living in Granby-lane, Plymouth, Dr Burke attributed death to tuberculosis, which was so bad that the child could not possibly have lived.

EAST STONEHOUSE - MINNIE GLADYS AXE, aged three months, daughter of a carter, living in Providence-cottages, George-street, Stonehouse, was found dead in bed by its mother during Sunday night, two hours after it had been nursed. Dr W. H. Waterfield, at the Inquest, said death was due to convulsions following on an overloaded stomach.

Western Morning News, Friday 22 July 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Man's Suicide. - Mr J. Graves held an Inquest at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday, on WILLIAM HENRY EVANS, aged 55, a Dockyard labourer, lately living at 22 Courtenay-street. - Annie Sands, his housekeeper, said on going into his bedroom on Tuesday evening she found him sitting in a chair with his throat cut. There was no one else in the room. For eighteen months he had been ill and very depressed. - P.C. Westacott deposed to being called to the house and to finding EVANS seated in a chair. There was a wound in his neck and a blood-stained razor was near the bed. EVANS exclaimed "I want to die. Let me go. I have had enough of it." - Dr Burke said he had attended EVANS for the past 18 months. He had been very depressed and suffered greatly for a long time. On Tuesday he asked how long he had to live and he replied "Some time yet." he then remarked that he would do away with himself. He tried to cheer him up, and was not impressed with the sincerity of deceased's remark. - Dr W. E. Roberts, House Surgeon of the Hospital, said deceased died three hours after admission. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 26 July 1910
NEWTON ABBOT - Newton Drowning Case. - At Newton Abbot yesterday Mr R. Whiteway-Wilkinson held an Inquest on GEORGE LOCK, aged 6, son of WILLIAM LOCK, of Osborne-street. - William Pullman, age 9, said he went down to the River Teign, playing with LOCK on Saturday afternoon. They got into a boat and LOCK, in trying to land, slipped off the piles. - LOCK'S sister, FLORENCE, said her mother, who was ill, as soon as she knew the little boy had gone down to the river sent her to fetch him. He refused to come home and she left him there. - James Townsend, an employee of the Devon and Courtenay Clay Company, said he heard the other boy shouting, but LOCK was not found until the river was dragged. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

WORTHING, SUSSEX - Two Love Affairs. A Buckfastleigh Man's Mysterious Death. Story Told At Inquest. - News reached Buckfastleigh yesterday of the death of MR PERCY PETHERBRIDGE, the youngest son of MR J. R. PETHERBRIDGE, ironmonger and tax-collector, of Buckfastleigh. - It was then stated that MR PETHERBRIDGE, who was about 27 years of age, and a clerk in the Worthing branch of the National Provincial Bank, had met his death while bathing. The story told was that at Worthing on Saturday he went out in a boat with friends to bathe, that in diving from the boat his head struck a rock, that he did not rise again and that on his body being washed ashore, a severe cut was found on the head. - At the Inquest last evening a very different story was told, and some remarkable circumstances were revealed. It transpired that MR PETHERBRIDGE had become engaged to two young ladies - Miss Florence Mabel Saunders of Portswood, Tennyson-road, Worthing, whom he had known for the last nine years; and Miss Ellen Clarke, a governess, living at March, Cambridgeshire, and had arranged with each to get married at Christmas. Miss Clarke was staying at Worthing on a visit, at the invitation of PETHERBRIDGE and had been seeing him almost daily, the last time being on Saturday morning, about eight o'clock, when he met her on the Parade and made an appointment to see her again the same afternoon. He had also promised his other fiancée overnight to call at her home about the same time. The post-mortem examination failed to disclose any injury to the head such as would have rendered him unconscious, and neither was there anything the matter with his heart. In these circumstances the Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide by Drowning," and expressed sympathy with the relatives and the two young ladies. - Young MR PETHERBRIDGE was described as a very smart young fellow, with a future before him, he having passed all his examinations with high credit. With his parents, who are greatly distressed, the deepest sympathy is felt.

EXETER - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on MATILDA PIKE, aged 45, of Wellington-road, St Thomas, MR S. P. PIKE, an accountant, said on Saturday he awoke and found his wife dead by his side. Dr Corbett attributed death to heart failure.

Western Morning News, Friday 29 July 1910
OTTERY ST MARY - Suicide At Ottery. - Dr Tweed held an Inquest at Ottery St. Mary yesterday on JANE PULMAN, a widow, aged 69. - MRS MARKS said her mother, who had been living with her at Ridgeway, had recently been a patient in Ottery Cottage Hospital. She came downstairs soon after 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning and went out at the back door. She followed in about five minutes and found her in the back premises in a crouching position and covered with blood. She spoke to her, but received no reply. - Dr Fielding said MRS PULMAN had a large self-inflicted wound in her throat, and died in less than two hours. - P.C. Coles proved finding a razor lying beside the deceased. On her were found a purse containing gold, silver and coppers and a letter from a grand-daughter in Exeter asking her to come in again with her for a time. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while Temporarily Insane."

Western Morning News, Monday 1 August 1910
TEIGNMOUTH - Hayle Seaman's Fatal Fall. Inquest At Teignmouth. - At Teignmouth on Saturday Mr R. de V. Whiteway-Wilkinson held an Inquest on RUSSELL VIVIAN CLEMENCE, a seaman, of the schooner G. H. Bevan (Fowey), who fell from the rigging whilst at the New Quay, Teignmouth Harbour, on Friday. Mr F. Cowell, of Plymouth, H.M. Inspector of Factories' assistant, was present, and Mr J. H. Hutchings, of Teignmouth, represented the owners of the vessel. - WILLIAM JOHN CLEMENCE, dairyman of Hayle, identified deceased as his nephew, aged 26, of Cross-street, Hayle. - Walter Hoskin Marshall, master of the G. H. Bevan, stated that deceased had been on the ship since February. - William Male Pethick, of Portland-place, W., Plymouth, the mate, said deceased was getting the gear ready preparatory to discharging when he met with the accident. - Albert Medland, of Teignmouth, stated that when they were getting ready to discharge, he, at deceased's request, went aloft to let go the brace, and he noticed deceased coming up after him. Witness had hold of one brace, whilst deceased had the fore-brace from the yard. The rope was fouled and it had to come out over the gaff. He noticed deceased trying to take it down, but did not see him fall. The only explanation he could give was that deceased was shaking the rope to get it over the gaff, and that the weight of the rope pulled him out of the rigging. - The Foreman (Mr Irving Taylor): You could not actually say that he over-balanced himself? - No, I did not see how it happened. - Emmanuel Vinnicombe, of Teignmouth, said he was about to go aboard when deceased fell near his left shoulder. The body slipped between the vessel and the piles and he assisted in getting it on to the quay. - Dr F.. W. M. Palmer, of Teignmouth, stated that the whole of the lower part of the skull was smashed and the base of the skull was fractured, the left thigh being also broken. Fracture of the skull was in his opinion the cause of death. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Wednesday 3 August 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - H.M.S. Sutlej Explosion. Opening Of Inquest At R.N. Hospital. - The Inquest on THOMAS ROBERT EASTMAN, stoker, 2nd class, of Bristol, and EDWARD MOORE, 2nd class, of Dublin, who died from heart failure, following shock to the system, through injuries resulting from a boiler explosion on board H.M.S. Sutlej on July 15th, was opened at the Royal Naval Barracks, Stonehouse, yesterday, by Mr R. Robinson Rodd. - The Coroner said he did not propose to go into the evidence, but merely to identify the bodies, give certificates of burial and then adjourn the Inquest until Tuesday next. In the meantime he would endeavour to arrange with the Admiralty that their expert witnesses should be present with a view to satisfying them as to the cause of the explosion. - JAMES FRANCIS EASTMAN, bricklayer, 3 Harford-road, Bristol, said the deceased, THOMAS ROBERT EASTMAN, aged 18, was his son. He did at the Royal Naval Hospital on Sunday night. Witness last saw him alive on Monday week. He then said that if the Sutlej went out again and did not do her duty she would be put on the scrap heap. He did not know what was meant by "scrap heap." - A Juror: It meant that she would be considered useless. - Witness: He looked very rough and wanted me to buy him out. He kept on saying "Will you buy me out?" - A Juror: He did not say anything as to the cause of the injury? - Witness: The poor fellow was in too much pain to do that. - Sick Berth Steward Eugene Makoveyll identified EDWARD MOORE, aged 19. - This was all the evidence and the Inquiry was adjourned until Tuesday next. - The body of THOMAS ROBERT EASTMAN was removed from the Hospital in the afternoon for interment at Bristol. - The funeral of Stoker MOORE will take place in Plymouth Cemetery this morning, leaving the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse at 10 a.m.

Western Morning News, Friday 5 August 1910
TORQUAY - Cockington Coachman's Death. Under Anaesthetics. - At Torquay yesterday Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on ALFRED WILLIAM FORD, 38, coachman, in the employ of Capt. Mallock, at Cockington. - The widow stated that on July 28th her husband had several teeth removed under gas and survived the operation quite well, there being no after-effects. When he went again on Wednesday to have further teeth extracted he seemed all right. He had suffered from weakness of the heart and she told the dentist of it. - Graham Hunt, qualified dental surgeon, said on Wednesday the gas (nitrous oxide) was administered at 3.30 in the usual way by Dr Thistle. When he had extracted two teeth and two roots he noticed that FORD had stopped breathing. He and Dr Thistle resorted to artificial respiration and FORD resumed breathing. Restoratives were applied. Dr Lacey, who had been sent for, assisting in their application. Breathing, however, ceased once more and death occurred at five o'clock. - By the Coroner: Cases of death whilst under nitrous oxide gas were very, very rare. There were only about four on record. - Dr Thistle said FORD recovered all right on the first occasion. On Wednesday everything was done properly. Nitrous-oxide gas was the safest anaesthetic. He had administered it between 2,000 and 3,000 times without ill results. The fact that FORD walked two miles in a heavy overcoat to the surgery had a lot to do with the heart failure. - The Coroner: If a person has a degenerate heart is it usual to administer gas to him? - Yes, it is often done. Most people tell us that they have weak hearts and as FORD had suffered no ill-effects from the first administration, I did not think his heart was very bad. - Dr H. K. Lacey, who had made a post-mortem examination, said FORD had an enlarged heart with disease of other organs. The cause of death was syncope. The administration of the gas was probably the last straw. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Heart Failure, caused by the effects of the gas," which they found was administered properly.

TORQUAY - Death In A Swing-Boat. Torquay Girl's Sad Fate. - At Torquay yesterday Mr Hacker held an Inquest on FLORENCE TOPE, aged 22, daughter of a G.W.R. packer, residing at Rosery Cottages, Chelston. On Wednesday evening she accompanied her sister to the Recreation Ground, where a confetti fete was being held. The two young women had rides on the switchback railway, and afterwards entered a swinging boat. They had not been swinging long before FLORENCE dropped the rope she had been holding and fell forward in an unconscious state. She was taken out of the boat and artificial respiration was applied, but without success. Dr Winwood Smith, who was called, attributed death to heart failure, and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Western Morning News, Saturday 6 August 1910
TAVISTOCK - An Inquest was held at Tavistock yesterday by Mr R. R. Rodd on RICHARD PINKHAM HARRY, jobbing gardener, of Tavistock, aged 69. P.C. Spicer stated that he was called to HARRY at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and found him lying in Brook-street, breathing but unconscious. Death ensued before the arrival of a doctor. - Dr William S. Sweet said HARRY had disease of the aorta. He found a large lump of undigested food, which caused an obstruction and brought on syncope. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

WESTWARD HO! - Westward Ho! Tragedy. Inquest On Bideford Bank Cashier. - The tragic death of MR JAMES ILBERT PEARSE, aged 38, cashier at Lloyds Bank, Bideford, who was found shot dead at Avondale, Westward Ho! (the residence of Dr P. P. Bayly, a friend of his) on Thursday, was Inquired into at Westward Ho! last evening by the Deputy Coroner for North Devon, Dr W. J. Cooper (Barnstaple). - Mr Arthur H. Murray, of Westward Ho! (brother-in-law of deceased) gave evidence of identification. He saw MR PEARSE at one o'clock the previous day, when he was cheerful and appeared quite well. He had not been at the bank, however, that day, as he had two or three days' holiday. He was accustomed to shooting and was, in fact, a good shot. - By the Coroner: He had never heard him express any intention of committing suicide. - Dr E. J. Toye (Bideford) said he was called about three o'clock to Avondale, Westward Ho! where he found deceased with two gunshot wounds in the region of the heart. There was a gun between his legs, one barrel of which had been discharged and the other not. The heart was practically destroyed. The shot had gone through the coat. The cause of death was injury to the heart and haemorrhage. - The Deputy Coroner: Can you form any opinion whether the wound was inflicted accidentally or suicidally? - I don't think there is anything from a medical standpoint pointing to either. - By the Foreman: Witness thought the muzzle of the gun must have been close to the body and yet at the same time there was some spreading of the shot. When he first saw the body he thought both barrels had been discharged, because there were two circular holes, and he was surprised to find there was only one barrel fired. - Mr Murray explained the way in which the shot had cut away the coat (which it was stated, in reply to the Coroner's inquiry, had since been destroyed), and asked the Doctor if it was possible for deceased to have shot himself in the left side and the shot to go across and out at the right side and to the right, as it appeared it had. - Witness: I take it he could not have discharged it with his own fingers. - Mr Murray: And there was nothing there to do it with - no cord or anything like that. - Deceased's watch was produced and seen to be quite shattered by the charge. - " I Have Shot Myself!" - Mrs Florence Bayly, wife of Dr P. Bayly, said MR PEARSE came into the house the previous afternoon asking for the doctor, but he was not in. She mentioned that her boy had shot a rabbit during the dinner hour and he said he had just seen one and it witness would let him have the gun he would shoot it for her. She went upstairs to get the gun whilst he got the cartridges. He went out at the back and in about a minute and a half she heard a report and ran out to see what deceased had shot, thinking he had broken some glass. She then found him sitting on the steps between the two kitchens. and she asked him what he had done. He replied, "I have shot myself." She said, "Where?" and he replied, "Here," pointing to his left side. Witness asked, "What did you do it for?" and he replied, "I don't know." That was all he said, and he died in about two or three minutes. Her opinion was that he must have slipped down the step and the gun went off. She ran to the gasworks for help. - Samuel Spittle, gasworks' foreman, said he saw deceased lying as described, death taking place in about two minutes. He agreed that deceased must have slipped down, and that the gun went off. - Dr P. P. Bayly, of Avondale, said he had known deceased for about five years, and for some time he had been suffering from neuritis. He had been talking about camping out in the summer and witness invited him to camp in his garden, which he did. Witness was the first medical man to see the body. He found two wounds in the left breast, with an interval of an inch or an inch and a half. He could not account for the interval unless the shot went in one wound and out at the other, or the watch might, of course, have caused it. In his opinion, it was quite an accident, and it would be almost impossible for a man to get hold of the trigger and shoot himself. There was no stick there. The gun was witness's and deceased had never used it before. At half-cock, the gun had gone off with witness on two occasions with a jolt. - P.C's Bowden and Rice also gave evidence and stated the gun found with the right barrel discharged and the left half-cocked. - The Deputy Coroner pointed out that the evidence of one medical man was that there was nothing to show whether it had been an accident or not, and the other was strongly of opinion that it was an accident. As far as they knew there appeared to be no motive for suicide and the Jury would probably find it was an accident. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

ST MARYCHURCH - Fatal Somnambulism. Babbacombe Man's Death. - Mr S. Hacker at St. Marychurch Townhall, Torquay, yesterday, investigated the death of THOMAS HOCKING TERRY, 78, tailor. Deceased was found early on Tuesday morning by P.C. Bater in the gutter outside his residence at St. Anne's-terrace, Babbacombe, in his night attire, having evidently fallen out of the window. - Neither deceased's brother nor his daughter-in-law was able to throw any light on the occurrence, but the daughter stated that the deceased was in the habit of walking in his sleep. - MARK TERRY, son, bore this out, and added that his father was a little bit "muzzy" on Monday evening. - Wm. Down, a neighbour, said that he heard someone calling from the gutter and saw the deceased there. He said, "Don't touch me. I am sore, cold, and soaked with rain." - Dr Steele said that there was slight concussion, which with the shock, caused death. He was of opinion that deceased felt dizzy during the night and on looking out of the window, overbalanced himself. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Monday 8 August 1910
SLAPTON - Slapton Tragedy. The Inquest On The Two Brothers DOWNING. Warning To Visitors. - On Saturday at Slapton Mr Sidney Hacker held an Inquest on the two brothers, RICHARD PHILIP and WILLIAM THOMAS DOWNING, who lost their lives whilst bathing from Slapton Sands near Dartmouth on Thursday last. - JOSEPH DOWNING, tailor, Slapton, identified the bodies as those of his sons, RICHARD PHILIP, aged 26 and was a carpenter, employed at Kingsbridge and WILLIAM THOMAS, 24, was a tailor at Dartmouth. Both were single and they had been spending a week's holiday at home. On Thursday, about half-past eleven, the two let to go for a bathe. They did not return to dinner and witness went in search of them. Going to the place where they generally bathed, between the Royal Sands Hotel and Strete Gate, he noticed their clothes in the wash of the sea. No one was about at the time and he came to the conclusion that his sons had been drowned. Witness and others searched a long time for the bodies. - By the Coroner: The younger son could swim a little. On Friday both bodies were found at about the same time. One was then wearing bathing drawers and the other a vest and a costume. - A Dangerous Spot. - Richard Head, a naval pensioner, said that on Friday morning, walking along the sands towards Dartmouth, he saw near the spot where the clothes were found a body just outside the low-water bank. Witness called out to a man in a boat who raised the body with an oar, witness then pulling it ashore. - By the Coroner: There was a sudden drop of about three feet at the place where the body was found, and anyone who did not know the beach would be liable to drop there. Anyone going below low-=water mark would get out of his depth very quickly. There was another bank further out: in fact, there was a series of banks. There was a strong under-flow all around the bay. - The Coroner: Is that well known? - Yes, sir, to fishermen here. - People are constantly bathing around here in the summer time? - People come here to bathe. - There was a man drowned some years ago and that is the only case I remember here. Do you remember that? - A Juror: It occurred at Torcross. - The Coroner: Slapton is becoming a resort for visitors and people are coming here to bathe; it is a question which should come before the Parish Council, whether it is not their duty to put up some notice to warn visitors to be careful. - Recovering The Bodies. - Walter Oldfield said that he was in a boat when the last witness, who was on shore, called out that he fancied he saw something in the water, and they found the body of RICHARD DOWNING. Witness put a paddle under it and Head pulled it ashore. Ten yards further out they saw the body of WILLIAM DOWNING. RICHARD'S body being found about fifteen yards from the shore. The bodies could be distinctly seen owing to the clearness of the water. Witness thought the bodies were found at the same spot where the youths sank. - By the Coroner: He agreed that the spot was rather dangerous at low water for non-swimmers. He did not think it was difficult for a good swimmer to swim against the under-current. A number of lads belonging to the Dartmouth Boys' Brigade were bathing during the morning, but evidently did not notice the two brothers. - The Coroner said that the mystery of the sad occurrence could not be absolutely solved, because there had been no witnesses. It was presumed that one or both of the young fellows got out of depth and perhaps one might have gone to the assistance of the other. It appeared to him (the Coroner) as it would very probably also appear to the Jury, that some sort of public warning ought to be given to strangers who did not know the coast. He thought the Parish Council would be wise - and they would only be fulfilling a public duty - to provide lifebuoys and ropes which could be easily got at in time of emergency. - Very often a life was saved by a person being able to procure a lifebuoy. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Drowning," but did not add any rider. They expressed sympathy with the parents, the Coroner concurring.

TAVISTOCK - Sad Suicide At Tavistock. - Mr R. R. Rodd, County Coroner, held an Inquest at Tavistock on Saturday upon MARY JANE ACTON, aged 59 - wife of a jobbing shoemaker of King-street - who stabbed herself in the thigh with a cobbler's knife early that morning. - Dr C. C. Brodrick said that he was called to see the deceased at 7.45 that morning. She was in a state of collapse and died in about five minutes from loss of blood from a punctured wound on the inside of the left thigh. There were three small superficial cuts on the inside of the right ankle. In his opinion no sane person would cut herself in such a way. P.C. Spicer rendered skilful, though unavailing, first aid. - ABRAHAM ACTON, the husband, said he missed his wife that morning about ten minutes to seven, and finding that the lavatory door was locked, he called her and she told him to go away. He went away and returning in about half an hour saw blood flowing under the door. He then ran for the Police. His wife had been very much addicted to drink and when under its influence she was like a mad woman. When sober a better woman could not be found. She had been before the Magistrates and had lately been again reported by the Police. The Salvation Army took her in hand, but without permanent effect. - P.C. Spicer stated that he broke the door open and found the woman, who was in her nightdress, bleeding from both legs and holding the shoemaker's knife (produced) in her right hand. He immediately stopped the bleeding and sent for a doctor. - The Coroner said it was a very sad case. If the Constable had got there sooner he might have saved the poor woman's life. He suggested that the Jury should commend P.C. Spicer to the Chief Constable for the very prompt and skilful manner in which he had acted. - The Jury readily concurred in the Coroner's suggestion. They found that the deceased Committed Suicide while Temporarily Insane though Alcoholism.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 9 August 1910
TIVERTON - Tiverton Carpenter's Suicide. - An Inquest was held at Tiverton last night by Mr Arthur Fisher on CHARLES SANDFORD TRICKEY, 58, carpenter, found hanging that morning at his lodgings in Castle-street. - F. J. TRICKEY said his father fell from a scaffold last March and injured his head. He subsequently returned to work, but often complained of pains in his head and suffered at times from loss of memory. When he went to bed on Sunday his father had not come home. He found him in the morning hanging from a beam in the wash-house. He was quite cold and witness went for Dr Pollock and the Police. - The Coroner: Have you never attended an Inquest or read of one when I have said the first thing to do when a man is found hanging is to cut him down? - He was cold. - The Coroner: You are cold! Supposing he had only committed the act three minutes before, what would have been the use of sending for the doctor? - Witness, continuing, said his father had worried a good deal since he lost his wife 12 months ago. He was suspended from labour on the Friday owing to work being scarce, but did not appear to be worrying about that or anything else. - Ellen Melhuish, with whom the TRICKEY'S lodged, added that deceased was at times addicted to drink. he was the worse for drink the last week. He was not in debt as far as she knew. - P.C. Stevens said he cut down the body, which was stiff and cold. - Dr Pollock said the man had been dead quite 12 hours. Such a shock as TRICKEY sustained might change his condition of mind and predispose him for suicide. - A verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane" was given.

NEWTON ABBOT - Newton Tragedy. MR WILLIAM J. WATTS, J.P., Shoots Himself. Pain And Depression. - A sensation was caused in Newton Abbot yesterday by the news that MR WILLIAM J. WATTS, J.P., of The Firs had shot himself. For some time deceased had been a sufferer from suppressed gout, the periodical attacks of which caused sleeplessness and left him depressed. He was principal in Watts, Blake, Bearne and Co., one of the most important firms of clay merchants in the West. He had not been to business for a week and contemplated a trip to Aix-la-Chapelle for a course of the baths. - Rising yesterday morning he had breakfast and subsequently left the house, presumably for a walk in the garden. No one saw him, however, but Harry Carpenter, a labourer, at work in the grounds of St Bernard's, which adjoins The Firs, heard the report of the gun and looking over the wall saw deceased lying in the enclosure of the dog kennels, with a sporting rifle resting on him. Carpenter summoned assistance and it was found that deceased was dead, his head being shattered. - Deceased belonged to one of the best-known families in South Devon. Seventy years of age, he was the son of the late MR W. J. WATTS, D.L., of Forde House, Newton Abbot, an ex-Sheriff of Devon. He was a justice of the peace and a member of the Standing Joint Committee. For a great number of years he had been churchwarden for the parish of Wolborough, and was a feoffee of the charities of the same parish. He was one of the representatives of the clay industry on the Teignmouth Harbour Commission, president of the Newton Abbot branch of the St. John Ambulance Association and formerly a member of the Teignmouth Urban District Council. In politics he was a Unionist and a vice-president of the Mid-Devon Unionist Association. - Coroner's Inquiry. - The Inquest was held by Mr S Hacker, County Coroner, yesterday afternoon. Mr G. D. Woollcombe, solicitor, represented the family. - WM. JNO. VICARY WATTS identified deceased as his father, with whom he had supper the previous evening. Deceased had not been well for a week and had been away from business during that time. He suffered from gout in the feet and had been depressed. He seemed somewhat better on Sunday evening and talked of going away. On witness asking when he was going, he said he would see Dr Scott first. There was nothing in the conversation witness had with him on Sunday which would throw any light on what had happened. - The Coroner: Was he cheerful? - He was depressed, but not so much as to give me any cause for grave anxiety. - Was anything worrying him? - No; I have no reason to think that there was anything worrying him. - Could he sleep or eat? - He had sleepless nights connected with the gout. - He could not sleep? - No; but not to an extent to call it insomnia. I have known him sleep well; but sometimes he did not. - Have you looked in his room and about the house to see if there is any communication from him at all? - Absolutely none. - Harry Carpenter, Quay-terrace, Newton Abbot, general labourer, stated that he was working in the grounds of St Bernard's, which adjoined the Firs, and about 8.45 a.m. heard the report of a gun and a thud as though someone had fallen down. Witness got up and looked over the boundary wall, and saw a man lying on his back in the enclosure of the dog kennel. Witness did not know who it was and went round to the front of the house with the object of telling MR WATTS. He saw MRS WATTS and one of the maid servants, advised them not to go there and went for the Police. - The Cleaned Gun. - Jno. Rogers, gardener, employed at The Firs, stated that the gun produced had been kept in a case in the harness-room for the last 12 months. By order of deceased, witness cleaned the gun last Tuesday, then placing it in a corner with the butt end resting on the table and the muzzle against the partition. It remained there all the week and witness noticed it on Sunday morning. On Monday morning he opened the door of the room about a quarter-past seven, but he could not say if the gun was there then as he was engaged on other work. When he went to breakfast at 8 o'clock he left the key in the lock. So far as he knew no cartridges were kept in the harness-room. Witness told deceased that he had cleaned the gun the day after he did it, but he made no reply. - Dr R. H. Grimbly said he was called to The Firs about 9 o'clock, and found deceased lying dead in the kennel enclosure. He did not touch the body because a glance showed that death must have been instantaneous. A mark in front of the throat indicated the place in which the charge entered, the wound being charred around by the powder. The charge took an upward direction, the exit being from the front part of the skull. The frontal bones were blown away and there was a tremendous wound in front of the skull. The gun was lying across the body, the muzzle being grasped in the left hand, while in the right was a garden cane, in the end of which was an iron hook. - In reply to the Coroner, witness said his impression was that the butt of the gun was placed on the ground and the trigger actuated with the hook. - Fits Of Depression. - Dr W. G. Scott stated that deceased had been a patient of his for many years, but witness had not seen him lately because he had been on holiday and his son (Dr W. Scott) had been attending him. Witness had requested him to go away for a change, but he put it off. Deceased was always a retiring, quiet, reserved man, but witness had no suspicion of any sort that anything like this might happen. Deceased had been suffering from suppressed gout for some years, and while he had been very quiet about himself there was no sign of mental aberration of any kind. He used to get fits of depression with the gout but not more than most men who suffered from the same complaint. - The Coroner: There is nothing you know of that would throw any light on this? - No; it must be temporary aberration due to his suffering from gout. - Gerald Douglas Woollcombe, solicitor, said on Tuesday last he went to see deceased at his request to do some business for him and found him looking very seedy. He said he was suffering from a severe attack of gout and asked witness if he would do what he wanted that day, because he said he woke up at night, and if any business matter requiring attention had not been attended to ,it kept him awake for the rest of the night. Witness saw him again late in the evening and finished the work for him. He then said he was thinking of going out to Aix to try the baths there. He stated no particular time, but said he would ask witness in a few days about the hotels there, as witness knew the place. Deceased said he was able to go out of doors very little and could not read because he was suffering a considerable amount of pain. - The Coroner, after summing up, expressed his sympathy with the relations of the deceased in this terrible occurrence and his sense of the loss the town of Newton Abbot and the public generally would sustain by his death. MR WATTS was well known and much respected in the county of Devon. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" and on their behalf Dr Harvey expressed their sympathy with the family.

STOODLEIGH - Farm Labourer's Suicide. - Yesterday Mr F. Thomas held an Inquest at Stoodleigh on ERNEST CHILCOTT, aged 35, in the employ of Mr Henson. The evidence showed that the deceased was a quiet and very industrious man, and had never been heard to threaten to take his life. He had, however, suffered pains in the head during the past week. - The widow said that nine years ago deceased was thrown by a runaway horse at Bampton, and suffered a severe scalp injury, the doctor at the time saying it was a miracle he was not killed outright. Last Friday evening her husband said it would have been a mercy if he had been killed nine years ago and that nobody knew what he had suffered since the accident. - He got up just before 5 a.m. on Saturday, and two hours later MRS CHILCOTT was horrified to find him hanging in an outhouse. - Verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane."

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Child's Fatal Burns. - The death of LUCY HANDSLEY, aged two years, daughter of a hotel boots living at 6 Park-road, Lower Compton, Plymouth, was the subject of an Inquest yesterday. - The child's mother stated that on Thursday she left her little boy and LUCY in a bedroom. She afterwards heard a scream and running into the room saw that the child flannelette nightgown was ablaze. Throwing a blanket over the infant, she succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not before the child's body had been badly burnt. Dr Gardiner was called but the baby died the following day. There was a box of matches in the room, and the small boy must have played with them, igniting the child's dress. - Dr Gardiner said it was a hopeless case and death was due to shock, the result of the accident. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

OTTERY ST MARY - Death In A Hayfield. - At Burrow Hill, Ottery St Mary, Dr Tweed yesterday held an Inquest on GEORGE HALLETT, a labourer, aged 64, who was killed in a hayfield on Saturday. - Walter Rowe, Burrow Hill farm, said deceased was in his employ. On Saturday afternoon they were ricking hay. Deceased was on a wagon and witness was leading the horse and pitching the load. The horse was in motion when he heard HALLETT call to it to stop. The animal stopped at once and on turning round he saw deceased fall off the load and pitch on his head. - Dr Reynolds, Ottery St Mary, stated that he found deceased's neck broken and he considered that death must have been instantaneous. - The Jury (Mr G. Marker, Foreman), returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and attached no blame to anyone.

PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on MARY L. B. THOMAS, spinster, aged 38, of Windsor-crescent. - Her sister said on Sunday afternoon she was taken ill and Dr Aldous was summoned. - The doctor said death was due to heart failure. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held on MR HENRY MAYNARD, living in Alexandra-road, found dead at his house on Sunday. Myra Hewitt, wife of a labourer, said she last saw MR MAYNARD alive in his own house on Saturday evening. He was lying on the sofa and appeared to be all right, except for a slight attack of bronchitis. She acted as housekeeper to him, but did not sleep at the house. The following morning she could get no answer when she knocked, so she went away. Later she called again, and again could get no answer, so she called his brother, who went with her to the house, where they found him in the same position in which she left him the previous evening. - Dr Price said the heart was diseased as were most of the other organs. Death was due to heart disease, accelerated by alcoholism. - "Natural Causes" was the verdict.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 10 August 1910
EXMOUTH - Exmouth Child Drowning Case. - Dr E. R. Tweed held an Inquest at Exmouth yesterday on CECIL EDWARD VINE, aged 17 months, son of PERCY VINE, labourer, of Manchester Quay, who was found on the foreshore on Sunday night. - EDITH VINE, the mother, said she left the child about 7 o'clock outside the door of her home with her other little boy, age 5 years. The foreshore was about 200 yards from the house. She had often cautioned her children not to go near the river and had never known them go there. The other child returned without the baby at 7.45, and she went straight to the water to look for him, and asked people who were coming from church if they had seen the child. She continually called his name, but received no answer. She asked a man if he had seen a child, and he said he thought he heard a child's cry from the shore. She then fainted, and knew no more until the child was brought home dead. - Harry Frankpitt, baker, said he was passing along by the seawall, when he heard a child crying inside the wall. He took no notice of it, as it was an ordinary occurrence; children were always playing about there. It was not an unusual cry and there were many people about. - George Edwards, labourer, said in company with P.C. Potter he went to the foreshore and stirred up the seaweed and searched the baulks of timber. Witness lit matches to look for the child and eventually found it on its knees dead about 14 feet outside the baulks. This was about 10 o'clock and witness thought it was caught by the incoming tide. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death by Accidental Drowning," and gave their fees to the mother

EXETER - - At an Inquest at Exeter last evening on FREDERICK WILLIAM CLARKE, aged 36, labourer, Barbican-place, Paul-street, a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned. Medical evidence was given to the effect that death was due to an abscess on the brain, which had caused heart failure. "Had the deceased attended at the Dispensary on Bank-holiday," remarked Dr Andrew, "The abscess would doubtless shave been removed and probably the consequences averted."

EXETER ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE - Exeter Midwife Cautioned. - An Inquest was held on LILIAN MAY HARPER, aged 9 weeks, whose parents live in Clinton-street, St Thomas. The mother said the child had been delicate from birth. - Mrs Elizabeth Lowe, the child's grandmother, said the midwife only paid one visit when the child was born. It died from violent convulsions on Saturday. - Mrs Ebdon, certificated midwife, said she could not pay more than one visit, as she was taken ill herself at the time. She knew she should have attended further or have taken steps to send a representative. - The Jury, returning a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" added that the midwife should be cautioned as to her future conduct.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Sutlej Explosion. Corroded Tube Causes Death Of Four Stokers. The Question Of Blame. - The adjourned Inquest on THOMAS ROBERT EASTMAN, of Bristol, and EDWARD MOORE, of Dublin, stokers, 2nd class, who died from injuries received in the explosion of a boiler tube on board the cruiser Sutlej on July 15th, was resumed at the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, before Mr R. Robinson Rodd, yesterday. The other men who died as the result of the accident were JAMES BARCLAY and JOSEPH HENRY MOORE, both stokers 2nd class and the Inquest on them was held at Berehaven. Mr K. Eyton Peck, Admiralty law agent, attended yesterday's Inquiry. - Fleet-Surgeon A. X. Lavertine, of H.M.S. Sutlej said on July 15th at 11.40 a.m., his attention was drawn to the deceased and two others whom he found suffering from severe burns and scalds on face, neck, shoulders and arms. One of them died within a few hours on board the Sutlej and a second one died in the evening in the hospital ship Maine. - Steam Ambulance Required. - Fleet-Surgeon W. H. S. Stalkartt, M.D., R.N., Hospital, said EASTMAN and MOORE were admitted to the Hospital on July 24th from the Maine. EASTMAN died on Sunday, July 31st and 9 p.m., and MOORE early on the Monday morning. The men had suffered a good deal from shock, but on admission they were improving. The burns and scalds were distinctly healing some days after admission. Each man died from syncope, due to exhaustion, the result of the burns. - The Coroner: Was there any harm in removing them from the Maine to this Hospital? - No, I do not think so. They were conveyed from the Sound. - Are there proper appliances for removal from the Sound to the Hospital for such cases as these? - Yes, the Admiralty provide efficient ambulances. - Sufficient for a case of this sort? - Yes. - I mean from the ship to the landing place? - They are transhipped into a tug. - The Coroner: There ought to be a steam ambulance suitable in every way for a case of suffering men like these. You say there is only a tug? - The tug goes alongside, and the men are transhipped into her. They are put in comfortably. - The weather might be stormy? - A Hospital boat would be more suitable. - And ought to be provided? - Yes, but the Hospital boat would not be able to come up the creek. - You could arrange for a safe transfer at the landing place? - Yes. - The Coroner: I think the Admiralty ought to provide a proper ambulance. - A Juror: did the men come up in cots or in an ambulance? - In a properly covered ambulance. The medical officer of the Maine came with them. - The Coroner: There is no question as to the means of conveyance when ashore, but the tug does not seem suitable. - A Juror: About how long after their arrival did you see them? - I saw them before they were taken out of the ambulance. I superintended them being taken out of the ambulance. - Bursting Of A Tube. - Artificer-Engineer W. H. Bull said he was in charge of the stokeholds of the Sutlej, which were closed down, as the ship was going practically at full speed. Stoker Petty Officer Homeyard was in charge of three boilers in the aft-end of A group, and he had with him five stokers, three of whom were injured as the result of the explosion, and had since died. - Where were you when the explosion took place? - In the aft-end of C group of boilers. A went to A group at once, and found a volume of steam in front of A 6 boiler. - Any fire there? - I could not see. It took about two minutes for it to clear away. - Then what did you see? - I found the tube had burst. The fires were drawn. I cannot say whether the furnace doors were opened or closed. - If the doors had been securely closed how could the steam and fire have got out? - They might have been blown open. - So the doors were open, or they were blown open by the violence of the explosion? - Yes. - Has it been reported that they were open, or that anybody was in the act of putting coals in at the time? - No one was in the act of firing the boilers, as far as I can understand. - The doors ought to have been closed then? - Yes. - Were the doors damaged in any way by the explosion? - No, they were in a perfect state. - Assuming they were firmly secured, and they were forced open in that way, would not you expect to find some straining or damage? - Possibly. I was not responsible for the steam pressure gauge. - What other damage was done to the machinery or fittings by the explosion other than the fractured oiler-tube? - None at all. - If the furnace doors were open when the explosion took place would it have been an infringement of a regulation? - If the doors were open. - Your regulations are to keep them closed? - Yes, they must be kept closed. - Is it a written regulation? - Not that I am aware of. - Was there any defect, so far as you are able to judge, in these doors? - No. - What opinion do you form as to the condition of the tube? - The tube was pitted, as is usual when used for some time. - You consider it had run its life? - No. So far as I am aware there was no other infringement of regulations. I have been in the ship two years and three months. It is no part of my duty to survey the test tubes. - Have you had any difficulty before with regard to tubes, doors or anything? - None whatever. - Everything worked perfectly smoothly? - Yes. - From your experience do you consider that every proper care and attention was given to the tubes? - Yes, as far as I am able to see. - Every responsible officer has given every attention to the ship? - Yes. - Do you consider the explosion was beyond control? - Yes. - Of course, if this steam and fire had not come into the stokehold the poor fellows would have escaped unhurt? - In all probability. - Have you ever been in a ship before where the pipe has burst and steam has entered the stokehold? - No. - Ship Under Forced Draught. - In reply to the Jury, witness said the stoker petty Officer would have charge of affairs and be responsible for the men. There were two first class and three second class stokers. - Do you consider that is sufficient for a stokehold when the ship is under forced draught? - I am not in a position to judge. - I mean to take the quantity of coal to keep up the pressure of steam? - Yes, quite sufficient. The stoker petty officer is responsible for seeing the doors closed. A door would not be opened when a forced draught is required. Sometimes a door is left partly open to get rid of the smoke - The Coroner: It might be left open for that purpose? - Not under forced draught. - Have you seen other ships fitted with the same class of doors? - Yes. - By Mr Peck: When you spoke of a regulation as to closing the door, do you mean a general instruction? - Yes. It is the usual stokehold routine. - You were steaming under war conditions on this occasion? - Yes. - Would there be anything unusual in leaving doors open if the ship was making much smoke? - It would be unusual. - You don't know whether any order was given? - No order was given to have the doors open. - A Juror: You have no orders in the stokehold for keeping these doors securely closed? - The Coroner: He has an order to keep them closed, and he says if the door was open it was an infringement of the order. (To Witness): You would not allow a door to be open in your presence? - No. - Condition Of Furnace Doors. - Stoker P.O. J. H. Homeyard said he was in charge of the aft-end of A group of boilers. He agreed with the evidence of Mr Bull. The furnace doors were properly fastened. - Where were you standing when the explosion took place? - Alongside No. 5 boiler. - Was that near the bunker or farther away? - The centre boiler. The deceased men were directly in front of No. 6 boiler, in the bunker doors. EASTMAN had come to take the hourly tally of the coal. - You say the doors were closed? - Each was securely locked. - How did you find then after the steam had cleared away? - I found the door under the tube that had burst, wide open. The other doors were half-way open. The doors were not damaged. I am responsible for seeing that the doors are kept closed. I had frequently worked in the aft-group. - Have you experienced any difficulty in opening and closing the doors? - Sometimes they would be a little tight in opening and closing, but they were not so on this particular day. - How long previous to the explosion had you fired up? - About 1 ½ minutes. I had three first class and three second class stokers working under me, which was ample for the work I had to perform. - By the Jury: The stoker is left to close the doors after coaling and I go along to see that they are closed. - Do you think the doors stout enough? - They are built for the purpose. I am certain that the explosion caused the door to burst open. - Acting-Engine-room Artificer John Meyler said he was in charge of A group steam pressure and water gauges. About 130lb was registered when the explosion took place. - Had you any instruction as to the maximum pressure? - Yes, I had instructions not to exceed 130 lb. - How long was that before the explosion? - About 20 minutes. - So at the time the explosion took place you were not going at full speed? - No; just easing down. - When you were going at full speed, what was the pressure? - 290lb. - What was your maximum? - 300lb. - The Coroner: So you were getting pretty close up to the greatest pressure. Did the gauge work satisfactorily throughout? - Yes. The water gauge was showing six or seven inches when we were going at full speed. I did not notice the furnace doors. - The witness Bull, recalled, produced the Dockyard test of the pressure gauge. He was present when the test was made. The gauges were in good working order. - The Tube Tested. - Engineer-Commander C. B. Lecky stated he was in charge on the day of the accident. He was present when the tube above and below the fracture was tested. The material was fairly strong. It was pitted, as indicated by Bull, and he would expect that after considerable use. - Could it be said that it was a sufficiently sound tube for the purpose for which it was being used at the time of the explosion? - So far as could possibly be known. - If you had known the day before the condition of the tube, would you have supplied it to that use? - It is impossible to tell. - Was it a sound tube, or a tube that had lived its life? - I think the tube was generally worn. A drill test 14 months ago showed that the tubes had a further period of two years' life. They are now nearly ten years old. They are considerably worn and in this particular case one local spot was more worn, or was originally a little thinner in the manufacture. I should say the defect was primarily due to wear. Examinations are made quarterly. - You think the cause of this bursting was the pressure of steam in it? - Yes. - No other defects? - No. The evidence showed no signs of over-heating. It is a regulation that the furnace doors should be kept closed. I think it was impossible to foresee the accident. In my opinion there was no infringement of any regulation, omitting the question as to whether the door was opened or closed at the time of the explosion, of which I have no personal knowledge. I have been in the ship one year and ten months and have had no difficulty with the working of the boilers. I should be inclined to think the door was closed, but not actually fastened. - Engineer-Captain's Conclusions. - Engineer-Capt. Thomas Thorne said he was ordered to make an inspection and report after the explosion. His evidence was for the court of inquiry and he had had no authority to give it to any other court. - The Coroner: We must adjourn the Inquest to get that authority. I understood that the Commander-in-Chief would have got that. - Witness: I have no objection to giving evidence, but I have no definite authority to divulge information. - The Coroner: I think you are right and I don't wish to press you, but we must have it. - Mr Peck said he would endeavour to obtain permission over the telephone. - After a lengthy interval, the Coroner informed the witness that he was able to give evidence without restriction. - Witness said he examined the boiler the day after the explosion, the doors of the junction boxes having been opened for the purposes. In the examination of the interior of the tube an electric search was used. From the appearance of the fracture, from the fact that there was no indication of over-heating, that the bottom tubes were not bent only to about a quarter of an inch, also that the bed lead plugs had not melted until after the accident, he came to the conclusion that the accident was due to the worn condition of the tube consequent on corrosion. The accident, in his opinion, was beyond anyone's control, because owing to the coating of oxide on the interior of the tube the extent of the corrosion could not be seen. - You do not consider blame can be attached to anyone responsible for the safe working of these boilers? - I think possibly if more steps had been taken to remove the oxide the extent of the corrosion would have been better judged. - It was easily perceptible, I suppose? - Yes. - Ought it to have been removed? - Yes, it should have been removed. It is a very difficult matter to remove it. - How soon should it have been detected? - How long did that condition of things exist? - I could not tell you. - Might it have been a month? - Longer than that. - To have attempted to remove it at the time of the manoeuvres would have kept the ship at home? - Yes. It should have been done before. - Whose duty was it to see to that? - The engineer-commander of the ship and his subordinates. - He was the responsible officer to the Admiralty? - Yes. - That state of things would not have existed if this trial test had been heard of 14 months ago? - I could not say at all. I should think in all probability it did. - Then really this tube was in a most defective condition in consequence of improper supervision? - No, I should not say that quite, but what I do say is this: You have got tubes ten years old and corrosion has existed in those tubes and it was an error of judgment not to have it removed. - Neglect Or Failure Of Duty? - Was it neglect of duty to allow the tubes to get into this condition? - I should say it was failure in duty in not taking the necessary steps to remove it. - The Coroner: It is the same thing. You express it differently. - Witness: It is failure of duty. In a ship you have a good many things to look after, and one man may be working hard and doing his best and at the same time a thing which is very important may be over-looked through an error of judgment. When I saw "overlooked" I mean the same importance may not be attached to it. - It was a duty he should have performed or caused to be performed? - That is it. He should have taken the necessary steps to get this removed in some way or other. - Did you find the doors in good working order? - No. The catches of the furnaces could not be called quite satisfactory. The holes were not sufficiently large to permit of slackness consequent on wear. To give one case in particular. The door of A. 6 boiler was slammed to in the ordinary manner, but failed to fasten owing to the bolt resting on the side of the hole having slipped down. - So the door was not true? - Exactly, the door was worn and distorted. - Is that another condition of things the engineer officer should have noticed? - The engineer officer is responsible for that, and if repaired by the Dockyard authorities before they would share the responsibility I think. - Had it been repaired? - I could not say. It was said in evidence that the Dockyard had repaired it. The automatic stop valves did not act satisfactorily. They allowed more steam to go into the stokehold than otherwise would have been the case. - In further examination witness said: I think it an error of judgment not to attach more importance to this point. You would not call it a slack state of things because it is an old ship. - You have to consider that this ship was practically in a state of war, do you not? - Yes. - What you tell us is a serious state of things for a vessel to go to war-training? - And unsatisfactory. - That does not show a very lively supervision? - Not in these things. - The Coroner: Four lives have been lost and we want to ascertain whether this ought to have been avoided, and from your expert evidence it is clear to me that it ought to have been avoided. - Witness: Quite. I know we have a Jury more or less of technical men, who would have to judge all these things before giving a verdict and that is my reason for giving these details. - The Coroner: I am much obliged for the very lucid way in which you have given your evidence, but then, having given the defects, one wants to know what your opinion is as to the supervision in connection with the officers responsible. - Witness: In these particular points the supervision was unsatisfactory. It is clear from the evidence. - Is there anything else you can tell us? - Do you think Homeyard is right in what he says that these doors were forced open by the explosion? - I think so. There is another man to give evidence. He was on a boiler having a drink, and he distinctly said he shut the door. - The Coroner: I must call him. You agree with the suggestion that had the door been in good condition, and securely fastened, the men would have escaped? - Yes. - Engineer-Commander C. B. Leckey, recalled, in answer to the Coroner, said the Sutlej was refitted by the Dockyard. He went himself and tried the doors and was satisfied that they worked all right. - The Coroner: I think we ought to have the Dockyard officials here as to that. - The Inquiry was accordingly adjourned until 10 a.m. today.

HARTLAND - Missing Farmer. Welcombe Man's Body found After Three Months. - The mystery surrounding the disappearance of JOSEPH RICHARD MUGFORD, a farmer of Welcombe, three months ago, has been to some extent solved by the finding of what is presumed to be his body under the cliffs near Hartland. On May 6th MR MUGFORD, 44 years of age, and standing 5ft. 7 ½ or 5ft. 8 inches, went out with his cows towards the pasture near the cliffs and was never more heard of. His dog was seen the same day on the beach, but little importance was attached to that fact until it was found that MR MUGFORD did not return. Then a search was made along the cliffs, but it revealed nothing. The relatives offered £10 reward for information of the man's whereabouts or the recovery of his body if, as was thought, he had fallen into the sea, but the mystery deepened rather than cleared as the months went on and nothing transpired. On Monday afternoon, however, Ambrose Newton and Freddie Walters, boys, were under the cliffs at Elmscott, near Hartland, when they discovered the headless body of a man and gave information to P.C. Cole, who removed the remains to the mortuary at Stoke, Hartland. There was practically nothing by which absolute identification could be established but sufficient evidence was adduced before the North Devon Coroner (Mr Geo. W. F. Brown) at the Inquest held at Hartland last evening to leave little doubt that the body was that of the unfortunate farmer. - Ambrose Newton spoke to finding the remains and MISS MUGFORD of Welcombe, told the story of her brother's disappearance. He took nothing with him, she said, but the clothes he usually wore, when he went out with the cows at 10 o'clock in the morning on May 6th. he went out quite in the ordinary way, and they were much surprised that he did not return. They searched the cliffs and the beach, where her brother sometimes went, but all to no purpose. There had been a heavy gale at the time and the tides were high, coming right up to the foot of the cliffs. She had seen the body now recovered and from the general appearance and the fact that one toe was doubled back, she believed it was her brother. - P.C. Cole also thought the body was about the same height, 5 ft. 7 ½ inches. - Dr D. A. Chamberlain (Stratton) said he had attended MR MUGFORD and last saw him on January 21st. He had examined the remains at the mortuary, and found in them the same complaint - rupture - for which he had attended MR MUGFORD. The body might quite possibly have been in the water three months. - Asked by the Jury if he had any reason to doubt whether it was MUGFORD'S body, Dr Chamberlain said he could not positively swear it was or that it was not, but the evidence of the complaint was consistent with the fact that it might be MR MUGFORD'S body. - The Coroner observed that absolute identification was impossible owing to the body being so disfigured, and in such an advanced state of decomposition, but after considering their verdict a few moments, Mr Braund, the Foreman, said the Jury were all of the opinion that it was the body of JOSEPH RICHARD MUGFORD. Their verdict was that he was "Found Drowned." - The reward of £10 was given by MISS MUGFORD to be divided among the two boys who found the body.

Western Morning News, Thursday 11 August 1910
BUCKFASTLEIGH - Buckfastleigh Fatality. Farmer's Neck Broken. - Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest at Buckfastleigh yesterday on MR JOHN BARTER, farmer, who lived at Warnicombe, and was 60 years of age. - The widow stated that on Monday he left the farm at 5.30 p.m. to go t Buckfastleigh on business, driving a horse in a two-wheeled trap. As he did not return, she concluded he was staying at Buckfastleigh for the night. His sheep dog came home on Tuesday morning between 7 and 8 a.m. - Mr James Millman of the White Hart Hotel, Buckfastleigh, said MR BARTER called about 10.45 p.m. for half-pint of beer and was perfectly sober. - Mr George Foster, Globe Hotel, said MR BARTER stabled with him, arriving about 7 p.m. He saw him last about 10.15 p.m. He was quite sober. - Mr R. S. Hosking, builder, said he found MR BARTER'S body on Tuesday morning about 30 yards from Hayford Lodge. It was on the highway and the trap was turned over on the right wheel. The horse was lying on his side, one of the shafts under him. The right-hand shaft of the trap was lying across MR BARTER'S neck and he was quite dead. Judging from appearances he believed MR BARTER was leading the horse along the road, and as it was very dark, guided it into the hedge; the trap coming in contact with a large stone, protruding out of the hedge, overturned; and that MR BARTER then went to free the horse by cutting the belly band, as he had a knife in his hand and had cut the band, when he met with his death. Deceased appeared to have been killed by the horse rolling over him, as he stooped to set it free. - Dr S. R. Williams said MR BARTER'S neck was broken. There were no injuries on any other part of the body except the head, and from these he considered deceased was leading the horse when the accident happened. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and passed a vote of sympathy with the widow, the Coroner associating himself with it.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Sutlej Disaster. Conflicting Evidence Of Naval Engineers. No Culpable Neglect. [Another two columns of evidence ending with..] - Coroner's Address: The Coroner, in summing up, said it was quite clear from the evidence that the cause of the explosion was the bursting of a boiler tube in consequence of the pressure of steam. At a time when important manoeuvres were being conducted, such as war training, he thought they would agree that special vigilance was necessary on the part of the responsible officer, and the officer responsible for neglect in the engineering department of this ship was Engineer-Commander Lecky. If they came to the conclusion that there was culpable negligence in the discharge of duty, it would be their duty to say so. He need hardly remind them that that would mean a verdict of manslaughter. On the other hand, after hearing Commander Lecky, who did not, of course, agree with the expert evidence - it would be for them to decide between them - they might consider that there was neglect or an error of judgment, as Capt. Thorne had been good enough to put it, not in their opinion amounting to culpability, or if they thought that every proper care and attention was given and that the tube burst from a cause beyond control, then their verdict would be one of accidental death. - The Verdict. - After the Jury had consulted in private the Coroner said the Jury had unanimously arrived at the verdict that the deceased men died from Syncope, due to Exhaustion, caused by severe burns and scalds, through the failure of a tube which was worn, consequent on corrosion. They said that the engineer-commander of H.M.S. Sutlej was negligent in the performance of his duty in not detecting the condition of the tube, but that such neglect was not culpable. - There was one matter they wished him (the Coroner) to emphasize and that was the absence of a suitable ambulance ship to convey invalids from the Sound to the shore, they having been informed that the men were brought in, in a tug. The Jury unanimously and strongly recommended that the Commander-in-Chief should take steps to provide or see that the Admiralty provided, a suitable ambulance especially for the conveyance of invalids from the Sound to the shore

Western Morning News, Friday 12 August 1910
HONITON - "Accidental Suffocation" was the verdict returned at an Inquest held yesterday on a three-hours-old child of THOMAS MOORE, labourer, of Silver-street, Honiton. The midwife left about two hours after the birth and an hour later on a neighbour, turning back the bed-clothes to look at the child, found it was dead.

Western Morning News, Saturday 13 August 1910
STOKE GABRIEL - Visitor's Fatal Boating Trip. Dart Mystery Solved. - At Stoke Gabriel yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on ROBERT NICHOLLS, of Albert-street, Paddington, found in the Dart drowned on Thursday. - His cousin, William Burgoyne, of Ashprington, said MR NICHOLLS was 28 years of age and a bachelor. - MRS JANE NICHOLLS, a widow, said her son and herself were staying at Ashprington for a fortnight's holiday. He usually enjoyed good health and there was nothing the matter with him. On Thursday morning about 9.30 he said he was going for a short walk, but he did not return for dinner. She had searched their lodgings, but could find nothing to throw any light on the sad occurrence. He had never threatened to take his life. He had done a little boating on the Thames, but was not a good oarsman. - Sidney J. Collins, a Stoke Gabriel fisherman, stated that when his crew went up the river at 12.30 they noticed an empty boat, but that was not an uncommon occurrence at this time of the year, as visitors left their boats to go up into Sharpham woods. At 4.30, when they returned, the boat was still empty, and they found one paddle in the boat and the other in the water, whilst further on they found the body of NICHOLLS on a sand bank about 50 yards from the boat. That part of the river was not dangerous. - The ferryman (S. Hammick) said MR NICHOLLS hired a boat about 10 o'clock and rowed up the river as well as he could. He did not see how that class of boat could upset. MR NICHOLLS might have been reaching and fell overboard. - MRS NICHOLLS, in reply to the Coroner, said her son tried to learn to swim when a boy, but was unable to do so. - Dr Chapman said there were no marks of violence on the body and that death was due to drowning. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Man's Death. - The Devonport Coroner (Mr J. A. Pearce) held an Inquest at Keyham yesterday on GEORGE BLAKE, 54, who died on Wednesday. - EMMA BLAKE stated that her husband was a labourer under the Corporation, and they lived in Fleet-street. - The Inquest was adjourned until next Friday for further evidence relative to the man's death, the Jury being bound over in the sum of £10 to appear at the adjourned hearing. - The facts of the case, briefly, are that on July 8th the man was engaged crossing-sweeping in Albert-road, when he was knocked down by a cyclist named Marks, a shipwright, residing at Plymouth. Both fell to the ground and BLAKE was taken to the Royal Albert Hospital, suffering from concussion of the brain. He appeared to be getting on all right under treatment, but erysipelas developed. He was then taken to his home and died soon afterwards.

Western Morning News, Monday 15 August 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Highflyer Fatality. Skilled Labourer's Terrible Fall. - Mr R. R. Rodd, Coroner, resumed the Inquest on HENRY JOHN HERRING, aged 51, pensioner and skilled labourer, of 16 Spencer-avenue, Morice Town, Devonport, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, on Saturday morning. Deceased, who was employed in the engineer manager's department, died as the result of a fall from H.M.S. Highflyer, when in dry dock. Mr K. Eyton Peck, Admiralty law agent, represented the Dockyard authorities; Mr C. H. Morris, factory inspector, the Home-office; and Mr J. W. Bickle, the relatives of the deceased. - Alfred John Border, Inspector of engine-fitters, 16 Brunswick-place, Stoke, said deceased was a skilled labourer in Keyham Yard. On July 18th deceased was employed with others replacing stern shaftings of the Highflyer in No. 7 dock, North Yard, at 2.20 p.m. Witness was in the dock superintending the placing of a shaft in position. The weight of the shaft was 5 tons 6 cwt., and it was lifted from the bottom of the dock by two 11 ton purchase blocks. A wire pennant attached to an eye-bolt in the side of the ship was used. The pressure pulled the bolt through the thread, causing the shaft to swing back. In doing so it knocked the deceased and another man off the staging into the dock below, a distance of about ten feet. The deceased fell backwards and another man was knocked forward and injured, but he recovered and returned to work about a fortnight ago. The screw ought to have withstood the pressure and a great deal more. He could not understand how it gave away. It was a clean break. The bolt had been used to remove four lengths of shafting and put back two lengths. The bolt showed evidence of being soft, but the iron was of good quality. There was no evidence of a twist. On the surface there was nothing to indicate its weakness. From a superficial inspection the softness could not be detected. A test would not have discovered the fault. There was an order issued before the accident that eye-bolts were to be tested for lifting purposes, but the bolt in question was not used for that purpose. - The order to stand clear was continually given. At the moment the deceased must have jumped in front to see if the gear was all right. Afterwards, witness found it was necessary to stand where the deceased did to watch the gear. - A Juror: It should have been a shorter bolt . - Witness further said that the deceased was the man who screwed the bolt in place. The chargeman was responsible for the job. - In answer to the Jury, he said a staging 4ft wide was sufficient for the job. - By Mr Bickle: He could not account for the bolt giving way. An eye-bolt should be part of the ships fittings, but they could not find one on the ship. - By the Inspector of Factories: The ship was in Dockyard hands, and practically everything was cleared out of the vessel. -- By the Coroner: The bolt was not used for lifting purposes, but as a jigger. - The Inspector of Factories: Two or three men could have done with their hands what the bolt ought to have done. - By the Coroner: He thought the engineer-manager had inquired into the cause of the accident, but he had not heard what opinion he had arrived at. - The Coroner: I think the Jury should have some good reason why this bolt should have parted without any reason. - George Gray, chargeman of labourers, said he agreed with the evidence of the last witness. Inquiries were made for the bolt belonging to the ship, and it could not be found. The bolt was screwed up hard against the collar. HERRING was in charge of his own gang of men. - By Mr Bickle: he did not see the bolt driven home. - Mr Bickle read a statement by deceased, in which he said:- " I was working on board H.M.S. Highflyer in No. 5 dry dock, at North Yard, Devonport, on Monday afternoon, the 18th inst., when about 2 p.m. I was knocked off from the staging on which I was standing (which was erected under the stern of the ship) and fell a distance of about 18 feet to the dock below. I also understand that another man, named Chanter, a fitter, who was working with me, was also knocked off the staging. At the time of the accident I was engaged in connection with some work to the propeller shafts of the Highflyer and would state that the accident arose through the eye-bolt giving out from the ship's side, owing to a proper bolt not being used. The bolt that should have been used ought to have been one of 2 ¼ in. diameter (round) whereas a bolt of 2 ½ in. square was used instead and quite unfit for the job, and with a view to filling up the space two washers were also used. I pointed out the danger of using this bolt to Mr Gray, the chargeman, and to Mr Tripp, chargeman of fitters, before ever the accident happened, but no notice being taken of same, I was compelled to proceed with my work and the result was that, without a moment's notice, the bolt gave up, the shafting gave way, swung against me and I was precipitated into the dock. I may also mention that the bolt was used just previously on the other shaft on the other side of the ship and got bent in the procedure of this work, which I pointed out to Mr Gray before the work of the second shaft was proceeded with and in my opinion this also made the bolt further unsuitable for the second shaft." - Witness said that this was the first time he had heard of this. He did not agree with the statement. There was no reason why the deceased should have made this statement against him. - The Inspector of Factories, replying to the witness, said he did not think the point of difference in the bolts was material. - George Tripp, chargeman of fitters, employed in the Dockyard, said he had heard the deceased's statement read and he did not agree with it. He could not account for the eye-bolt breaking. The deceased had not mentioned the matter to witness. - Fleet-Surgeon W. H. S. Stalkartt, attached to the R.N. Hospital, said deceased was admitted on the 18th ult., suffering from a fractured spine. No operation was performed. He died on Sunday. A post-mortem examination showed a fracture of the spine in the lower part of the neck and a severe injury to the spinal cord. This caused paralysis below the seat of the injury, and death ensued from the injury. He was quite healthy for a man of his age. - The Inquiry was here adjourned that the other man who was knocked off the staging might be sent for. - On the resumption, William Henry Chanter, fitter in the Dockyard, stated that on the 18th ult. he was at work with the deceased on the staging. Witness had to enter the shaft in the stern tube when it was lifted into the proper position. The shaft was lifted and was just being stepped in position when the eye-bolt gave way. Witness could not say whether the shaft had stopped or not when the accident occurred, nor could he give any explanation of the accident. - Another adjournment then took place for the Foreman of the Jury (Mr Barnes) and the Inspector of Factories to visit the Highflyer and find out whether the eye-bolt fitted the socket in the ship. This was done, as the relatives of the deceased pointed out that the eye-bolt used was not the ship's fitting, but one which had been used as a makeshift when the proper eye-bolt could not be found. It was reported that the eye-bolt fitted the socket exactly. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and expressed their sympathy with the relatives. Deceased's brother thanked the Court for their patient hearing; he was sure justice had been done.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 16 August 1910
HONITON - Honiton Innkeeper's Death. Dangerous Telephone Pole. - An Inquest was held at Honiton yesterday on A. J. HOLWAY, landlord of the Anchor Inn, who died on Sunday, as the result of being thrown from his horse on August 6th. - Mrs Watts, who witnessed the accident, said the pony apparently shied at the telephone poles at the corner of Mill-street. She heard the pony cantering down Mill-street, and just before it fell she heard MR HOLWAY say "steady, steady," to the animal. When MR HOLWAY was thrown off she went to his assistance and found that he was unconscious and bleeding profusely. - Dr Heddon said he found MR HOLWAY bleeding from the nose, head and mouth, whole on the left side of the head was a punctured scalp wound. HOLWAY partially recovered consciousness on the Saturday night, and his condition apparently improved until Friday, when an operation was performed. Death resulted from inflammation of the brain. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned and the Jury expressed their sympathy with the widow and relatives. The Jury also expressed the opinion that the telephone pole at the corner of Mill-street was in a dangerous position.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Motor Fatality. Inquest Adjourned. - After calling evidence of identification, Mr R. B. Johns yesterday adjourned the Inquest on MR GEORGE STANCOMBE, 41, commission agent, Carmarthen-terrace, St Jude's, Plymouth, who died in the S.D. and E.C. Hospital from injuries received in a motor accident. - The Coroner stated that as far as he had been able to ascertain from the witnesses, MR STANCOMBE and Mr S. Blackler, a clerk, were walking from Vinstone in the direction of Manadon, and were apparently about to board a Great Western motor 'bus when a private motor car ran into them and MR STANCOMBE received injuries which caused his death the following day. Mr Blackler was also struck and had at least two ribs fractured. It was impossible to close the Inquiry without the evidence of Mr Blackler and he proposed to adjourn it until September 13th, by which time the doctor thought Mr Blacker would be in a fit state to attend. - MR REGINALD STANCOMBE, clerk, having identified the body as that of his father, the Inquest was adjourned until September 13th, at 4 p.m. - The Coroner remarked that he thought the Inquest would not take long. It was only a question of whether the driver was negligent or not. - Mr Lawrence Spear (instructed by Messrs. Bond and Pearce) represented the Forta Motor Company, the owners of the car and there were also present Superintendent H. Crooke, Devon Constabulary, and Inspector Poultney, representing the Great Western Railway.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 17 August 1910
PLYMOUTH - Child's Neglect At Plymouth. Jury's Censure. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on OLIVE DAISY GOOD, aged three months, the child of IRENE ROSE GOOD, a domestic servant. - The child's grandmother, JANE GOOD, of New-street, who had been looking after the baby, stated that she had been feeding it on prepared oats as it would not take milk and water. On the 25th ult. she took it to Dr Cuming, who ordered cod liver oil and malt for it. It took it without difficulty, but early on Sunday morning it had a convulsion and died. She knew the child had been pining away. - Dr Cuming said when the child was brought to him on the 25th ult. it appeared to be a good deal wasted. He ordered beef extract for it as that was supplied by the parish. A post-mortem examination showed that the child was extremely emaciated. It weighed only five and a quarter lb., instead of nine or ten lb. The cause of the wasted condition was probably lack of food. None of the vessels were affected, but the stomach was as thin as tissue paper. There were no marks of violence, but the child's body was not clean. The probability was that if the child had been thoroughly well looked after she would not have died when she did, but it was impossible to say that it would have lived to grow up. Witness thought he ought to have been shown the child again after July 25th. - The grandmother explained that she had been to see the doctor twice since that day, but he had been out on each occasion. - A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned, the Jury stating that they attached great blame to the child's grandmother, on account of her neglect. They did not, however, consider her guilty of criminal neglect. - The Coroner told MRS GOOD that when she saw the child was wasting away, she should have taken it to Dr Cuming again. She had just escaped being placed in a serious position.

PAIGNTON - Naval Seaman's Body Recovered. - When the fleets were recently in Torbay a first class naval boy, aged 17, named WILLIAM JAMES MONGER, was drowned from H.M.S. Leviathan. The body was not recovered at the time, but last Sunday afternoon it was seen floating in the surf at Goodrington sands, and brought ashore. The Inquest was opened yesterday by Mr S. Hacker at Paignton. The Admiralty was represented by Lieut. A. H. J. Gye, H.M.S. Bellarophon. - The body was identified by deceased's father, THOMAS JAMES MONGER, tin-worker of Abertillery. - Dr Cosens who made a superficial examination, said the remains were extremely decomposed and had evidently been in the water some time. There was an extensive fracture across the back of the skull at the back of the left ear, but it was impossible to say whether caused before death or after. The fracture was sufficient to cause death and was probably caused before death. - Mr Ernest N. Motts said that at 2.30 on Sunday he was with Messrs. Clyne and Dults at Goodrington, when he saw the body floating in the wash of the tide, and assisted in getting it ashore. - P.C. Abrahams said he took charge of the body, which was dressed in trousers, jumper and silk scarf marked "W. J. MONGER." The purse was marked with his name and mess number. - The Coroner, in the absence of material witnesses from the ship, said he should have to adjourn the Inquiry. - Lieut. Gye mentioned that the Leviathan was now cruising around the North of Scotland and the Coroner fixed the adjourned Inquest for Tuesday, September 6th. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at Paignton Cemetery with full naval honours, a band and firing party from H.M.S. Bellarophon, which is in the bay and a gun-carriage party from the Dido attending. The funeral party was under the command of Lieut. Gye., R.N., and Mr Johnson, of the Coastguard Station, was also present. Rev. R. Tebb, Wesleyan Minister, conducted the service. Three volleys was fired at the close of the service and "The Last Post" was sounded.

Western Morning News, Thursday 18 August 1910
TIVERTON - Tiverton Junction Fatality. Taunton Man's Death Unexplained. - Yesterday Mr H. W. Gould of Exeter, held an Inquiry at Tiverton Junction Station, concerning the death of ALBERT HAMMACOTT, aged 30, of Taunton. - JOHN HAMMACOTT, brother, said the deceased and himself, with other men, were employed under a firm of contractors painting the Station, and on Tuesday morning witness and the deceased were engaged on the doors of the goods shed. They had been using a ladder, but were on the ground working at 7.45, when the first he heard was the remark of a packer that his brother was under the wheels of a truck. Witness was astonished, as only a minute before he was speaking to him, and he heard nothing to indicate danger. There was a bucket containing water and pumice-stone in the 4ft. way, but they were not using this at the time and deceased had no need to reach for it. Witness had asked for a look-out man, but none had been provided. - Asked To Look Out. - John Payne, foreman shunter, said he shouted back to the deceased about five minutes before the accident that they would be putting trucks back into the shed, and asked them to look out. - HAMMACOTT admitted that he heard this and understood it meant that they were to keep the ladder clear. He admitted also that there was sufficient clearance for the men. - Answering the Coroner, witness said the man he asked to provide a look-out was the previous foreman for the contractors. He had not asked the railway company. - Inspector Mapledoram said it was the duty of the contractors to ask for a look-out and then the company would provide a flagman and charge his wages to the contractor. - Hubert Hutchings, foreman of the painters, said that no request was made to him for a look-out man, or one would have been provided. He could not say whether such request was made to the foreman he succeeded. That foreman, named Clare, was now on another job up country. - Jas. Warren, foreman of painters, on behalf of the G.W.R., said the contractors' foreman never asked him for a look-out man. - The Fatal Truck. - Further evidence showed that the Tiverton engine shunted back a number of trucks to clear the siding points and that these came against a stationary one, which was bumped forward into the goods shed. This truck at the time it was bumped was about 12ft. from where the deceased was working and this was the truck which struck him. - The injuries were to the chest and abdomen, no limbs being injured. When picked up deceased was lying on his back with his hands behind his head. Dr Tracey said the injuries were sufficient to cause instant death. - The Coroner said he would adjourn the Inquest, if necessary, for the evidence of the previous foreman. He did not want to criticise a man in his absence, but if HAMMACOTT did ask for a look-out man the foreman was guilty of an error of judgment (to say the least) in not providing a look-out. - The Jury did not think it necessary to adjourn the Inquiry, and returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed sympathy with the widow at Taunton, to whom they directed their fees to be sent. - The Coroner said he joined in the sympathy expressed. It was a very distressing case, especially as the widow as in a delicate state of health. - JOHN HAMMACOTT, on behalf of his brother's widow and himself and family, thanked the Jury for their sympathetic expressions.

Western Morning News, Friday 19 August 1910
LYNTON- Lynmouth Fatality. Warning To Bathers That Went Unheeded. Plucky Rescuers. - Mr G. W. F. Brown held an Inquest at Lynton last evening on the body of JAMES EDWARD MORRIS, 27, of Roehampton-street, London, who was spending his honeymoon at Lynmouth and was drowned whilst bathing the previous day. - The Coroner referred to the fact that bathers were warned not to go too far out, as the sea was rather rough on Wednesday. Deceased, however, would appear to have ventured out a little too far, and, getting into difficulties, was unfortunately drowned, notwithstanding the efforts made to save him. It was one of those unfortunate accidents which occurred from time to time at seaside places an which they would all deeply lament. - WM. HENRY MORRIS, of London, brother of deceased, said deceased was a clerk in the Gas, Light and Coal Co's offices, and came to Lynmouth on August 6th. He was a splendid swimmer and had taken many prizes. - Cautioned About Danger. - Alfred Berry, the District Council bathing attendant, saw deceased go out to bathe a little after 12 o'clock. The tide was coming in, and the sea was rather rough. In consequence of that he warned the bathers not to go out too far, but from what he could see they did not take heed of what they were told. Several had just come in from bathing, and he could not tell how many were out at the time. There was a floating raft at a place where people could stand at that time. His caution to the bathers was not to go far beyond the raft. After the bathers had been in the water for some time he saw two gentlemen going outside the breakers, where they should not have gone and he saw a gentleman going to the help of deceased. Witness went to get a boat out as soon as possible but that took rather long, as the men were running out to see what was the matter and they had to carry the boat some distance across the rocks. Four people were taken from the raft, some of whom appeared to have been in difficulties, but deceased had gone under before the boat got to him, and he was not seen. There were three lifebuoys at the place and a lifebuoy and line on the raft, which a gentleman let go. Later the body was recovered. - The Foreman: do you think that at the last place you saw the deceased it was possible for the waves to have dashed him against the boulders? - No; he was in too deep water. - A. Vincent Piggot (Twickenham) said he was bathing at the same time and his opinion was that a sudden squall sprung up. Witness had been out as far as the spot where the furthest gentleman was in difficulties, but got back fairly easily, and was sitting on the raft when there were two calls for help. He asked MR MORRIS if he was all right. Deceased did not answer, but smiled and witness concluded he was all right. Witness swam to another gentleman who was very close to the rocks and that gentleman asked him to go out to his brother, who was further away. He did so and brought him in. Including MR MORRIS, there were three in difficulties. - Thirty-five Minutes' Delay. - John Conway, another visitor, said he was on the raft when deceased passed him, swimming strongly at the time. Then witness heard a cry for help from his brother and later, when crying for help himself, saw the lifebuoy, which was brought out to him by Mr Pitt, and by its means he got in. He was told 35 minutes elapsed between the time he cried for help and the time he was got in. - Richard Burgess, boatman, spoke to going out in a boat with C. Crick, A. Jarvis and W. Richards. There was a bad sea on when they got to the outer raft and found Mr Pitt and four other gentlemen. They took them off, in water from eight to ten feet deep, but did not see deceased. At eight o'clock in the evening witness recovered the body in three feet of water and about ten or fifteen yards from the outer raft. The end of a line attached to a lifebuoy was found only a few yards from the body. - Dudley S. Cook, a young visitor from Bristol, said he had just arrived on the Esplanade when he heard cries for help. Calling to his chum (W. J. Langford, of Bristol) they both ran to the water's edge, undressed and went in. He got to MR MORRIS and asked him if he was in distress. He replied "Help," and witness told him to turn on his back, telling him he was all right. MORRIS turned on his back and then a big wave came and parted them. Witness endeavoured to get back to him, but found the waves too strong and getting exhausted himself, had to get in. There were still other cries for help going on. MORRIS seemed to be swimming strongly when witness reached him and at first witness thought he was calling for help for someone else. When they parted he could not get back again for the current, and get to the raft, when he found his chum bringing in another man. - What Should Be Done. - The Coroner said it seemed a pure accident, the deceased having ventured out a little too far. He referred to the plucky attempt young Mr Cook made to save the deceased and to the courage displayed by others who went into the water. - Dr Slimon, of London, thought to prevent a recurrence of such a sad affair as that he had witnessed, a boat should be provided and kept near the bathing place. He was satisfied in his own mind that had there been a boat at the spot all who were in the water might have been saved. - Dr E. H. Cook, J.P., of Bristol, was of opinion a little boat would not have stood the waves, and he suggested a light floating line, with lifebuoys attached, which a swimmer in difficulties might get hold of. When his son went into the water, had he had a light line to tie to his waist he could have caught hold of MORRIS and both might have been pulled in. He thought the Urban Council might see it was absolutely necessary in such a state of weather as the previous day to prohibit bathing altogether. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned," and the Foreman said the recommendations which had been brought forward would be brought before the Urban Council and he felt sure would be acted upon. They wished to tender their deepest sympathy with the widow and relatives. - MR MORRIS acknowledged the Jury's sympathy and the other visitors spoke in high terms of praise of the efforts of the rescuers.

ILFRACOMBE - Cliff Tragedy. Ilfracombe Visitor's Fall. A Pure Accident. - At the Cottage Hospital, Ilfracombe, yesterday, Mr G. W.F. Brown held an Inquest on the body of the Sheffield school teacher, ELLEN PAULSON, 23, killed on Wednesday by falling from a cliff. By a coincidence the name of the temporary school at Sheffield at which she was engaged is Hillsboro, and it was Hillsboro Hill at Ilfracombe from which she fell. - The Coroner observed that MISS PAULSON had been staying at Hillsboro, Ilfracombe, for ten days, and the previous afternoon was with a friend, Miss Swift, at Hillsboro, to climb which was somewhat dangerous at any time, even to a person experienced in that sort of thing. In this case she must have slipped and fell into the cove beneath. Rev. G. H. Fookes was in the neighbourhood and his son observed the lady fall. They got assistance and she was taken in a boat across to the harbour and thence to the Hospital. Despite the unremitting attention of the staff, she died. He felt sure the Jury, as well as the townspeople of Ilfracombe, would feel the deepest sympathy with the relatives in the sad fatality of a visitor to the place. - Girl Friend's Story. - Miss Florence Swift said the previous afternoon they went to Broadsands. She sat on a rock, reading and MISS PAULSON went a little higher up on the grass, about half way up the cliff. MISS PAULSON sat on her mackintosh, reading and she thought the mackintosh must have slipped and her friend, going with it, could not stop herself and went over the cliff. All she heard MISS PAULSON exclaim was "Oh," and then she found she had fallen to the bottom, about 48 or 50 feet. They had climbed about the rocks before and her friend was pretty sure-footed. At the time of the accident she was not climbing, but sitting down. - Mr R. M. Rowe (clerk to Ilfracombe Urban Council) asked if MISS PAULSON had been sitting some little distance from the path and witness replied that she was. The place was not very steep, but it was grassy and slatey. - Rev. G. H. Fookes, vicar of St James, Ilfracombe, said he was on the beach with his little boy, who told him a lady had fallen over the cliff. he went to her immediately, found her badly injured and remained with her whilst help was sent for. He was there within a second of her falling. The last 30 feet of her fall was quite perpendicular. - No Use For A Fence. - A Juryman asked if the place could be protected in any way, and the witness said there was no loose shale at the spot and it was out from the path. He had frequently seen people there and if a fence were put there people would get over it. - Dr Toller said MISS PAULSON was only just alive when admitted to the Hospital. She was unconscious, and had sustained a very severe fracture of the skull, broken her right wrist and finger and there were numerous contusions and cuts. She died in about a quarter of an hour from the fracture of the skull. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed deep sympathy with the relatives on their own behalf and on behalf of the town of Ilfracombe, among whose inhabitants the sad fatality had caused the deepest grief. - Rev. G. H. Fookes said he thought the fatality was not the fault of anyone connected with the town, the Council, or their officers. Anyone who viewed the spot would see it was entirely out of the path, but it was a place where people would go.

STOKE DAMEREL - A Hamoaze Mystery. Stoker Found Drowned. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the dockyard yesterday on WALTER ATKINSON, first class stoker, whose body was found floating in the Hamoaze the previous Tuesday. Mr K. E. Peck represented the Admiralty. - Alfred John thorn, master-at-arms, H.M.S. Leander, said he was satisfied that the body was that of WALTER ATKINSON, aged 21, a first class stoker, serving in H.M.S. Fairy. Deceased was a native of Liverpool, and his relatives had been informed of the recovery of the body. He had no difficulty in identifying the body. - Richard Michael Linehan, gunner, H.M.S. Seal, said he had been serving on board the same ship as deceased. Deceased was missed from his ship on August 7th and the matter was reported to witness the following day. - John Kavanagh, stoker, H.M.S. Fairy, said he knew the deceased very well and last saw him alive at 10.45 p.m. on the 7th, when he was quartermaster of the first watch. He was standing with a light in his hand amidships. Deceased was of a very cheerful and bright disposition. About 11 o'clock witness was turning in his hammock, when he heard a splash and went on deck, but could see no one in the water. Witness then gave the alarm, "Man overboard," and boats were manned, but the only thing recovered was the deceased's cap. It was a very dark night and a strong tide was running. - Walter Moore, leading seaman on board the Fairy, said when the alarm "Man overboard" was raised he hailed the Sapphire, Bonnetta and Albacore to look out for the man in the water. Witness then went in one of the boats to search and later was sent ashore to acquaint the captain. They searched for about an hour before they gave up. Deceased was able to swim. - Albert E. S. Farley, 30 Belgrave-road, Mutley, skilled labourer, employed in the Dockyard, said that shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday he was going along the sea wall, near No. 3 slip, when he saw something jammed between the sliding ways and the wall. When he discovered that it was a man's body, he obtained the assistance of his mates, who were coming along behind, and together they got the body out. Deceased was dressed in a serge suit and stockings. - Staff-Surgeon John Chas. Rowan, H.M.S. Mars, said he examined the body, which was very much decomposed. There were no marks of external violence and in his opinion death was due to drowning. - P.C. Drew, Metropolitan Police, said that on searching the clothing he found 7s. 9 ½d. - There not being sufficient evidence to show how the deceased came into the water, a verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 20 August 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Fatal Cycle Accident. Devonport Corporation Employee's Death. - The adjourned Inquest on GEORGE BLAKE, aged 54, a Corporation employee, of Fleet-street, Devonport, who [?] August 19th, was held by Mr J. A. Pearce yesterday at Devonport. BLAKE, while working in Albert-road on the morning of July 8th, was knocked down by a bicycle. Mr T. H. Gill appeared for the widow. Mr G. C. Brian for W. F. Marks, the cyclist and Mr H. Lawrence Spear for interested parties. - Frederick H. Buckley, Albert-road, said he was at work with BLAKE in Albert-road about 7 a.m. on July 8th, cleaning the gulleys. BLAKE stepped out from behind the cart to go across the road when the bicycle caught him in the side. He was carried forward and fell on his face. BLAKE, who was unable to move or speak, was moved to the pavement and they called to the cyclist to come back, which he did. Witness did not see the cyclist approaching, neither did he hear any bell rung. He was not riding slowly, but he could not say whether he was going too fast. When the bicycle passed the cart, it was within a foot of the wheel. The cyclist was on the right side of the road. - Cyclist's Statement. - William F. Marks, Baring-street, shipwright apprentice in the Dockyard, said he was riding down Albert-road, when BLAKE stepped out from behind a cart. He swerved to the right as much as he could, but his elbow struck the upper part of BLAKE'S body. He had been ringing his bell, his speed was not exceeding nine miles an hour and he had the machine well under control. He heard someone shout. Thinking it was BLAKE, he did not go back immediately, as he thought he had not been hurt. They shouted to him again, and he then went back. The impact with BLAKE did not knock him off his machine. MR BLAKE had told him he could not say how the accident occurred. - By Mr Spear: Witness was 19 years of age and had been cycling five years. - By Mr Gill: Before the accident happened, he had his back pedalling brake on. - William G. Williams, Albert-road, said the cyclist was not riding very fast. - P.C. Warne said when he arrived BLAKE was sitting on the pavement bleeding from the nose and mouth. Marks told him he did not notice BLAKE until he was up to him. - Erysipelas Follows Accident. - Dr J. E. C. Wilson said he first saw BLAKE at his home on July 22nd and he was suffering from erysipelas in the face and head. He gradually got worse and died on August 10th. Death was due to erysipelas, which he thought was entirely caused by the accident. - Mr Brian: You say "I think"; is there any doubt about it? - In my opinion the erysipelas was absolutely caused by the accident. - By Mr Spear: He did not see BLAKE for 14 days after the accident. - Mr J. J. D. Morris said BLAKE was admitted to the Royal Albert Hospital on July 8th and discharged on the 21st. It was only a slight concussion he sustained. On the morning that BLAKE was discharged his (witness's) attention was called to the development of erysipelas that had set in. It was impossible to keep the man at the Hospital, as the other patients would run the risk of catching it. They communicated with the Medical Officer of Health, but there was no accommodation for such cases at Devonport. By ambulance BLAKE was removed to his home, with instructions that now he had left the Hospital someone else would have to be responsible. He agreed with Dr Wilson as to the cause of death. There could be no doubt that the erysipelas was due to a wound, brought about by the fall. - The Coroner said there was no doubt the cyclist was on his right side and he did not see anybody until he was up to the cart. The impact could not have been very great, otherwise Marks would have been thrown from his machine. - Mr Gill, on behalf of the widow, said they relieved Mr Marks of any charge in connection with the death of the deceased. - The Coroner observed that Mr Marks had shown his consideration by visiting BLAKE and making inquiries to his progress. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

SIDMOUTH - Sidmouth Woman's Suicide. - Dr Tweed held an Inquest yesterday at Sidmouth respecting the death of MARY LOUISA WOODLEY, aged 49, unmarried, who on Thursday was found hanging in an outhouse near her father's residence. - GEORGE WOODLEY stated that he called to his daughter between eight and nine o'clock on Thursday morning. He received no reply and on searching, found her hanging. As far as he knew she had had no trouble. - Florence Holmes, a neighbour, who thought she had noticed something peculiar about the deceased, gave evidence. - P.C. West said he found the front room strewn with burnt paper. Near the spot at which she was hanging was a stool, upon which she had apparently stood. - Dr B. Pullin stated that the woman's face and hair were burnt. There was burnt paper and hair about the place and she must have sat in a chair when she was on fire, for the cushion was burnt. She was of rather weak intellect. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was recorded.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 23 August 1910
PLYMOUTH - Child's Death By Overlaying. - An Inquest was held yesterday by the Plymouth Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) on the five-days-old child of WILLIAM WHITE, engine-driver, Penrose-street. - Dr Aikman said the child was born on Tuesday and died on Saturday night from asphyxia, caused by over-laying. - Elizabeth Hoare, Claremont-street, said that about midnight on Saturday she found the child covered with the bedclothes. The mother and the witness slept in the same bed with the child. - The Coroner said they would never prevent overlaying until they could persuade the mothers to have the child sleeping in another bed, but in this case it was even worse than the ordinary cases, for there were two people sleeping in the same bed with the child. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Asphyxia caused by Accidental Overlaying."

EXETER - Fatal Fall At Broadclyst. - At an Inquest on VIVIAN HOGAN at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday, it was stated that the deceased, aged 26, a butcher's assistant of Broadclyst, was riding a horse near Heath Cottage there. According to the occupier of the cottage, the horse slipped and then fell, throwing the rider. Going to the scene of the accident, witness found the deceased lying on his back in the road, with his feet in the stirrups. The horse was standing beside him. After being attended to, HOGAN was conveyed to the Hospital. Further evidence was given to the effect that he was a steady and sober young man. Death was due to concussion of the brain. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned and sympathy was expressed with the deceased's friends.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Boating Fatality. Fastened Sheet Danger. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on FRANK MASHFORD, aged 23 years. - Harry Leat, son of P.C. Leat, stated that on Tuesday he was out in the Sound in MASHFORD'S sailing boat with him. They were going out fishing. Whilst they were tacking down from the hospital ship in Jennycliffe Bay towards Batten, with the main sheet fastened and a strong wind blowing, they attempted to go about and capsized. - The Coroner: he was an experienced sailor and ought to have known better than fasten the sheet, didn't he? - Yes, sir. Witness said he considered that MASHFORD was drawn under the water by the suction of the boat. He did not make any remark at the time about the sheet being fastened. - The Coroner: It is an extraordinary thing for a man of MASHFORD'S experience to have fastened the sheet. - P.C. Leat stated that the boat was picked up on the Wednesday, the day after the accident, and the body of the deceased was recovered on Sunday. A Juror remarked that he understood the boat was caught by the squall while in stays. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 24 August 1910 TORQUAY - The Death Of MR T. H. WILLS. - At Torquay yesterday, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on THOMAS HENRY WILLS, pawnbroker, Market-street, a member of the Town Council, who was taken ill during the rowing matches on Monday, and died in about an hour. - MRS MARY WILLS, the widow, said her husband was 54 years of age. He left home at 11.45 a.m. on Monday to go to the Haldon Pier as a member of the Regatta Committee, of which he was finance secretary. He complained before he went away of pain in the head, but he felt well enough to go. In the afternoon she went to the Hospital and saw him in bed at 4.30 . He was unconscious and she stayed with him until he died, without regaining consciousness. He had complained of a pain in his head during the last few weeks and some months ago had severe nose-bleeding, for which he was attended by a medical man. - Sudden Collapse. - Frank T. Wilson, timber merchant, Exeter, said on Monday he was on the Rowing Committee boat, standing close to MR WILLS, when suddenly he noticed him collapsing. He took out of his hand the gun he had been using as starter of the rowing matches and supported him to save him from falling. MR WILLS made no exclamation and there was no undue excitement about his manner. He was laid out flat on the boat and his clothing eased, after which he was placed on a tug and taken ashore. He was then put into a taxi-cab and, there being no one at his house at the time, he was conveyed to the Hospital. He did not speak on the way, not being conscious. - Robert R. Browne, fishmonger, Lucius-street, also a member of the Regatta Committee, stated that about four o'clock, just after a rowing match had started, MR WILLS asked him to look up the boats for the next race. Just afterwards, on turning round, he saw that MR WILLS had collapsed. He asked him if he had hurt his leg and he nodded, but did not speak. Deceased appeared in his usual health, although whilst at lunch a few hours previously he had complained of a little headache. - Symptoms Of Apoplexy. - Dr Thomas Horton said MR WILLS showed the usual symptoms pointing to apoplexy. There were no marks and nothing to suggest anything but a natural death, and in his opinion the cause of death was cerebral haemorrhage. MR WILLS had been a patient of his. He suffered from nose-bleeding and headaches, which might be symptoms of apoplexy, though not necessarily so. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes," and expressed sympathy (in which the Coroner joined) with the widow and children of deceased, the Foreman (Mr J. W. Redmore) remarking that they had known MR WILLS for many years and very much regretted his sudden death. - The funeral is fixed for Friday and the interment at the cemetery is to be preceded by a service in St. Luke's Church at 11.30 a.m.

Western Morning News, Thursday 25 August 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Burning Fatality. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the Homeopathic Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday, on ANNIE CONDAY, aged 20, domestic servant, of High-street. - RICHARD CONDAY said on Monday evening his daughter was in her bedroom, sewing by the light of a candle. She bent down to pick up something and her clothes caught fire. A small brother in the room at the time attempted to extinguish the flames, but only burnt his fingers. - The Hospital Doctor said the case was hopeless from the first. Deceased was burnt severely, practically all over the body. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, the Jury expressing their sympathy with the father.

Western Morning News, Saturday 27 August 1910
IDE - Ide Widow's Fatal Fall. - An Inquest was held at Ide yesterday on SUSAN ROSE HILL, widow, 55, of Ide. - WILLIAM JOHN HILL, the blind son of deceased, said he went out at 9 a.m. the previous morning and on returning at 10.5 p.m. found his mother on the floor. She had been drinking heavily since August Bank-holiday. - P.C. Daw of Ide, deposed to going to the house and finding MRS HILL in a pool of blood. She smelt strongly of liquor. On the stove were empty bottles which had contained port wine, whisky and stout. - Edith Hoare spoke to fetching a bottle of port for the deceased. - Dr R. A. Hobbs said the cause of death was haemorrhage of the brain. The organs of the body were in a state of degeneration consistent with alcoholism. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Monday 29 August 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Dock Fatality. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the Homeopathic Hospital, Plymouth, on Saturday, on JOHN ROBERT CLARK, 58, dock labourer, employed at the Millbay Docks. - Joseph Coggin, dock labourer, said on 18th inst. he was with CLARK weighing grain on the steamer Tremorvah, at the G.W. Docks. The weighing machine stuck and CLARK turned round to get another machine. The machine was on a raised stage built up from the deck and in turning round CLARK stepped over the edge of the stand, and fell to the deck, striking the staging as he fell. The platform was of the usual width, about six feet by four. - The Foreman of the Jury (Mr Southern) said he did not consider the stage wide enough. There was only just room for the man who operated the machine to stand. If he turned round he was bound to step off the edge. - Coggin said he thought there was sufficient room on the platform. - The Coroner remarked that the actual size of the platform had had little to do with the accident. CLARK had been under the impression that there was room for him to turn round in, and even if the platform had been wider, he might have made a similar mistake. He did not think anyone was to blame. - Dr P. Wilmot said CLARK when admitted to the Hospital was suffering from paralysis below the level of his shoulders, due to a fall. He was conscious, described the accident and attached no blame to anyone. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

OKEHAMPTON - Okehampton Child Drowned. - At the Inquest held on Saturday on FLORENCE BETTY WOOLDRIDGE, the two-year-old child of THOMAS WOOLDRIDGE, gamekeeper of Abbey Ford, Okehampton, the father said on Friday afternoon his wife brought in the child, who had been found by her in a tub of water. She was dead. The tub was used to catch rain water. It had been there for years, and no previous accident had occurred. - John Essery, a woodman and neighbour, said the child came into his house about five o'clock. About half an hour after he heard MRS WOOLDRIDGE calling out and on his going to ascertain the reason found her with the child in her arms. They did all they possibly could, but the child never breathed afterwards. - Dr Burd deposed to examining the body about 5.30. Death had been caused by drowning and took place about half an hour before that. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

EAST STONEHOUSE - Petty Officer's Death. - At the Inquest on Saturday at the Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, on FREDERICK CHARLES HICKS (39), 1st class P.O., who died suddenly while at work as a sailmaker in the Sutlej, the medical evidence showed that death was due to heart disease and a verdict accordingly was returned. - A witness deposed speaking to HICKS five minutes before his death and offering to assist him to the sick bay, but he declined. He said he thought the pains in the chest were due to indigestion - he had recently had dinner - and that he would be all right in a little while. His indisposition was quite sudden, none of his shipmates having heard him complain. - Fleet-Surgeon A. X. Lavertine said the deceased's condition was such that nothing could have been done for him, had he been removed to the sick bay as soon as the illness occurred. In addition to heart disease, there was evidence of old pleurisy and general lung trouble.

DENBURY - Suicide At Denbury. - On Friday Mr John Easterbrook, farmer, of Denbury, whilst shooting in a meadow there, near Holwell Farm, saw what he first thought was the carcase of a beast in a shallow brook, and was horrified on closer examination to find it was the body of his nephew, WILLIAM HARRIS TULLY, whose relatives live at the farm. TULLY was 28 years of age. Two years ago TULLY had a foot amputated. His crutch, cap and stick were found on the bank close to where the body was discovered. - At the Inquest on Saturday, Dr R. H. Grimbly said he was called by Easterbrook and found TULLY lying partly in the brook, face downwards, and in a sprawling position. His head was in the water, which was about 18 inches deep. The body was fearfully decomposed. His cap, &c., were beside the stream, and looked as if they had been deliberately laid down. Grass was beginning to grow through the cap, so it must have been there some time - it would be difficult to say how long in weather such as they had been having. Death was probably due to drowning. If TULLY had fallen in he could easily have saved himself if conscious at the time. - John Easterbrook said cows were kept in the meadow, but they came when called and so no one as a rule went near where his nephew was found. Deceased was formerly a baker at Torquay, but he gave that up and had latterly been in poor circumstances, having become an inmate of the Workhouse. He sometimes came and stopped at the farm. No one seemed to have seen him near there recently. - John Richards, porter, Newton Workhouse, said when TULLY took his discharge he said he might go to the farm and see his grandmother. - Mrs Ann Easterbrook said she last saw him in Newton Market about five weeks ago. She asked him to come and have some tea, but he refused, and she gave him the money instead. He was very depressed the last two or three times she had seen him. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 30 August 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Baby's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on ANNIE WILLIAMS, aged eleven months. - MRS WILLIAMS, of Fort-street, said on Thursday she sent the baby out in a mailcart in charge of her other daughter, ALICE, age twelve. About twenty minutes after they had gone she heard a scream, and on going out found the mailcart had capsized. - John Prowse, a vanman employed by Geo. Baker, said on Thursday he was driving a horse and van in Fort-street, and noticed a perambulator on the pavement. Just as he passed it he heard a woman scream, and on looking out of the van, saw the perambulator coming towards him, just in front of his fore-wheel. He turned his horse's head sharp towards the near side. The front wheel cleared the perambulator, but he could not say whether the hind-wheel touched it or not. He jumped off and saw the perambulator upside down. The perambulator had shot off the pavement. When he first noticed it, it was still. - Mary Rebecca Westlake, of Fort-street, said while looking out of her window, she saw the perambulator running towards the kerb towards the van. She heard a scream, and when she got downstairs she saw the baby being taken from the perambulator. ALICE WILLIAMS had been sitting on the doorstep, but she could not say whether she had hold of the perambulator. - Dr e. N. Ryan, Royal Albert Hospital, said the child was admitted to the Hospital, suffering from a lacerated wound on the forehead. The child never rallied and died the following evening, the result of a fracture of the skull. - ALICE WILLIAMS stated that she sat down on a step with her other sister, placing the perambulator against the wall. On looking up she noticed it running across the pavement. She ran to catch it, but before she could reach it, it had overturned in the gutter. - MRS WILLIAMS said she considered it a pure accident, for her daughter had always been most careful. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - At the Inquest yesterday at Plymouth Mortuary on JOHN HARRIS, aged 63, deceased's daughter, of Ilbert-street, stated that on Sunday morning her father went to Dr Square's, where he was employed as coachman, and as he did not return to dinner she went to fetch him. She found him lying dead in the stable. Dr Thomson said death was due to heart disease, and a verdict was returned accordingly.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held at Plymouth yesterday on IVY IRENE TAYLOR, aged two months, the daughter of a labourer. MRS MARY ELIZABETH TAYLOR, of Lifton-road, the mother, said the child had been healthy since birth. On Friday night she, her husband and the child were sleeping in one bed. She woke up about nine o'clock and found the child dead. Dr Lockhart said death was due to suffocation. There was no doubt that the overlaying was accidental. A verdict was returned accordingly.

Western Morning News, Thursday 1 September 1910
NORTHAM - Appledore Youth's Death. - Mr G. W. F. Brown held an Inquest at Appledore yesterday on ERNEST ROBERT HOCKIN, sailor, aged 16, who died on Sunday. On February 7th he was working on the Argo, in Bristol basin, when his foot slipped and he fell between the vessel and the basin. On his return to Appledore he said nothing to his parents about the accident until a fortnight later. Meanwhile he had worked on the Cornflower and also on Appledore Ferry. On August 25th he complained of a pain and was medically attended. - Dr Rentssch said the lad was suffering from the effects of the accident and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

MORTHOE - Croyde Bay Tragedy. Inquest: Story Of The Rescue Of MRS POCHIN. - The body of MR CHAS. POCHIN, of Manchester, who was drowned whilst bathing at Croyde nine days ago, was found on Woolacombe Sands yesterday. The Inquest was held by Mr G. W. F. Brown, at Morthoe in the evening. The Rev. g. H. Parker, his brother-in-law, stated that MR POCHIN was 32 years of age and an engineer in business at Manchester. - Sinclair Gunn, of Cardiff, a visitor to Croyde, said on August 22nd he heard that bathers were in difficulties in Croyde Bay He assisted men named Ley and Gammon in getting a boat out and proceeded with them to the scene. They saw no sign of MR POCHIN, but MRS POCHIN was about 250 to 400 yards out, in the first breakers. With some difficulty they got through the breakers and he then jumped out of the boat and seized MRS POCHIN. With the help of the others he got her into the boat and she was taken ashore. The sea was fairly rough, the tide being on the ebb. It was very dangerous for bathing at that state of the tide. There was a notice warning persons about bathing on the other side of the sands. A lifebelt was kept on the sands, and, he believed, was used on this occasion. He could not say if anyone named warned MR POCHIN of the danger of bathing in the rough sea, but he had been a visitor to Croyde for seven years, and should have known this. It was safe to bathe at Croyde at any time, if persons did not go out too far. - Frederick Branch, labourer, spoke to recovering the body on Woolacombe Sands at 5 a.m. that day. - The Coroner pointed out that MR POCHIN had been a visitor to Croyde for several years and presumed that he knew the dangers of bathing there. He took that opportunity of warmly commending Mr Gunn and the other men for their plucky efforts in rescuing MRS POCHIN. - The Jury (Mr John Dyer, Foreman) returned a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned," expressing sincere sympathy with deceased's relatives in their bereavement. - The Foreman thought steps should be taken to provide a mortuary at Morthoe. The body had had to be placed in the life-saving apparatus station. - The Jury agreed and the Coroner promised to forward their recommendation to the District Council.

PARKHAM - Fatal Scalds At Parkham. - Mr G. W. F. Brown held an Inquest at Parkham yesterday on ALBERT COLLINS, the two-year-old son of a labourer. The mother stated that on Monday she poured boiling water into a tub for doing some washing and whilst she was putting the kettle on the fire she heard a scream and found the child had fallen into the tub. She sent for the district nurse and the scalds were dressed by Nurse Thomas. - Dr Betts said he found extensive scalds all over the child's back and legs. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

TIVERTON - Late Alderman HARWOOD. Coroner And Jury's Appreciation. - An Inquest was held at Tiverton last evening on MR JOHN HARWOOD, aged 60, who died the previous day at a meeting of the Agricultural Association. - Abraham Kingdom, foreman baker in MR HARWOOD'S employ, said on Tuesday he complained of being unwell and was very pale. After dinner he was seen holding both hands to his head, but made no complaint. - Chief Constable Mercer said he was at the meeting of the Agricultural Society, of which MR HARWOOD was secretary. A discussion followed the reading of the balance-sheet and MR HARWOOD rose and replied to a question put by Mr Coleridge Boles, and sat down again. He noticed nothing unusual in his appearance except a paleness. When MR HARWOOD sat down his right arm was twitching and his face appeared convulsed. Dr Mackenzie turned round and caught him as he was falling from his seat. The meeting was at once stopped and Dr Mackenzie, witness and others, laid him on a seat. His clothing was loosened, windows were opened and water sprinkled on his face. He seemed to recover, but did not speak or regain consciousness. He appeared to have another attack and they laid him on the table, when he quickly died. From the commencement of the attack to his death was not more than 10 minutes. - Mr Wakefield: Was there anything in Mr Boles' question to excite deceased? - No; he rather praised him than otherwise, and remarked that he had worked not like one horse, but like a pair of horses. - Dr Welsford said he attended MR HARWOOD the day prior to his death for sickness and diarrhoea. A post-mortem examination revealed that death was caused by the rupture of the artery which supplies the heart with blood. It is inside the pericardium, which it at once filled with blood. The wall of the artery was much ossified and brittle, which was not infrequent in one of his age. Such a rupture might be caused by very little in deceased's condition. His other organs were fairly healthy. - The Coroner (Mr Fisher), in summing up, said he did not propose to call the widow, as it would only cause her unnecessary pain. The cause of death was such as might happen to any of them, especially as they became advanced in years. The ill-health of which deceased had complained had no bearing on his death and was merely incidental. It was the rupture of the large vessel of the heart that determined one of the most useful and respected lives Tiverton possessed. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes." - The Foreman asked the Coroner to express the sympathy of the Jury with the widow in the great loss she had sustained. They felt very keenly the loss of MR HARWOOD, who seemed to have lived for the welfare of the town. - Mr Fisher said he would convey their sympathy as requested. He had known MR HARWOOD all his life as one of Tiverton's most valued citizens. Death overtook him whilst in the discharge of his duty, and his last breath was drawn in their service.

EXETER - Crediton Man's Death. - At an Inquest at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital yesterday on ARTHUR GEORGE DOWN, 35, shoe cutter, Crediton, who was taken ill in Goldsmith-street, Exeter, on Monday night, RICHARD DOWN, tinplate worker, Crediton, said his brother did not say why he was going to Exeter on Monday. He had not been at work for the past month and he had not complained of any illness; but at midnight on Sunday a Policeman brought him home and said he had found him wandering about. - John Pile, Russell-street, said he knew DOWN well and met him in Goldsmith-street on Monday night. He said he had taken a bed in Exeter and paid for it, but he did not know whether it was in that street or not. They retraced their steps to find the place, but DOWN became ill and a doctor was sent for. In ordinary life DOWN was very gruff and reserved. - P.C. Walters said the Crediton Police had informed him that for the past week DOWN had been sleeping out and drinking. Since he had been out of work, a brother had been making him an allowance. - Mr V. Starr, House surgeon, said deceased died in Hospital the morning after admission. A post-mortem revealed gummin in the brain which would have affected him mentally and had caused death. The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

EXETER - Gallantry And Cowardice. - At the Inquest on EDITH MARY CARNALL, 11, daughter of HENRY CARNALL, dairyman, Cowley-road, the father said she attended Exwick School and did not, as a rule, come home to dinner owing to the distance. - Mr A. H. Rousham, schoolmaster, said the girl left the school with others about 12.30 to go for a walk, which they knew was forbidden. A north-west wind was blowing and her hat was blown into the mill-leat. Deceased, according to one of her companions, took off her boots, stockings and underclothing and waded into the water of the leat. The hat was carried down stream. She waded to the other side and ran down to the spot where the mill leat and the river join. There she endeavoured to get her hat, but it was just beyond her reach. She rushed two or three paces into the water, but the river was in flood and she could not get back. The girl on the bank, aged nine, ran to a man who was walking through Exwick Fields and told him a child was drowning. He, however, took no notice, and continued his walk towards Exwick. Other girls ran after the man and told him what had happened. Still he took no notice. The girl was washed away by the strong current under the G.W.R. bridge, and was ultimately taken out by a fireman near the Head Weir bathing-place. The children told him they could identify the man who did not respond to their request for help. He was well-dressed, wearing cuffs, carrying a walking-stick, and apparently about 40 years of age. When the man was first called he was not more than 30 yards away from the drowning child, and could have seen her from where he was walking. - William T. Matthews, G.W.R. fireman, said, attracted by the shouts, he ran to the railway bridge, taking off his clothes as he ran. He saw the girl 20 yards out in the river and swam out and brought her ashore. Several St. John Ambulance men took the child from him at the bank and tried to restore respiration, but failed. - Dr Black said he could detect no sign of life when he arrived. - The Coroner (Mr W. L. Brown) commended the courageous conduct of the fireman, and condemned as contemptible and cowardly the conduct of the man who walked on in a cold-blooded way when he was told a child was drowning. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death by Drowning," sympathized with the parents and recommended the fireman for the recognition of the Royal Humane Society. - Mr Rousham said during the past 20 years three or four lives had been lost in the mill-leat. He suggested that a lifebuoy and life-saving apparatus should be placed near the spot. The Coroner promised to communicate the suggestion to the local authority.

Western Morning News, Friday 2 September 1910
PLYMOUTH - At the Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on FRANK LINES, the aged carpenter found dead in his room at 1 Salem-street, on Tuesday, Dr Whitmore said death was due to tuberculosis. The body was in a very neglected state.

Western Morning News, Saturday 3 September 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Burning Fatality. - At the S.D. and E.C. Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday, Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest on HARRY GEORGE THOMAS STEVENS, aged two years. - FLORENCE STEVENS, the wife of a labourer, living at The Cottage, Queen Anne Battery, Cattedown, said about seven o'clock on Thursday morning she left her three children in their bedroom while she went out to draw water. Hearing the eldest boy scream, she went to the room and found the baby in flames. He had on a flannelette nightgown. She threw a blanket round the child and brought it to the Hospital. There was no fire in the room, but there was a box of matches, one of which he must have struck. The elder children were not in the room at the time and could throw no light on the occurrence. - Dr W. E. Roberts, House Surgeon, said the child was suffering from burns practically all over the front part of the body. It was a hopeless case, and the child died at 11.30. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - At the Inquest last evening on WILLIAM PETHERBRIDGE, aged 73, pensioner, R.M.L.I., who died suddenly at his home in Onslow-road, Devonport, on Thursday, Dr C. H. Hepperstall said a post-mortem examination showed that death was due to inflammation of the pancreas.

Western Morning News, Monday 5 September 1910
OKEHAMPTON - MRS HUBBER, who at Okehampton set her nightdress on fire, died on Friday, and the Coroner's Jury has returned a verdict of "Suicide while of Unsound Mind."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 6 September 1910
HOLBETON - Two Men Drowned At Pamflete Beach. Butler's Gallantry. - The Coroner (Mr R. R. Rodd) held an Inquiry yesterday relative to the drowning on Saturday of WILLIAM JOHN HORN, aged about 23, butler, and FRANK THOMAS, nearly 17 years of age, footman, in the employ of Mr George Bulteel, of Ascot, who was on a visit to his mother at Pamflete. The Inquest was held in the library at Pamflete House. The bodies when recovered from the river Erme were deposited in a tea house, close to where the accident happened and the Coroner and Jury went down to view the place. The tide was then out but it was apparent that with a flowing tide the current would run with great strength where the channel makes a sharp turn from a wall which was built as part of a salmon trap, and a tea house. Just at this point the current makes quite a whirlpool, and it was here that the unfortunate men, who were strangers to the place, chose to bathe. - Notices Promised. - Major Charles Russell Staveley, residing at Pamflete, said he had known HORN about three years. When he with THOMAS went to bathe on Saturday the spring tide was running up very strong, and they went in just where there is an eddy or whirlpool caused by an old wall of a salmon pool. It was very dangerous there and as they could not swim it was suicidal. Directly they got in they were as good as drowned. The elder man could not swim at all; the young man had learnt a few strokes while he had been there. THOMAS had bathed in the same place at low tide, but had probably never seen a spring tide there before. Something should be done to warn people bathing thee; and they had decided to put up notices that the place was dangerous. Whether people would take any notice of them was another thing. Mr Mildmay did not wish to stop people going there. - RICHARD EVAN THOMAS, retired Metropolitan Policeman, of Ethelred Gardens, Wickford, said FRANK EVAN THOMAS was his son. He was 16 last birthday. - Jane Davies, maid to Mrs Bulteel, at Pamflete, said she was sitting under the wall on the beach on Saturday, about 4 o'clock and saw HORN and THOMAS being carried up the stream. They called out "Help," and she went to the coastguard for assistance. Mr Bethell also came. They were both in distress, a little way from each other. She saw them go under. - Wilmot John Bethell, butler at Pamflete, said he knew HORN and THOMAS were going to bathe, and told them not to go into the water until he came down, as he knew they could not swim. When he did get there he found Miss Davies calling him. He rushed down to the beach, but could only see splashes of the two men. He saw neither of them on the surface. He went into the water and the current took him under. He had his bathing dress on, so he only had to take off his coat and trousers before going into the water. He dived, but could not find either of the men. - Richard John Smart, station officer of the coastguard at Mothecombe, said he recovered HORN'S body on Saturday bout 5.45, 600 yards above where deceased were first seen. With a three-quarter spring flood, as it then was, few men would be able to stand against the stream there. - Augustus Garlen Miller, labourer, and fisherman of Mothecombe, deposed to finding the body of THOMAS about 6.30 a.m. on Sunday, about three-quarters of a mile up the river. It was at the bottom of the water. - Coroner's Remarks. - The Coroner thought the Jury would agree that this was another case which should be a serious warning to the public not to enter the water unless they were familiar with the place. As they had heard from Major Staveley and others, this was a most dangerous place for bathing, and these young fellows had apparently no knowledge of it, although cautioned by Mr Bethell not to go in until he came down. They foolishly went in and he (the Coroner) supposed the Jury would agree they were accidentally drowned. Major Staveley had kindly assisted them in regard to the question of the propriety of notices being fixed there and he thought what Major Staveley had said would satisfy them. Notices would be placed at the spot informing the public that bathing there was dangerous and prohibited. He (the Coroner) was sure they would all wish to express their deep sympathy with the parents and family of the two young men, and also their regret that the family at Pamflete had had the misfortune to lose two servants under such distressing circumstances. - Mr Bethell's Heroic Efforts. - MR THOMAS said he should like to thank the Coroner for his remarks and the Jury for their sympathy in this tragic affair. He wished also to thank those who had assisted in the recovery of the bodies. Great pluck was shown by Mr Bethell in his gallant attempt at rescue, and he thought his conduct ought to be brought to the notice of the Royal Humane Society. (Hear, hear.) - Mr Rabbich, the Foreman, said the Jury quite endorsed what MR THOMAS had said with regard to Mr Bethell. Great praise was due to Mr Bathell for the courage and pluck with which he went into the stream in the dangerous state in which it was then. - The Coroner: How near did you get to the drowning men? - Mr Bethell: Within four or five yards, I think. - Mr Bickford (one of the Jury) said Mr Bethell would have gone after the men a second time, but he persuaded him not to do so, as he was already exhausted. The Coroner said he should be pleased to forward the recommendation to the Royal Humane Society. It was no doubt a very gallant attempt to save life. - The Jury agreed to a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned."

SHALDON - At the Inquest at Shaldon yesterday on ex-Coastguard Officer CRICKET, aged 56, Dr Bell said in his opinion death was due to syncope. The Foreman (Mr F. Tollett) on behalf of the Jury, expressed condolence with the family and the Coroner concurred.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 7 September 1910
ROBOROUGH - Homeless Man's Suicide. Ruin Attributed To Drink. - Mr R. R. Rodd (County Coroner) held an Inquest at Roborough Police Station yesterday on JOHN CHARLES COOK, labourer, whose body was found in the River Tavy near Maristow on Saturday. - WILLIAM HENRY COOK, labourer, Milton Coombe, said his brother, 48 years of age, had had no fixed abode for some years. He was in the habit of tramping about for work. Occasionally deceased visited Milton Coombe, where witness and his mother resided. On Friday night he slept at witness's house. He was rather the worse for liquor, and said nothing about remaining at the house on Saturday. - The Coroner: Was he addicted to drink? - Witness: Yes. In answer to further questions, witness said his brother appeared to be depressed about his position in life. He did not notice anything strange about him. When in liquor, however, he was very quarrelsome. At one time his brother was in permanent employment with the Plymouth Corporation, and later with the Devonport Corporation. - The Coroner: Then drink has been his ruin? - Yes. - Witness added that his brother left Milton Coombe just before 7 a.m. on Saturday. - Mrs Susan Hodges, wife of a Bath joiner, staying with a Mrs Spear at Lopwell, stated that on Saturday morning she was down by the river wall and noticed a man walking on the bank. He then went down to the water's edge twice and each time came back and leant up against the wall. A moment or so later he took off his coat, hat and belt and walked into the water. She expected to see him cross the river, but when she saw him immersed up to his shoulders she ran for help. A number of men soon came and, taking a boat, searched the river, but could see no signs of the man. - P.C. Clinnick deposed that he obtained a boat, and, with assistance, dragged the river. The body was recovered from about 10 or 12 feet of water. At Roborough it was found that deceased had only 2 ½d. in his possession. Witness had known the man for 14 years. He had been addicted to drink for some time. - The Coroner said they must be convinced by the evidence that it was a case of deliberate suicide. If there was no doubt in their minds that the man's action was deliberate, it would be for them to consider the state of his mind. He appeared to be a victim of drink. - The Jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of "Suicide while Temporarily Insane."

PAIGNTON - The Inquest on WILLIAM JAMES MONGER, a seaman drowned from H.M.S. Leviathan on July 26th, in Torbay, which was opened at Paignton on August 16th, was adjourned until yesterday for witnesses from the ship to give evidence; but it was stated that the ship would not arrive in Torbay until Saturday, and the Inquiry was therefore further adjourned until Tuesday at three o'clock.

Western Morning News, Friday 9 September 1910
TEIGNMOUTH - Drugs For Headache. Teignmouth Visitor's Sudden Death. - At Teignmouth last evening, Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest on MRS MARY LEAR, Orchard-street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, who died yesterday morning whilst on a visit with her husband at Teignmouth. - EDWIN CHARLES LEAR, clothier's manager, stated that his wife was 43 years of age. They had no family. On Monday they came to Teignmouth for a fortnight's holiday, taking rooms in Fore-street. His wife enjoyed fairly good health, but on Tuesday and Wednesday complained of palpitation of the heart. They had spent a good deal of their holiday in walking and on Wednesday walked to Dawlish, coming home by train. They afterwards went on the Front. The next morning his wife appeared in her usual health and laughed and joked. Suddenly she said "Oh! I do feel so bad," and began to make a gurgling noise. Witness went to her assistance and gave his wife brandy and sent for a doctor, but she died almost instantly. His wife took a headache powder early on Wednesday. - Dr F. W. M. Palmer said that on going to the house shortly before eight o'clock he found MR LEAR trying to restore his wife to consciousness, but she was dead. He found that the heart was contracted and unusually small, but there were no signs of disease. Death was due to heart failure. - Replying to the Coroner, witness said the husband had handed him one of the powders which his wife was in the habit of taking for headaches. It was a powder, containing acetanilide, a drug which depressed the heart. These powders were sold without any restriction. Answering the Foreman of the Jury as to whether the powders, if taken freely, would be likely to cause depression of the heart, witness said, "Most certainly; it is about the most dangerous drug that is given for headaches." - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Heart Failure," and expressed sympathy with the husband.

Western Morning News, Saturday 10 September 1910
IPPLEPEN - Ipplepen Tragedy. Cook's Farewell Message. - In Great Ambrook House, Ipplepen, yesterday, an Inquest was held on EMMA CHALK, unmarried, aged 48, a cook in the service of Mr Arthur Smith Graham. - Ada Draper, of Portsmouth, a relative, said CHALK was her husband's aunt. She last saw her in February, when she visited Portsmouth, where her parents lived. She was not in very good health and often suffered from fits of depression. Sometimes she would be quiet and gloomy; at other times she would be quite bright. She never heard her threaten to take her life. - The Coroner (Mr S. Hacker): You seem to hesitate. - Well, one day, years ago, she said perhaps the pond would end it all. It was five or six years ago she said that. - What made her say it? - She was feeling miserable, she said. Witness, continuing, said CHALK lived at Portsmouth with her before coming to Devon, about eight or nine years ago and she had seen her occasionally since. She believed CHALK was very happy and comfortable in her situation. On Wednesday she received a postcard from deceased with the words "I am leaving here on the 8th and going to Plymouth for a few days." She had friends at Plymouth. - Is it since she lived here that she made use of those words about the pond? - Yes. - One would think anyone using an expression like that would have something weighing on her mind. - No, I think it was only the miserable depression she suffered from. - CHARLES JOHN CHALK, Portsmouth, said he saw CHALK there early in the summer and she was then in fairly good health, but he had heard her say she felt despondent and downhearted. He thought she worried about her mother, who was ill. - Fellow Servant's Evidence. - Annie Larkin, parlourmaid at Great Ambrook, said CHALK had not been feeling well lately. - The Coroner: What was she leaving for? - Because she and I did not get on very well together, I believe, was one reason. She did not give me any reason to believe she was grieving about leaving her situation, although she said she was sorry to go. She was peculiar at times and would talk to herself. - Did you have quarrels? - Some time ago, but not lately. I found she became excited, so I let her alone. I believe she fully intended to go away, because she had made all arrangements and ordered cream to take to her friends at Plymouth, as well as a conveyance for the Station. - A Letter. - P.C. Rockhey produced a letter which he found in CHALK'S bedroom:- "Goodbye. I have been a very wicked woman, and I feel out of my mind. Don't blame anyone else for this. Don't blame Larkin. She is not to blame for this, as I have felt all wrong for a very long time. Take care of my mother. Goodbye, and may God forgive me my many sins. - EMMA." - Annie Larkin said she did not see CHALK on Thursday morning, but heard her come down and take in the milk and go upstairs again. Later, as CHALK did not come down to make the fire, she went to her bedroom, but could not find her. Then she went to see if she had gone across to the home farm, and found her body lying at the top of the cellar steps, beneath a window 30ft. above. There was a short piece of rope lightly wound round the neck. - Master's Story. - Arthur Smith Graham, occupier of the house, said CHALK had been in his employ as cook between eight and nine years. She was a very good servant in every way. He knew she and Larkin did not get on well together. CHALK had not been well for the last month or so, and twice lately she told him she felt depressed. A short time ago she came to him and seemed to want to tell him something, but could not express it. She said her head troubled her. When she gave him notice she said it was on account of her health she was leaving. - The Coroner suggested that the deceased might have tried to hang herself, but Mr Graham said there was nothing to which the rope could have been attached. - Miss Bowden, if Ipplepen, said CHALK told her she did not want to live and that Miss Larkin was very unkind to her. - Dr Norman said the woman's neck was broken and the skull badly fractured. A small red mark on the neck might have been caused by the rope. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity," and expressed condolence with the relatives and Mr Graham. - The Coroner associated himself with this expression.

Western Morning News, Monday 12 September 1910
HARBERTON - Boy's Fatal Fall From A Horse. - An Inquest on ERIC PHILLIP TOPE, aged 11, who was thrown from a horse and killed at East Leigh, was held at Harberton on Saturday by Mr S. Hacker. - HARRY TOPE, farmer, said deceased could handle a horse as well as he could. - Eric Soper, 9, said he went with the deceased on Thursday afternoon to catch a horse in another field. They both rode the animal, TOPE in front and witness behind. The horse began to trot and they fell off. Witness fell on TOPE, who said he had hurt his head and began crying. - James Chapple, smith, said he saw the lads up the road, TOPE being stretched out in the water table. He took the lad to his home. - Dr W. R. Edmond said that deceased died from haemorrhage on the brain, due to a fracture of the base of the skull. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and expressed their sympathy with the family.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 13 September 1910
PLYMOUTH - At Plymouth mortuary yesterday Mr R. B. Johns held two Inquests. The first related to SAMUEL GOULD, labourer, Belmont-street, who died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, after having refused dinner, and Dr Torney, who made a post-mortem examination, found that the cause was syncope, following gastritis, due to chronic alcoholism. Practically every organ in the body was diseased. It was stated incidentally that the deceased only came out of prison on Saturday morning. - A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned. Regarding the death of JESSIE POOK aged 59, of Regent-street, who died suddenly on Sunday morning, a similar verdict was returned. Dr C. J. Cooke said death was due to syncope.

STOKE DAMEREL - St Budeaux Man's Death. Neighbour Exonerated From Blame. - Mr A. Gard held an Inquest at the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, on JOHN ROWLINGS, aged 73, of Higher West Park-terrace, St Budeaux. - John Gilder, Higher West Park-terrace, said deceased, a naval pensioner, was a widower with one son. On August 2nd witness was talking to deceased, who said he had been annoyed by a neighbour and could not stand it any longer. A few minutes later his wife called him and said the deceased had been knocked down and his leg had been broken. On going out he found two men carrying ROWLINGS to his house. Deceased said to witness, "That fellow knocked me down and offered to pick me up again, but I would not let him." On Dr Olver's advice deceased was removed to the Royal Albert Hospital. Witness knew deceased meant Mr Stubbings when he referred to "that fellow." - Sidney George Nichols, Horsham-cottages, Honicknowle, stated that he was returning from delivering milk about 10 o'clock on August 2nd, when he saw deceased and Stubbings meet and speak. The latter went on, but deceased continued to speak. Stubbings went back and put his hand on deceased's shoulder in a friendly way. ROWLINGS then adopted a fighting attitude, jumped as though to hit Stubbings, and fell. He refused help when Stubbings offered him assistance. - Richard Samuel Stubbings, Higher West Park-terrace, a shipwright pensioner, said he had known deceased as a neighbour for four years and at times there had been differences of opinion between them. He left his house shortly after 10 o'clock on August 2nd, and when he got outside his door deceased was coming up the road. As they got abreast of each other ROWLINGS made a nasty remark. Witness went on, but on deceased calling after him he went back, and told him to go indoors. Without provocation, deceased assumed a fighting attitude and fell. His offer to help ROWLINGS up was refused. - In reply to the Deputy Coroner, witness said he made no attempt to strike deceased, and had never threatened him. - P.S. Wallace stated that deceased had told him he did not know whether Stubbings pushed him down or tripped him. Later he said he could not tell if Stubbings touched him before he fell. - Dr E. N. Ryan said deceased when admitted to the Hospital was suffering from a fracture of the thigh and an accident of that kind was generally fatal to a man of his age. He died on September 8th from congestion of the lungs and heart failure, due to the accident. - The Deputy Coroner congratulated the witnesses on the clear way in which they had given evidence in that delicate and difficult case. - A verdict of "Death through Misadventure" was returned. - Stubbings thanked the Jury and said he would not like anyone to think he was to blame for the accident. - The Coroner: The verdict exonerates you from all blame.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 14 September 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Ran In Front Of A Motor. Devonport Child's Death. - Mr A. Gard (Deputy Coroner) held an Inquiry at the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, into the death of HORACE JAMES NORMAN, aged four, of Second-street, Camel's Head, who was knocked down by a motor car the previous day. - MARY MARTHA NEWTON, Auckland-road, Ford, the grandmother of the child, said his father, an engine-room artificer on H.M.S. Calypso, was away in Newfoundland. Deceased was a very spirited boy and always wanted to be out of doors, though he had often been warned about the motors and trams. - Horace Hutchings, Melville-road, said deceased was playing behind a tramcar at the top of St Levan-road, when another boy pushed him off the step. Deceased ran towards the pavement, when a motor, which was coming up the road, knocked him down. The conductor and driver of the tram were inside having their dinner. - William Henry Mittens, age 11, of Melville-road, said deceased climbed on the back of the tram and another boy told him to get off. He got off and was running across to the pavement when the motor car knocked him down. Deceased appeared to have heard the motor horn, for he hesitated and looked up the road and then ran on. - Lieut. R. V. Eyre, H.M.S. Orwell, said he was driving his motor car up St Levan-road at about 15 miles an hour, until he approached a tramcar, which was standing at the terminus. Witness eased down and passed on the right side. when the bonnet of the motor was near the end of the tram, deceased attempted to run across to the right-hand pavement. The left mudguard of witness's car struck the boy on the head, before it could be pulled up. Witness immediately drove the lad to Hospital. He had been sounding his motor horn all the way up the street. - Sidney Hubbard, Plymouth chauffeur, said he was in the motor when the accident occurred. It was impossible to miss the boy, for they were only about a yard from the end of the tram when they first saw him. Their speed was below ten miles an hour when they were passing the tram. - William Francis, driver of the tramcar, said he saw the motor coming up the road and considered it was going at about ten miles an hour. - Dr E. M. Ryan, Hospital Surgeon, said when the deceased was brought to the Hospital he had two large contusions on either side of the head. The boy was in an unconscious state and died within an hour and a half after admission to the Institution. - The Coroner said he thought it was clear beyond doubt, having regard to the traffic, that Lieut. Eyre passed the tramcar on the right side. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned and the Coroner and Jury expressed sympathy with the parents. Lieut. Eyre also expressed his keen regret at the occurrence.

PAIGNTON - Drowned Naval Seaman. Inquest At Paignton. - The Inquest, which has been twice adjourned, on the body of WILLIAM JAMES MONGER, first class boy, R.N., who was drowned in Torbay on July 26th was concluded yesterday at Paignton by Mr Hacker. - James Egan, leading seaman in the Leviathan, said deceased was one of the crew of witness's boat. On the evening of Tuesday, July 26th, the Leviathan was in Torbay. He was waiting to get the boat hoisted, when he received orders to send the crew to supper. The crew climbed up the rope to get aboard. Three boys preceded deceased safely, but he slipped and fell into the boat, striking his head against the gunwale, and then fell into the water. Witness jumped overboard, but the boy sank and he could not recover him, although he had him between his feet for half a minute. There was a good deal of blood in the water. Several others dived in, but nothing was seen of deceased. He fell 24 feet before striking the gunwale. - Arthur W Turner said he was in the bow of the boat and saw deceased go up the rope, but, missing his grip at the davits, he fell with his head against the gunwale. Deceased had been up the rope several times before. - Saml. Malcolm, a boy, gave similar evidence. - An officer of the ship said there had never been a similar accident on board. The boys were taught this exercise in the training-ship and were quite used to it. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and attached no blame to anyone. They expressed their admiration of Egan's attempt to save the deceased.

PLYMOUTH - Result Of Inquiry Into Death of MR STANCOMBE. - An adjourned Inquiry was held by Mr R. B. Johns, the Borough Coroner, at the Plymouth Mortuary yesterday, into the circumstances attending the death of GEORGE STANCOMBE, aged 41, commission agent, Carmarthen-road, who was knocked down by a motor car and received fatal injuries on August 12th. The original proceedings were adjourned owing to the absence of Sydney George Blackler, who was unable to attend then owing to injuries which he received in company with deceased. - The Inquest yesterday was attended by Mr F. W. Murray on behalf of the widow, whilst Mr H. Lawrence Spear, instructed by Messrs. Bond and Pearce, represented the Forth Motor Company, one of whose cars was concerned in the accident and Mr J. W. Bickle looked after the interests of Mr Blackler. - Dr E. G. Redgrave, House Surgeon at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted to the Hospital on August 12th suffering from compound fracture of the skull. He died on the following day. - How The Accident Happened. - Mr Blackler, having recovered from his injuries, was called. He stated that he was a Dockyard pensioner, residing at Albert-terrace, Plymouth. On August 12th he was walking down Victoria-hill towards Manadon, with deceased, who went into a telephone depot. On rejoining witness they hailed a passing motor 'bus with the intention of boarding it. Stepping off the pavement towards the motor 'bus, which was slowing up, they saw nothing approaching, but "suddenly something seemed to come from the clouds." - Witness was knocked down and immediately lost consciousness. He did not see deceased struck. In fact he did not know what had happened. - By Mr Bickle: They had only got two paces from the pavement when they were struck. When they left the pavement they could see at least forty yards up the road, and there was nothing in sight except the motor 'bus. - Inspector Osborne, R.S.P.C.A., a passenger on the motor 'bus, travelling to Crownhill, said that he saw deceased and the last witness standing on the pavement. Just then the 'bus was travelling at about 14 miles an hour, but witness believed the brakes were being applied. Witness saw the two men leave the pavement, and a moment or so later he saw a motor car draw abreast of the 'bus, and immediately there was a smash. The car was travelling at a tremendous pace and he heard no horn sounded. - By the Coroner: He calculated that the car was travelling twice as fast as the 'bus. It was travelling in the same direction. The width of the road was about 28 feet. The result of the impact was to lift the deceased on to the bonnet of the car, which went on some little distance with him in that position. After striking the deceased the car did not pull up until it had gone 35 yards. - Heard Horn Sounded. - H. Butland, G.W.R., motor 'bus conductor, said on the day in question, he was serving on car. No. 95. They passed down Vinstone-hill at the rate of 12 miles an hour. If either of the two men hailed the 'bus he did not observe it. The car approached at a speed of 14 or 15 miles an hour and witness heard a horn sounded. He did not see the car strike either of the men, but looking into the road, saw Mr Blackler in the gutter, with the deceased a little further on. The car was about 20 yards behind when he heard the horn. The road was not slippery. - Stafford Burgess, the driver of the motor 'bus, said he did not see either Mr Blackler or deceased signal. He heard a noise and saw the car slowly pass with deceased on the bonnet. The 'bus was not travelling twelve miles an hour. They ran down the hill with the clutch out, but at the time of the accident it had been put back again. The rate at which the car was travelling was about fourteen miles an hour. As soon as witness saw that something had happened he applied the brakes of the 'bus. At that spot the 'bus was slowing up in order that they might get the clutch in. - By Mr Bickle: It was the case that in a report which he prepared for his company immediately after the accident, he stated that the car was travelling at a speed of about twenty miles an hour, but on reflection he had changed that opinion. - Miss Lee, a passenger on the 'bus deposed to seeing deceased and Mr Bickle on the pavement signalling to the 'bus. She thought that the 'bus was slowing up, and she saw the two men step off the pavement as if to board. The next she saw was a motor car with deceased caught on the front of it. She could not say anything as to the speed of the vehicles, except that the car was travelling twice as fast as the 'bus. - Pte. Couch. R.M.L.I., another passenger, said the 'bus was travelling at twelve miles an hour. In his opinion there was no possible opportunity for deceased or Mr Blackler to see the car approaching. - Chauffeur's Story. - Wm. fisher, aged 18, driver of the motor car, stated that the car was a 10-12 horse power one. six months ago he paid a premium to learn driving. Previously he had acted as an assistant chauffeur. He took out a licence and at the expiration of three months he applied for a permanent appointment. This he was unable to obtain, but he was allowed to remain around the garage without any remuneration, driving occasionally for Mr Williams and the Forth Motor Company. On the afternoon of August 12th he set out to drive three people to Horrabridge. The car had two powerful brakes, foot and side. He occupied 20 minutes driving from Treville-street to Websters Nurseries; the car would not travel faster. Going down Vinstone-hill he saw the motor 'bus ahead. As he got close to it he saw deceased and Mr Blacker on the pavement and when the car got to within five yards of them they stepped into the road. Half-way down the hill he started to blow the horn, and continued until he got within 9 feet of the 'bus. He did not see either of the men hail the 'bus. The car was travelling at a speed of twelve miles an hour. Mr Blackler was struck first and then deceased who was hit on the legs and fell on to the bonnet of the car. He went on about 12 yards before stopping. - Cross-examined by Mr Bickle, witness reiterated that he sounded the horn to within nine yards. - Mr Bickle; And yet those two men were foolish enough to step out to certain death? - Yes, I cannot explain their action. - Fatal Step Into The Road. - Robert S. Harris, an occupant of the car, said he several times complained of the slowness of the car, the engine of which was misfiring. The horn was continually sounded going down Vinstone-hill. The two men came into the road when the car was almost abreast of them. After they were struck the car went on about 30 feet. Deceased told him he had no intention of entering the 'bus. He was conscious all the way to the Hospital and spoke blame of no one. - Richard Harris Hitchings, another occupant of the car, endorsed the statement that the horn was repeatedly sounded and said the car was not travelling more than ten miles an hour. Deceased and Mr Blackler stepped into the road, without giving any notice of their intention, when the car was four or five yards away. After the men were struck the car travelled about 40 feet before it was pulled up. He considered the car was under control. He did not think there was any possible chance of avoiding the accident. - Alexander Gardner, another occupant of the car, was unable to give its speed, but said it was not much faster than the motor 'bus. The car was pulled up within five yards of the 'bus after the collision. - Inspector Osborne, recalled, denied that any conversation took place between deceased and previous witnesses as to whether or not the former intended boarding the motor 'bus. - The Coroner directed the Jury to decide the question whether or not the motor driver had driven in a manner which was dangerous, having regard to the condition of the road and the other circumstances. - The Jury, after a very brief consideration, returned a verdict of "Misadventure," the Foreman saying they exonerated the driver of the car from all blame.

Western Morning News, Monday 19 September 1910
TORQUAY - Torquay Tragedy. Sad Story Of Young Wife's Depression. Pathetic Letter. - At Torquay on Saturday Mr R. de V. Whiteway-Wilkinson, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest on JESSIE EVELYN PHILLIPS, aged 24, who died as the result of injuries sustained by a fall over the cliff in Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds, near Torre Railway Station, on the previous day. Mr P. H. W. Almy, assistant town clerk, watched the proceedings on behalf of the Corporation, Chapel Hill grounds being their property. - GEORGE PHILLIPS, auctioneer, Shirburn-terrace, Upton, gave evidence of identification and stated that he last saw his wife alive on Friday morning. She was then very cheerful. They had breakfast together, and he left her at 8.45. - They had been married three years and a half. During that time he had never noticed any peculiarity about his wife, except that she was depressed occasionally. She used to imagine that her health would give way, but he never suspected that anything would come of it. When she had these fits of depression he used to take her to a doctor. About 1.30 p.m. on Friday, hearing that someone had been found injured at Chapel Hill he made inquiries, and found that his wife left home at 10.30 and afterwards he went to the Torbay Hospital and saw his wife there dead. He could not give any reason why she should have been depressed; one day she would be cheerful and another day she would be depressed. - Depressed And Worried. - ETHEL NORAH HARRIS, sister of deceased, said she had been living with her and her husband on various occasions, the last time being since June of the present year. At times her sister was very cheerful and quite happy and at other times she was depressed - sometimes very depressed and at other times only slightly. She used to trouble about little things when by herself. Whilst having these fits of depression, she had never said anything about destroying herself. She had rather a horror of such a thing; she never could bear the thought of dying, she was so fond of her baby. She used to get the idea that she would die young and then she said she would be sorry to leave them. She never said anything, however, about destroying herself. Deceased and her husband got on very happily indeed. There was nothing in regard to monetary matters to trouble her, but she worried about housekeeping and witness used to talk her out of it. This had been going on ever since her marriage. At one time she seemed very much better and to get quite out of her depressed state. This was in the early part of the present year and it was then that witness left for a time, thinking that deceased would be all right by herself. - The Coroner asked if it was because deceased suffered from the fits of depression that witness went to live with her. - Witness replied that she went back to the house in June because her sister wished to have her companionship. Being the only two sisters, they were very fond of each other and deceased always wished her to be with her. Before she was married she said she would always be glad to have witness with her and she went there because her sister used to have these fits of depression. On Friday morning deceased left the house about 10.30 saying she was going to get something at a Hotel at St Marychurch for witness's cold. Witness was greatly surprised at her not returning, as she expected her every few minutes. At first witness thought that deceased had probably called at the house of a neighbour and that this might have detained her, and she did not then feel seriously alarmed. Afterwards, as the time went on, witness thought deceased might have met with an accident and she asked one of the neighbours to go and look for her and make inquiries. She thought perhaps deceased had gone to a house where her husband had conducted a sale, but found she had not been there. She also found that deceased had not been at the hotel at St Marychurch. Witness then went to see if she was on Babbacombe Downs and afterwards she met MR PHILLIPS, who was in a carriage. She joined him, and they went to the Hospital and there saw deceased. - Gardener's Evidence. - John Evans, Belmont-road, Ellacombe, Corporation gardener, at Chapel Hill grounds, stated that on Friday morning about eleven o'clock, he saw MRS PHILLIPS enter the grounds from Barton-road. He was just inside the gate cleaning up when she came. He wished her "Good morning," and she replied "Good morning." He saw that she had no hat on and also that a medicine bottle was protruding from her left-hand pocket. Deceased walked slowly round to the top of the hill. Ten minutes later witness went round to the top of the hill again and also looked into the chapel, but he saw no one there. He then went down about his business and saw no one passing. When he got to the bottom he went into his tool hut and a gentleman told him that a lady had fallen over the cliff and was lying at the foot of it. Witness went to the spot and saw that it was the same lady whom he had seen come in at the top. She was lying on her back unconscious and her mouth and nose were injured. She could not stand. He fetched water, but she could not drink it. He got help and the ambulance from Torre Railway Station, and in this she was carried from the grounds, after which she was removed in a cab to Torbay Hospital. There witness met Dr Moore, the House Surgeon, to whose care he handed her over. - By the Coroner: As hundreds of persons walked about on the top of Chapel Hill without a hat, he did not think there was anything peculiar about the lady, but seeing the medicine bottle protruding from her pocket made him regard the sight as rather unusual, and that was why he walked to the top of the hill again. Only twenty minutes elapsed from the time deceased came in, to when he saw her at the bottom of the cliff. Some way down there was a ledge and he fancied she jumped clear of this ledge. - Replying to Police-Inspector Pratt, witness added that he heard no screams and saw no one else about. There was a quantity of ivy some three feet from the top and there were indications of this ivy having been disturbed as if someone had been over it. - Doctor's Statements. - Lilian Constance Hatch, nurse at Torbay Hospital, said she saw MRS PHILLIPS when she was brought there about 11.40. She was then dead. The House Surgeon was informed and he had deceased taken into the surgery. Witness saw a written note taken from deceased's pocket and also a sovereign. - Dr S. P. Moore, House-Surgeon at the Hospital, stated that he examined deceased upon her arrival and found that life was extinct. - Dr Thomas Horton stated that he had occasionally attended deceased. She came to him complaining of depression and feeling out of health generally. The last time he saw her was on the previous Saturday. He prescribed for her. During her visits to him he never had any idea that she might do anything to herself, but persons subject to fits of depression might at any time take it into their head to destroy themselves, even if they were cheerful beforehand. He had made a post-mortem examination of deceased. In his opinion death was due to internal haemorrhage, the result of the fracture of the pelvis. - In reply to the Foreman, Dr Horton said there was nothing physically wrong about deceased to cause the depression. - The medicine bottle was produced and MR PHILLIPS recognized the medicine as the same as that which deceased had been taking. - Farewell Message - The Coroner read the contents of the note, written in blacklead pencil, which was found in one of the pockets of deceased's dress. The wording was as follows:- "My dearest husband, sister and child. - Forgive me if you can. We were all so happy until the awfulness got the better of me. It has spoilt my life for the past three months. It is no one's fault, but just my own wretched nature which I cannot master. Let mother and Eth have my baby and forgive me George and you Eth, for what I have brought upon you. I shall be punished, as I deserve. Your unhappy wife, Good-bye and God bless and prosper you." - MR PHILLIPS identified the handwriting on the note as that of his wife's. It was written on both sides of a sheet of a small account-book such as she had used. He thought the note was written some time during the morning, but he could not say when. - Alleged Delay At The Hospital. - MR PHILLIPS subsequently asked a question suggesting that he had an impression there was some unnecessary delay between the time of the arrival of deceased at the Hospital and her examination by the House Surgeon. - William Brooking, a man sitting at the back of the room, interposed with the statement that he helped to remove deceased, and that when the House Surgeon gave directions for her removal to the Mortuary, her eyes were not closed. - Dr Moore said it frequently happened that a person's eyes were not closed when he or she was dead. - The Coroner remarked that he did not want to hear any quibble outside the pale of his jurisdiction. This was to find the cause of death. If there was anything else, there was another Court, in which it could be dealt with. If it was a matter involving censure, those who wished to give it could come forward and give evidence. - A Juryman said he thought the difficulty was that those concerned were kept outside a long time. - Dr Moore stated that when the cab arrived he was in the operating theatre and on being told of its arrival by the nurse he came in his operating clothes, and was not more than five seconds in coming out to the cab. He came out the moment he was told and then he found that deceased had ceased breathing, and that her pulse had stopped beating. - The Foreman asked the witness Evins how long the cab was outside the Hospital door before the House Surgeon came. - Evins replied that the cab was outside the door five minutes, but the doctor was not five minutes in coming. - The Foreman: There was no blame attached to the Doctor, I suppose? - No. - The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out that the evidence showed that deceased was subject to fits of depression, and he especially called attention to the statement of Dr Horton that any persons suffering in this way even when they had been cheerful before, were liable to destroy themselves. The Jury had to consider whether deceased accidentally fell over the cliff and thus lost her life or whether she killed herself by throwing herself over. He suggested, bearing in mind deceased's letter and all the other circumstances, that it was not an accidental occurrence, but that deceased destroyed herself, being at the time of unsound mind. - B. Knight, chemist, who had been sent for, and who dispensed Dr Horton's prescription for deceased, said the medicine contained no poison. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity." They expressed their deep sympathy with MR PHILLIPS and the other members of the family in their sad bereavement, the Coroner associating himself with this expression.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 20 September 1910
PLYMOUTH - Hawker's Death After Eating Fish. - Mr R. B. Johns (Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the Prince Rock Police Station, Plymouth, yesterday afternoon, on SYDNEY GEORGE WILKINSON, hawker, aged 30, of Cotehele-avenue. - FANNY WILKINSON said that on Friday evening her son ate some mackerel. Shortly afterwards he complained of feeling unwell and went to bed. The next morning he appeared to be in great pain and though she went for Dr Stubbs, he died half an hour after the doctor's arrival. The fish her son ate was bought from a hawker. - Dr Travers Stubbs said he found the deceased vomiting and in a semi-comatose condition. He died before medicine could be given him. Death was due to ptomaine poisoning, through eating stale fish and accelerated by alcoholism. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held at the Prince Rock Schools on WILLIAM HENRY LALEY, aged 47, gardener, of Grenville-road. Mrs Easterbrook, step-daughter of the deceased, said he had suffered for some years and some four months ago was discharged from Brompton Hospital, where he had received treatment for an abscess in the throat. On Sunday morning, at 11.30, her father called to her and she found him foaming at the mouth. A doctor was summoned but death occurred half an hour later. Since he left the Hospital, her father had not seen a doctor until Sunday. - Dr F. McCarthy said death was due to excessive haemorrhage of the lungs caused by pulmonary disease. Deceased's condition might have been improved had medical aid been summoned before. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Gunner's Suicide. Depressed Through Indigestion. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on GUNNER JOSEPH HENRY ORCHARD, no, 45 Co., R.G.A., stationed at the Citadel, Plymouth, who cut his throat with a razor during Friday night. - Corpl. Thomas Palmer stated that about 4.45 on Saturday morning he was awakened by a gunner, who said he thought there was something wrong with deceased. He lighted a candle, and then found that ORCHARD was sitting up in bed with his throat cut. He had been very depressed lately and had complained of pains in the stomach. Witness searched his possessions, but found nothing that might have led him to take his life. - Capt. E. M. Glanville, R.A.M.C., said deceased received medical attendance on Friday morning, when he was found to be suffering from indigestion. He was told to attend the inspection three times a day for treatment. His malady would tend to depress him. When witness saw deceased on Saturday morning there was a wound in his neck six or eight inches long and two-and-a-half inches deep. The windpipe and several blood-vessels were severed. - Lieut. R. I. H. Kinloch, in charge of deceased's company, said he knew no reason why ORCHARD should have taken his life. "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was the verdict.

AXMINSTER - Axminster Landslide. Inquest On The Two Little Victims. Workman's Plucky Act. - Dr E. R. Tweed (Coroner) held an Inquest at Axminster yesterday on the bodies of FLORENCE MARY and GRACE MOULDING, aged eight and three years respectively, the victims of the quarry accident on Saturday. Superintendent de Schmid watched the proceedings on behalf of the Police. - WILLIAM MOULDING, labourer, the father, said the quarry where the accident happened was known as The Latches, situated on the Chard road, and owned by Major Knight and worked by Mr S. J. Trivett. Wm. Taylor, an aged workman at the pit, used to lodge at witness's house and was very fond of the children, who also were fond of him. Witness was at work in the Musbury road when his brother came and told him that his children were buried in the gravel pit. He went to the pit and found that the children had been taken out and their bodies placed upon a stretcher. Taylor said he wished it was he who was dead instead of the children. Witness had examined the pit and considered that the gravel had been undermined too much. Several others had expressed the same opinion. He had known the pit all his life and so far as he knew, no accident had occurred there before. Neither child was insured. - By Superintendent de Schmid: The pit was not a suitable place for the children to play in. They went there because they had heard Taylor was there. - Children Ordered Away. - Wm. James Welsh, labourer, Musbury, employed in the gravel pit, said he did not think there was any danger in working the quarry. If there was he should not have worked there. He had never been cautioned about undermining the gravel. About 9.40 on Saturday witness saw the gravel give way from the top. he had never known it slip before. Frank Hellier, a fellow-workman, made a dive for the children, but they were buried, as well as Hellier. About 40 tons of debris fell. The children, just previously, were sitting down beside the old man Taylor. The children were buried to the depth of two or three feet. No blame was attached to anybody. - The Coroner: Why were the children allowed to remain there? - They were ordered out. - Why didn't they go? - I didn't know but that they were gone. - Who ordered them out? - Mr Trivett. - When? - Two or three minutes before. - Was Mr Trivett there at the time of the accident? - Yes. - Do you know why he ordered them out of the pit? - He didn't like to see them there or anybody else. - But did he say it was dangerous or anything like that? - He told them that they had no business there, and told them to clear out. - They sat down after he told them to go? - Yes. - Superintendent de Schmid: Why didn't the children obey Mr Trivett? - The old man told them to fetch his packet and sit down. Mr Trivett did not know they had not gone. - By a Juror: There was no undermining of the gravel more than to the extent of 18 inches. - Rescued From Death. - Frank Hellier, who appeared in court with his head in bandages and his face bruised, said he saw nothing unusual in the condition of the pit before the slip occurred. Mr Trivett said, "You two little girls must clear out of the it." Mr Trivett had instructed the workmen not to leave any part of the pit in a dangerous condition. Witness was buried right under the debris which fell and was unconscious when rescued. He could have cleared himself had he not tried to save the eldest girl. He was knocked down just as he caught hold of the dress. - The Coroner: It was a very plucky thing for you to do. I wish you had succeeded. - By a Juror: The pit was undermined for about 17 yards to the depth of a foot to fifteen inches. - By the Superintendent: Taylor being partially deaf, did not hear the children ordered out by Mr Trivett. There was no notice-board warning trespassers. - William Taylor, the aged quarryman, who had to be assisted to the Coroner's table, said he was breaking stone at The Latches on Saturday morning when the slip occurred. The children came to where he was sitting and taking his jacket, sat down upon it. He did not see any more until he was buried up to his shoulders by the falling gravel. "I would sooner have been killed myself," remarked the old man, "than those poor little creatures." He saw Hellier and the two children dug out and when he saw the man breathe he said "Thank God, he han't dead." He had worked in pits all over the country since 1847. He saw no danger in this pit. He was cracking the stones about four or five yards from the slip. He did not hear the children ordered out of the pit by Mr Trivett. He did not ask the children to come to him; they came to the pit very often. If he had any victuals he would give them some, or a copper; he loved the children as well as he did his own. - Warned To Take Precautions. - S. J. Trivett, road-contractor, Axminster, said he only returned from his holiday on Saturday after a fortnight's absence. He had the right to go in the pit to take away gravel at so much per yard. Arthur Hellier had instructions to work the pit in his absence. He warned his men to take precautions against danger. When he saw the girls they were walking away from Taylor. He ordered them out of the pit. He did not see them again alive. When the slip occurred he was discussing with Arthur Hellier how hard the gravel was to get down; it was as hard as iron to pick at. He first saw Taylor partially buried, but did not think the children were there. He had no right to order anyone out of the pit, or warn the public against entering it. It was a private pit. - By Superintendent de Schmid: When witness saw the children they were twenty yards from the old man. - By the Coroner: The working part of the pit was not let to anybody. - Dr N. Vise said when he arrived at The Latches, Taylor had been extricated. He had a few bruises and scratches. Workmen were digging out the gravel to recover the others buried. Hellier was next dug out. He was somewhat dazed, and had some bruises and cuts. Witness pressed him to go to Hospital, but he preferred not to go. He was driven to witness's surgery and had a scalp wound dressed, after which he was driven home to Musbury. He would not be able to resume work for a week or two, owing to an injury to his hip. The two children were found close to the spot where Hellier was dug out. They were buried two feet below the surface and were dead when extricated. Witness tried artificial respiration on both of them for a considerable time. They were lying on the old man's coat, side by side. The cause of death in both cases was suffocation. There were practically no external marks of injury. - Arthur Hellier, the foreman, called at the desire of the Jury, said he had no reason to suppose there was any danger in the pit. There was no unusual undermining where the accident happened. After extricating Taylor, witness assisted in digging out his brother, who he heard groaning. His first words were "Keep it away from my face. I'm not hurt I should not have been here but for the dear children." - He considered the children must have been crushed to death, and he proceeded to rescue his brother first, because he knew he was alive. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" in each case, and attached no blame to anyone. They commended Frank Hellier for his attempt to save the children. - Relief Fund Opened. - A committee, consisting of the vicar, the Rev. A. Newman, and Messrs. W. H. P. Hardman, H. Dawkins and C. Forward, has been formed with the view of raising a fund to defray the funeral expenses of the two little girls, whose lives were cut off so suddenly. Yesterday the fund amounted to over £12.

STOKE DAMEREL - Steamer Trip Tragedy. No Suggestion Of Foul Play. - Mr A Gard held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on FREDERICK JOHN FISHLEY, aged 19, St Leonard's-road, Plymouth, who fell overboard from the s.s. Brunel and whose body was picked up in the Hamoaze on Sunday. - WILLIAM GEORGE FISHLEY, stoker, H.M.S. Sutlej, identified deceased, and said he last saw his brother alive on August 29th prior to his leaving to go for a trip up the river. He seemed all right and said he was going as far as Cargreen. - Jessie Florence Tapper, Jubilee-street, Plymouth, stated that she saw deceased on the steamer, and spoke to him about 9 o'clock when they were coming back. They were on the main deck at the stern. After they had sat together about half an hour, witness left the deceased with another girl and went to the opposite side. Shortly before the boat got to Devonport deceased was taken sick; and just after they left Northcorner he stood up to lean over the rail, when he over-balanced, falling into the water. - Joseph Phillips, How-street, Plymouth, with accompanied deceased on the trip, said FISHLEY was sober, and had only had a lemonade to drink. All the way back witness was sitting beside FISHLEY, who was sick. He corroborated the evidence as to deceased over-balancing just after the boat left Northcorner. He saw deceased try to catch hold of the boat, the back-wash of the paddle carrying him away. The captain of the boat was informed of what had happened, and went back to look for deceased. The water was very rough and the boat was rolling all the way. - William John Blagdon, Rose Cottage, Mount Wise, mate, s.s. Brunel, said they arrived back at Northcorner about 9.20 p.m. About five minutes after they had left that place the alarm was given that there was someone in the water. He ran to the stern and threw out a lifebuoy, but could not see anyone. The water was not rough and the boat was too stiff to lurch. It was the first time anyone had fallen overboard from the Brunel. - William Hy. Hosking, Edgcumbe-street, Stonehouse, gave evidence as to the finding of the body in the Hamoaze on Sunday afternoon and P.C. Greep stated that in the clothes 5s. 6d. in a leather purse and a box of matches were found. - Dr t. McElwaine said in his opinion death was due to drowning. - The Deputy Coroner observed that there was no doubt deceased fell overboard. There was no suggestion of foul play, or of "skylarking." - A verdict of "Accidentally Drowned" was returned, and the Coroner and Jury expressed sympathy with the relatives. Mr Snell who represented the owners of the ship, also expressed regret.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 21 September 1910
PLYMOUTH - A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned at an Inquest yesterday on the newly-born son of GEORGE PATEMAN, seaman, R.N., living in Frankfort-street. Dr H. B. Palmer said the child had had a separate existence.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Stonehouse Mother's Suicide. A Pathetic Letter. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Stonehouse Townhall yesterday on LILIAN BESSY TOMS, 28, who was found dead in bed, with gas escaping in the room. - WILLIAM GRIFFITH TOMS, compositor, East-street, said his wife had had two children and was expecting another. On Sunday afternoon witness left her at home with the children. About 3 o'clock when he came home, she said she was not feeling very well. About a quarter of an hour later he went into the bedroom and found her lying on the bed unconscious, with a gas pipe leading down from the bracket to her face. Witness called for help and sent someone for a doctor. On a chair beside the bed was a piece of paper on which was written in his wife's handwriting:- "My dearest husband and mother, - May God forgive me for the wicked deed I am going to do, but I feel I can stand it no longer. The torture of my head these last few months has been awful. My nerves are gone. I cannot face the future. When I consider all what I have to go through, I feel I cannot do it. Look after my darling children for me, and may God help to make them good. From your loving LIL." - Dr Pearse said life was extinct when he saw deceased, but as he was at the time not quite certain, he tried artificial respiration, but with no result. Death was due to suffocation by gas. - A verdict of "Suicide during Temporary Insanity" was returned, and sympathy with the relatives was expressed.

Western Morning News, Thursday 22 September 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Barman's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the Royal Albert Hospital yesterday on JAMES THOMAS GRITTON, who died at that Institution the previous day. - Mr A. H. Clemens appeared for the Phoenix Assurance Co., and Mr Elliot Square for the relatives of deceased. - HARRY GRITTON, Ashleigh-terrace, Plymouth, said he was a brother of deceased, who was 45 years of age. He had been engaged as barman at the Two Trees public-house, Devonport, for the past 5 ½ years. Witness saw his brother in the Hospital the previous Monday, but he did not say how the accident occurred. Deceased was a strong able-bodied man. - William John Glover, barman at the Two Trees, said he knew deceased well. Last Friday night deceased was walking along the bar behind the counter with two jugs in his hand, when he fell and cut his head by striking it against the jamb of the mantelpiece. He got up without any assistance, and attended a customer. It was then noticed that blood was flowing from his head and he went and bathed it. The chemist's shop being closed, he went to the Hospital and was attended to. He went to the Hospital the following morning to have the wound redressed and was detained. - Dr E. N. Ryan said he was engaged when deceased came on Friday night, but hew as seen by the head nurse and found to be suffering from a superficial wound of the skull and three stitches were inserted. Witness saw deceased the next morning and he appeared very ill and suffering from incipient delirium tremens. He was admitted to the ward and put under treatment. His condition became worse, and he died at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday. In witness's opinion death was due to exhaustion brought on by delirium tremens. He did not think a man who had been a teetotaler all his life could get delirium tremens from a blow such as deceased had received. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

Western Morning News, Friday 23 September 1910
BERE FERRERS - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Bere Alston yesterday on CHARLES HENRY VANSTONE, ex-stoker, aged 26, living in Station-road, who was found unconscious in the garden at the rear of his residence on Wednesday evening. Dr Wilkinson attributed death to haemorrhage. The deceased had suffered from consumption and was invalided out of the navy last May. "Death from Natural Causes" was the verdict.

DARTMOUTH - Cintra Tragedy. Inquest On Yachtsman At Dartmouth. - Yesterday at Dartmouth Mr A. M. Davson held an Inquest on ARCHIBALD MCARTHUR, one of the two yachtsmen who lost their lives by drowning when racing at Dartmouth regatta in August last aboard Major A. Coats' yacht Cintra. - Frederick Thomas Bell, master of the tug Venture, deposed to the body of deceased being picked up outside Dartmouth Harbour on Wednesday morning. - DANIEL MCARTHUR, captain of the Cintra, said deceased was his brother, and was 26 years of age. He was a married man. Witness identified him by tattoo marks upon one of his arms and the letters "A.MCA." in his shoes. Witness described the accident to the yacht and said that when a race was in progress the mast suddenly "burst" in the middle, and also broke off close to the deck and fell overboard. The crew were on the weather rail, and three, including his brother, were pitched overboard, only one being saved. - The Coroner commented on the sadness of the accident and said it was remarkable that so many of those "who go down to the sea in ships" were unable to swim. He expressed his deep sympathy with the relatives of the deceased. - The Jury found that the deceased was Accidentally Drowned and also expressed their sympathy with the relatives. - CAPTAIN MCARTHUR acknowledged this, and spoke very feelingly of the kindness which had been extended to him by everyone at Dartmouth.

EXETER - Topsham Burning Fatality. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned at an Exeter Inquest yesterday on DOROTHY MABEL HARRIS, 16, who succumbed as the result of severe burns received at Topsham on Tuesday morning. - The father, THOMAS HARRIS, farm labourer, said while in Hospital, his daughter told him she was putting plates in the oven of the gas stove when the gas caught her dress. - Maud Gliddon, who witnessed the occurrence, said the deceased appeared very frightened, and ran about. - Ernest Williams, barber, spoke to wrapping the deceased in a rug when she was completely in flames. - Dr Vernon Starr stated death was due to shock following the burns, which were of a severe nature.

Western Morning News, Saturday 24 September 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Pensioner's Death In Hospital. - At the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, last evening, Mr J. A. Pearce (Borough Coroner), held an Inquest on JOHN NEWCOMBE, of Cremyll-street, Stonehouse, who died on the previous day. - The widow said deceased, 60 years of age, was a pensioner from the R.M.L.I. On Thursday morning he left to go to work shortly after six o'clock and then appeared to be in his usual health. He had been out of work nearly two years, but on Monday was offered employment in the Dockyard. - P.C. Greep said he found deceased unconscious in Charlotte-street. A man informed witness that he saw deceased reel and fall. Deceased was removed in a conveyance to the Royal Albert Hospital. - Dr E. N. Ryan said deceased was unconscious when admitted and died about 2 p.m. There was a large amount of haemorrhage in the substance of the brain and to this he attributed death. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

BIDEFORD - Bideford Man's Fatal Accident. - The death took place in Bideford Hospital yesterday of WILLIAM SHUTE, for 28 years horseman in the employ of Mr J. Cock, builder. The previous day SHUTE fell down a hatchway at the store and fractured his skull. He was taken to the Hospital, but expired without regaining consciousness. He leaves a widow and grown-up family. At the Inquest deceased's employer said SHUTE was a very steady man. He could only suppose that the accident happened by deceased tripping in a rope. - Dr Valentine, who said there was no hope from the first, mentioned that deceased was blind in one eye. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 27 September 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Stoker's Death. Pathetic Case At Devonport. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the R.N. Barracks, yesterday on FRANCIS JOSEPH PRIVILEGE (30), stocker mechanic fitter, of H.M.C.S. Niobe, who died suddenly on Saturday morning. - MRS. F. E. PRIVILEGE, 71 Brazenose-road, Bootle, said the deceased was her husband, and she last saw him alive at Lime-street Station, Liverpool, last Wednesday, when he let by the 7 p.m. train. He then appeared to be in the best of health and spirits. Deceased had been home since the previous Saturday, and after breakfast on Monday he complained of a pain in his chest. Witness attributed this to indigestion and gave him a seidlitz powder. In his letters deceased had never complained of ill-health. Witness had three children living. - William Browne, ship's corporal, H.M.C.S. Niobe, at present stationed at the R.N. Barracks, said that at 6.40 a.m. on Saturday he found deceased's hammock up and deceased in it, while all the others were down. On witness calling out to him to get down, deceased half turned round in the hammock, and made a peculiar noise in his throat. Witness went to the hammock, and, thinking the man must be very bad, he called six hands to lower him and sent a messenger to the sick quarters to inform the surgeon. - John Saunders, able seaman of the Canadian Naval Service, said the deceased was in witness's mess. On Friday afternoon he met him in the Dockyard and he (deceased) said he could not do his work and was returning to barracks, because he could not move without losing his wind. Deceased also said he was afraid his shipmates might think he was loafing. Witness then said, "Go on; there is no loafing about you." Deceased said he had seen the doctor, who had told him he was suffering from dyspepsia. On Friday night deceased wrote some letters. About 8.20 p.m. he (deceased) was sweeping out the mess, and after giving a few strokes with the broom stood up. Witness asked him what was the matter, and he replied, "I cannot go on, I have lost my wind." Witness took the broom from him and swept the mess out himself, and told him to see the doctor next morning. - George H. Solomon, Sick berth attendant, said he placed deceased on a stretcher. There were no signs of respiration. - Surgeon H. A. Browning, R.N., attributed the cause of death to valvular disease of the heart, accentuated by disease of the lungs and stomach. Deceased was not examined at the barracks before being admitted to the Canadian service. He might have been examined without the disease being detected. The man's teeth were bad and he stated that he was rather in the habit of "bolting" his food. - MRS PRIVILEGE said deceased was a very quick eater. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Causes" and the Coroner and Jury expressed their deep sympathy with the widow and family.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 28 September 1910
KINGSKERSWELL - Kingskerswell Fatality. - Mr R. de V. Whiteway Wilkinson, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest at Kingskerswell on Monday on EDWIN UNDERHAY, farmer, aged 75, of Foredown Farm. On Friday he was engaged on the farm with his son SIDNEY in felling a tree, and when the tree was about to fall, the son called to him to get out of the way; but a branch of the tree struck him in the back, causing him to fall heavily backwards on his head. He was taken home by his two sons and attended by Dr Hatfield, who found bruises on the head and back and also on the right knee. On Saturday night he died. - Dr Hatfield said death was due to shock, the result of concussion of the brain. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and said that no blame could be attached to anyone.

STOKE DAMEREL - Shipwright's Suicide. Sad Domestic Case At Devonport. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest yesterday on HUGH MCGILLIVRAY WHYTE, aged 50, shipwright, of 46 Barton-avenue, who was found dead at his home on Monday night. - JESSIE WHYTE said the deceased was her husband, and she lived with him up to Saturday, 17th inst., when she ran out of the house because he abused her and threatened to murder her. This was not the first time by many that he had threatened her, but she had not left him before. They had been married 20 years. There were three children, aged respectively 19, 17 and 15 years, all girls, and they all came with her when she left her husband. Last Saturday deceased went to 25 Ryder-road, where she and the children were living, and asked if she would see him. She replied that she would if he was sober. He asked her to live with him again, but she refused, saying that she had put up with the misery for too many years. He remained several minutes, begging her to come back, but she refused. As a lot of the furniture belonged to her, she spoke to him about it, and he said she could have it all, as it was of no use to him if she did not return. Deceased was a heavy drinker and that was the cause of the trouble. He was very kind when not in drink, but that was very seldom. - James McDonald, shipwright, 46 Barton-avenue, said he had known the deceased about 14 years, and had lived in the same house about eleven years. Witness last saw him alive at home about 10.5 on Sunday evening, when he appeared to have had a little drink. Deceased asked him to wake him up at six o'clock on Monday morning. Witness knocked at the door about that time next morning, but got no answer, and took it for granted that he was not going to work, or had already left the house. Witness came home to dinner, but did not go to deceased's room. About 5.15 p.m. he went to the room door, but got no answer to his knocks, and informed the Police. Deceased had been drinking very heavily lately and witness knew that his wife had every cause for leaving him. He wondered she did not leave him before. Deceased had been away from work the whole of the previous week. - P.C. S. A. Giles said he found the deceased lying on the floor in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket and sheets. On the floor was a bottle containing rum. Apparently he had been reading, as his glasses were on a book. He had taken the gas tubing off the ring, put it under his neck and held it in his right hand towards the mouth. The gas was fully turned on, but, as the supply was through a penny-in-the-slot meter, it had become exhausted. His head was covered with the blanket. Witness searched the room, but found no written message. In a purse on the body was 13s. 9d. The body had apparently been cold for hours. - Dr G. K. Pearson said he was called to the house, and found deceased as described by the constable. Witness attributed death to suffocation by poisoning by coal gas. - The Coroner said it was one of those cases where very great misery was caused by drink. It was a most deliberate case of a man taking his life. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while Temporarily Insane."

Western Morning News, Friday 30 September 1910
DARTMOUTH - A Dartmouth Slum. Doctor's Statement At An Inquest. - At Dartmouth Guildhall yesterday Mr A. M. Davson held an Inquest on SAMUEL PENGELLY, a naval pensioner, of Silver-street. - MARY JANE PENGELLY, the widow, said deceased was sixty-one years of age, and had been bad for four years. Six months ago he was attended by Dr Soper. At 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday her husband was smoking a pipe in bed and six hours later she found him dead. - In answer to the Coroner, witness asserted that her husband, who was not right in his mind, had had all the food he required. - Emma Sandford said she had heard deceased ask constantly for food and had seen MRS PENGILLY give him what he had asked for. - Mary Smith said that on one occasion she had heard deceased cry bitterly for a piece of bread, but his wife did not give him any. - Francis Blake, Clarence-street, said he had heard deceased ask for food. - P.S. Rogers said that on three occasions he had told MRS PENGELLY her husband was ill and had advised her to send for a doctor. In June, on going to the house, he found deceased dirty and told his wife he did not consider she was looking after him. - By the Coroner: Deceased had never complained to him. After the death he went to the house and found everything in an extremely dirty condition. He asked to see the food in the house and MRS PENGELLY showed him four pieces of decomposed meat and two or three small whiting. - Dr G. M. Soper said he saw the body. It was emaciated and the bed clothing, mattresses, &c., were all dirty. Death was due to chronic bronchitis and a dilated hart. Having been given permission to say something further about Silver-street, Dr Soper said he was certain that if one went over the whole of England, including large cities and the London slums, it would be difficult to equal the condition of the street. He thought it was an absolute disgrace to the town, and he was perfectly convinced that if something was not done it would react on the town, and the health of the inhabitants would suffer from it. It was absolutely in a filthy state. In conclusion, Dr Soper made it clear that he was not referring so much to the buildings themselves as to the condition of the interior of some and the way in which the tenants lived. - The Coroner concurred in Dr Soper's remarks. - The Jury found that the cause of death was as given in the medical evidence and added a rider that they considered death was accelerated by want of proper nourishment and lack of care on the part of the widow. They concurred with the remarks of Dr Soper as to the condition of deceased's house. Addressing MRS PENGELLY, the Coroner said she had heard the opinion of the Jury that her husband's death had been accelerated by her neglect. He did not know what her feelings must be. She had had a narrow escape of a journey to Exeter.

Western Morning News, Saturday 1 October 1910
EXMOUTH - Exmouth Boat Disaster. Inquest On Body Recovered. - Mr E. R. Tweed held an Inquest yesterday at Exmouth on ERNEST NORTON, who lost his life whilst fishing with his father and brother on September 18th. - DANIEL K. NORTON, coal merchant, Topsham, said deceased was his nephew, aged 17. Witness identified the body by initials tattooed on the left arm, and by the clothing. - ELIZABETH NORTON deposed that she last saw her son on Saturday, September 17th, when he went to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. She did not see him again, but heard her husband call him at 4 o'clock on Sunday morning. ERNEST, her husband and ARCHIE, a younger son, went away mackerel fishing in a sailing-boat called the R. and E., her husband remarking that they would be back about 2 p.m. The weather when they started was fine, and her husband told her there was no wind. - John West, fisherman, Exmouth, said he was mackerel fishing on September 18th, with his father-in-law. They started before 6 o'clock and sailed out over the bar. Two other boats were following them about 10 or 15 minutes behind their boat. He believed one of the boats to be NORTON'S. All of them were sailing with their lines out. An easterly breeze was blowing, and the sea was very rough. He knew the NORTON'S by sight, but did not know their boat. Witness sailed up towards Budleigh Salterton for a time, and then turned round to go out to sea. He looked under the lee of the sail and saw the yard of the R. and E£. and in a few minutes lost sight of the sail, the boat being too far away to be seen. Witness remarked to his companion, "I believe something has happened to that boat," and they then hove right down to where they last saw the sail and cruised about searching for it; but found no trace of either the boat or its occupants. - Witness, on being asked by the Coroner what he thought had happened, said he concluded that the R. and E. struck an "unlucky" sea, which filled and sank it. Witness would not say that the boat was too small, although the sea was rough. - By the Jury: He could not think the boat was sinking at the time he saw the sail before it disappeared. - Robert Bartlett, labourer, who accompanied West, said he considered the NORTONS were lessening their sail because the sea was so rough, and in doing so the boat filled with the heavy sea and went down. They were about one and a half mile away. Witness thought the NORTON'S boat was a small one and not safe in such a sea. - Harry Blackler, fisherman, said that about 4.30 on Thursday afternoon, whilst fishing for mackerel about half a mile west of Fairway Buoy, his son Albert, who was with him, noticed a corpse in the water about 40 yards away. They picked it up and took it to the coastguards, and asked them to report the matter to the Police. - P.C. Cross said he found 1s. in silver and 3 1 ½d. in bronze upon the body. - Dr Beezley said the body was very much decomposed. He should think it had been in the water for eleven or twelve days. Death was due to drowning. - The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Death from Accidental Drowning," expressed their sympathy with the relatives.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Child's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on the three months old child of MR W. DOWNING, of Princes-street. MRS W. DOWNING said the child since birth had been in good health. Early yesterday morning she found it dead in the bed. The baby was all right at midnight when she fed it. Dr P.C. Bolus, who had made a post mortem examination, said the child was well nourished. Death was due to syncope owing to enlarged thymus glands. The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the doctor's evidence.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 4 October 1910
PLYMSTOCK - Sudden Death At Plymstock. - At Plymstock yesterday Mr R. Robinson Rodd held an Inquest on ROGER MILLMAN. - MRS ELIZABETH ELLIS, his sister, said he had for years worked in the quarries. He seemed quite well on Friday evening, and attended the choir practice at Plymstock Church. He retired at the usual time and about four in the morning came to her room and complained of feeling very ill. After a few words he died before a medical man could arrive. Dr Noy Scott who made a post mortem examination, said death was due to aneurism of the aorta. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Killed By A Shell. Coroner's Inquiry Into The Target Fatality. Theories Advanced. - After an Inquiry lasting over three hours, during which several theories were discussed, a Coroner's Jury at the Military Hospital, Stoke, yesterday found that JAMES ALFRED ST. LEGAR MORRELL, second engineer on board the War Department vessel Sir Frederick Walker, who was struck by a shell from Fort Bovisand while towing targets on Friday night, was Accidentally Killed, but made no pronouncement as to the exact cause of the accident. The Inquest was held by Mr J. A. Pearce, Devonport Borough Coroner. - Evidence of identification was given by CHARLES H. D. MORRELL, carpenter's mate, H.M.S. Majestic, brother, who said deceased was 39 years of age, and left a widow and four children, the eldest being 12 years of age. Deceased resided in St Vincent-street, Devonport. He was a naval stoker pensioner and held an appointment as second engineer aboard the Sir Frederick Walker. - Towing The Targets. - John Dunsford Craven, Glenmore-avenue, Ford, stated that as temporary master of the Sir Frederick Walker he was ordered on Friday night to proceed to Bovisand and await instructions as to when to go on to the range for 12-pounder practice. These instructions were received about half-past nine, while the Sir Frederick Walker was waiting near the Mewstone. He immediately commenced paying out the wire attached to the targets, which were of the Hong-kong pattern - fairly small and very light and used for high speed work. The targets were attached to the ship by a wire rope, which wound round a drum. On the practice commencing the wire was drawn aboard until only 300 yards remained out. The vessel steamed and the wire was wound in simultaneously. - The Coroner: You have an indicator in the engine-room and on deck as well which tells you how near the targets are to the vessel? - Witness: Yes. When the order was given to wind in the nearest target was 700 yards from the ship. They had been winding in about four minutes when he had the report that a man had been shot. He at once stopped winding in and blew as hard as possible on the ship's whistle, to give warning to the fort of the accident. The order to cease paying out the wire preparatory to the opening of the practice was received at 9.40 and by 10.20 he had steamed under Bovisand, and a medical officer had come aboard from the fort. Life was then extinct. When deceased was struck the nearest target was 450 yards from the ship and the vessel was approximately 800 yards from the fort. The Osprey, also with targets, was steaming almost parallel to the Sir Frederick Walker. He had not heard of any shots striking her. - The Fatality. - Herbert G. Ingram, Falmouth, engineer in charge of the Sir Frederick Walker, said the combined speed at which the targets were moving through the water - the speed of the vessel and the rate at which the wire was pulling them in - was fourteen knots. During the time the winding was in progress deceased ascended the engine-room ladder to see if both boats - the Osprey and Sir Frederick Walker - were running side by side, as they were ordered to, so that he could regulate the engines accordingly. It was his duty to look occasionally to see if his vessel was gaining or losing. Immediately on ascending the ladder he was struck by a shell and fell to the bottom platform. Witness saw the shell strike the skylight and some of the splinters struck him and also the fireman. - Theories. - Lieut.-col. W. F. Cockburn, R.A., Chief Instructor, School of Gunnery, South-Western Coast Defences, described the nature of the practice being carried out and offered theories as to the cause of the accident. Witness stated that it was a special experimental practice, ordered by the War-office, for the purpose of testing an American invention, by which a light was made to burn on a shell during its flight through the air. The invention consisted of a small cylinder, which screwed into the base of the shell and contained a light, chiefly composed of magnesium. On the shock of discharge the light appeared on the shell, and continued burning the whole way through the air. The object of these "tracers" was to enable the shells from each gun or different batteries to be traced and the fire, if necessary, corrected or distributed from one target to another. The practice was being carried out by four Q.F. 12pdrs., and ordinary common shell, filled with salt and without any bursting charge, was being used. When the shell struck the target it simply ricocheted and eventually dropped into the sea. If subsequently picked up it would not explode. A very careful system for keeping ships out of the danger zone was employed. On the night of the accident five picket boats were out to prevent any vessel passing from Penlee to the Mewstone or between the Breakwater and the mainland. These vessels each burnt a blue or green light when they were satisfied that the area was clear of shipping. If, on the other hand, a vessel came on the range the picket boat nearest to it burnt a red flare, and until it had got out of the way the officer delayed giving the order for the target to proceed on the range. The range was clear and firing commenced on Friday night approximately at 9.40, the four guns opening fire simultaneously. Witness, in the absence of the lieutenant-colonel commanding the eastern section, was superintending the practice, and the order he issued was for the two sets of targets to come in parallel, the Osprey to start with 1,000 yards of wire out and the Sir Frederick Walker with 850 yards, so that the four targets would be more or less in a line. The shots were to strike the target, each of which measured 14 by 4, and not to be directed between the targets. All that was clearly explained beforehand, and immediately before practice commenced he emphasized the instructions and especially cautioned the men that it was not a test or rapidity but accuracy. - The Coroner: Do you consider the distance of 300 yards from the ship a safe distance? - Witness: Three hundred yards should be absolutely safe. - Can you explain why the shot struck the ship on this particular night? - One can only theorize. There were only three things which could possibly have happened. A shell might have fallen short and ricocheted on striking the water, or might have broken in halves and in that case there was no telling where the fragments might go. It was possible also that as the four guns were very close together, and approximately at the same elevation, two shells might have met in the air and diverged. Finally, one of the layers might have laid by mistake on the launch instead of on the target. - That is impossible to find out? - Yes, although if a man moved his gun very much to the right or left it would be seen by one or other of the several men at the battery. Undoubtedly the "tracer" on the shell which hit the ship did not act. Further practice with different gun groups and new targets was made after the accident, when 48 hits out of 64 rounds were made, so that the laying as a rule was fairly correct. - You cannot say from which gun the shell was fired? - No. They practically opened fire together. I did not see any shell go near the vessel. The "tracers" showed the course of the shells very clearly except in four or five cases where they did not act. As soon as he became aware that an accident had happened he had the practice stopped and sent a medical officer on board. - Mistaken For The Target? - Supposing a man had inadvertently laid the gun on the ship would he not know it himself? - He should have done. We had five searchlights on the course and the ships showed up as clear as in day light. If not clearer, and the contrast between them and the smaller targets behind should have been clear to any man. But you cannot say in the excitement of the moment, some man does not inadvertently do something he ought not to do. It is not intentional, of course. I questioned the layers immediately after the accident and they said they were on the targets. A mistake might have occurred in the excitement of the moment, but I cannot understand how it should on such a clear night. The gun-layers are men of experience, who have passed through severe tests. None of them appeared excited when questioned concerning the accident. I have had 31 years' experience of gun practice in the Artillery, and I know of no accident of this kind occurring before. - MR SAMUEL MORRELL, brother of deceased, put it to Col. Cockburn that the appearance of the vessel suggested that it was a direct hit and not a ricochet. Was that the only shot that went in the vicinity of the vessel? - Col. Cockburn: I did not see one fall between the target and the launch. Capt. Wadlow, who was on board the Sir Frederick Walker, reported that he saw one fall astern. That is the only one there is any question about. - The Coroner: Your answers suggest that the theory of its being a ricochet is slight and that more probably the accident was the result of a mistake? - Yes. - Col. Cockburn expressed the deepest sympathy of the officers and men of the Artillery with the widow and family, and said it was hoped to shew that sympathy in a material form. - Gunlayers Cannot Explain. - The next witnesses were the four gunlayers - Acting-Bombardiers Harrison, Butt and W. H. Phillips and Gunner E. W. Richards, all of whom said it was impossible for them to have trained on the War Department vessel instead of the target. They said the vessel was not in their field of view and secondly that the stops with which the guns were fitted precluded the possibility of the fire being so wide of the target. - Phillips said it was out of reason that anybody should lay on the ship, but when changing from one target to another there was a cross-fire, and two shells might then have impinged. - MR S. MORRELL pointed out that to get such a deflection the shells must have impinged comparatively near the muzzle of the guns - 200 yards. - Gunner E. W. Richards, questioned as to the changing from one target to another, said it had of necessity to be done smartly, but there was no rushing, and they did not open fire until the target was clearly seen. - Mr Carven, recalled, inclined to the opinion that it was a complete shell not a fragment that struck the vessel. - As Seen From The Ship. - Captain Harold Wadlow, R.G.A., who was on duty on the Sir Frederick Walker as range officer, said he did not witness the accident. - The Coroner: Did you see any shots fall near the ship? - Witness: I saw one splash about 20 or 30 yards astern. - The Coroner: that was close enough, you thought? - Captain A. F. Carlyon, R.A.M.C., deposed to the body being brought to the Hospital at 12.40 a.m. on Saturday. The injuries were very severe. Death must have been due to shock and haemorrhage. - Summing up, the Coroner said the Jury had to ascertain the cause of death and secondly whether any person was responsible. He thought the evidence had been given in a very straightforward manner indeed, and they had been considerably assisted by the lucid explanation of Colonel Cockburn and the intelligent questions of MR S. MORRELL. The statement of the gunlayers that it was impossible for them to have laid on the ship was, as he understood it, capable of misinterpretation. It was impossible for them to have done so during all the time the practice was proceeding, but at intervals, as he understood, it might have been done. Each of the layers denied making such a mistake. It was impossible to state that the accident was due to an error on the part of one or other of the gunlayers, and equally impossible to say whether the vessel was struck by a ricochet shell or one that had impinged. He supposed the Jury were at least satisfied that it was not due to any wilful act on the part of anybody at the fort. The Jury must either, he thought, return an open verdict, or state definitely that it was an accident. It seemed every precaution was taken at the fort to prevent accidents and make sure that nobody was in the firing zone. - Accidental Death. - After briefly deliberating in private, the Jury unanimously found that death resulted from being "Accidentally Struck by a Shell fired from Fort Bovisand." The Jury desired the Coroner to state that they were satisfied the military authorities did everything in their power after the accident. They also joined with the Coroner in expressing sympathy with the widow and family, to whom they gave their fees.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 5 October 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Broken-Hearted Husband. Sergeant's Death From Grief. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on SERGT. WILLIAM STEWART, R.M.L.I., who died suddenly on board H.M.S. Donegal on Monday. Mr J. P. Goldsmith represented the Admiralty. - John Phillips, Cornwall-street, said STEWART, 37 years of age, was his son-in-law. His wife died on September 1st, when the Donegal was in Norway. The captain of the Donegal kindly allowed him to come home for the funeral. STEWART was quite broken-hearted over his wife's death. When the Donegal returned to Devonport he rejoined the vessel and came to witness's house every evening. On Sunday afternoon he and STEWART went to the cemetery together, and he placed some flowers on his wife's grave. He had cold roast beef for supper on Sunday, but could not eat much. Since his wife's death his appetite failed. He never threatened to take his life, but said he had nothing to live for now except his child, a year and nine months old. On Sunday he complained that he was not feeling himself. When he left to go on board at 7.15 on Monday morning he appeared all right. He was a native of Kirkdale, near Liverpool. - Corpl. J. E. Scott, R.M.L.I., of the Donegal, said STEWART was very cheerful until he received a telegram at Trondheim stating that his wife was very ill. Since his wife's death he seemed low-spirited and broken-hearted. He had never heard him threaten to take his life. - Lance-Sergt. Benjamin Nightingale, R.M.L.I., said STEWART had not been the same man at all since his wife died. He had heard him say his life was a blank. On Monday he was brought into the mess and said he felt faint, but would be all right in a few minutes. Ultimately witness took him to the sick bay. - C. W. Morris, sick berth steward said STEWART was seen by the Surgeon immediately he was brought to the sick bay. The Surgeon also saw him again about 11.45 a.m. About 3.20 a sick berth attendant saw him and he was then apparently all right, but ten minutes later witness's attention was called to him. Seeing that it was an extreme case, he sent for the medical guard, the ship's Surgeon having left. He believed STEWART was dead when his attention was called to him. In response to the signal a Surgeon arrived in about a quarter of an hour. Soup and fish were ordered from the wardroom, but deceased would not take them. He had beef tea and brandy while in the sick bay. - Surg. G. R. McCowen of the Donegal, said he saw STEWART in the sick bay about 10 a.m. He was then very pale and perspiring freely. His only complaint was that he had fainted. STEWART said he had no other symptoms and no pain. He also said the death of his wife and consequent worry had caused collapse. Witness examined his heart and found it absolutely normal. Witness directed that he should be watched and should rest the whole day. At 11.45 STEWART told him that he felt about the same, but, if anything, a little more comfortable. Witness could find no signs of disease, but intended to send him to the Hospital if he was no better next morning. He was surprised to find about 6 p.m. that he was dead. - Staff-Surg. E. O'Leary, Donegal, said he had made a post-mortem examination and found no organic lesions to account for the sudden death, but part of the intestines were very much shrivelled up, which appeared to indicate deficient nutrition. The stomach was very contracted and witness was informed that STEWART had eaten practically nothing for three weeks. The heart was practically normal, there were no signs of alcoholic poisoning in the liver, and no indication of poisoning in the stomach, nor were there any signs of suffocation in the throat or haemorrhage in the brain. The only cause of death that he could assign was syncope, due to exhaustion, brought about by malnutrition, resulting from constant worry. He was a well-nourished man, but on Monday morning he was very much altered in appearance. - Sergt. Nightingale, recalled, said since his wife's death STEWART had only eaten about an eighth of his food. - The Coroner said it was a very sad and remarkable case. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Causes" and passed a vote of condolence with the friends of deceased. - The Coroner remarked that all the entries in deceased's certificate were "Very good."

PLYMOUTH - Boy's Death From Lockjaw - Mr John Graves (Deputy Coroner) held an Inquest at Prince Rock Police Station, Plymouth, yesterday on FREDERICK ERNEST ANDERSON, aged 12, whose parents reside in Cromwell-street. - The body was identified by the mother, who stated that on September 26th the lad ran against a railing, a point of which entered his right foot. The wound was bathed three or four times a day, but it began to swell. Last Thursday the lad was taken to the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital. - Dr W. E. Roberts stated that when the boy was admitted he was suffering from a penetrating wound in the right foot; it went through the foot. The lad was in a bad state and was at once treated. About two hours after admission the deceased developed tetanus, or lockjaw and died on Sunday. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." - The Coroner said Dr Roberts had intimated to him that if the boy had been sent to the Hospital when the accident first occurred there would have been a good chance of preventing tetanus. The parents no doubt thought the wound was not of such a serious nature and did what they thought proper. This showed that accidents should be immediately treated by those who knew something of the nature of them.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Naval Seaman's Death. Knocked Down At Brent Station. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, on JAMES DAVID ANTHONY, 23, able seaman, of the cruiser Isis, who slipped off the platform at Brent Railway Station, on Saturday night and received fatal injuries from a passing engine. Mr J. P. Goldsmith represented the Admiralty and Mr T. Hodges, locomotive department and Chief Inspector A. Poultney watched the proceedings on behalf of the G.W.R. Company. - Harold Upton, able seaman, of the Iris, said deceased was one of a football team which journeyed to Salcombe on Saturday to play in a match. While waiting for the main line train at Brent on the return journey deceased, who had been walking on the edge of the platform, slipped and fell on the line in front of an oncoming engine. There was no skylarking and the fall was purely accidental. - The Coroner: It has been suggested that he attempted to cross the line to post a card. - Witness: No; nothing of the sort. - He does not appear to have had much opportunity to get drink. I take it he was sober? - First aid was rendered by a local doctor and Dr Eccles, Plymouth, travelled down with the deceased. - Frederick Tucker, Kingsbridge, engine driver, G.W.R., stated that the deceased was injured whilst he was shunting the engine which had brought the train from Kingsbridge along the main line. When the team alighted from the train at Brent they were all orderly. - Surgeon T. E. Blunt, R.N., said the deceased was admitted to the R.N. Hospital at 10 o'clock on Saturday night, suffering from extensive injuries. He was conscious. The right arm was so badly crushed and lacerated that it was necessary to remove it at the shoulder. The left arm was fractured above the shoulder and there were also scalp wounds, which in themselves, however, were not serious. Death occurred the following morning at 2.30. A post-mortem examination revealed that two ribs on the left side were fractured and one of them had pierced the lung, which was ruptured. The actual cause of death was shock. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, the Coroner remarking that no one seemed to blame.

Western Morning News, Thursday 6 October 1910
BIDEFORD - "Inhuman Indifference." Old Man's Death At Bideford. - Yesterday Mr G. W. F. Brown held an Inquest at Bideford Workhouse on JOHN BENNETT, aged 70, who died in the Infirmary the previous day. The old man resided with a married daughter, FRANCES POTTER, of Handy Cross, whose husband, it was stated, was at home only at weekends. The daughter also went out to work, a girl, aged 14, being employed occasionally to see to the deceased. On September 21st he walked into Bideford and was given a lift home in a trap. Getting out of the vehicle he fell, but with assistance was able to walk to the cottage. It seemed that he had a second fall in trying to walk upstairs. Mrs Potter spoke to finding deceased on the stairs. With the help of the girl she got him into bed and then sent for her sister, Mrs Annie Patt, as she herself had to take to her bed because of confinement. She inquired after her father from time to time and he said he was in no pain. Her husband saw him on the Saturday after the fall and he still said he was in no great pain. - Rose Linscott, Highfield-place, another married daughter, deposed to meeting Dr Grose in the street on Monday and he at once went to see deceased. Her father had falling fits frequently. - Annie Patt said she did not think her father was seriously hurt. She did not examine him. He said he had strained his leg a bit. When she called at the house her time was taken up in looking after her sister. - The Coroner: He seems to have been treated just as if he was a bag of sawdust or a bag of coal. - Witness: Nothing like that at all. He said he was in no great pain and would be all right in a day or two. - You left him to the tender mercies of a child. Was he insured? - Witness: My eldest brother at Westcombe had him insured, I believe, and I have paid in for him for 13 years for £5 8s. Mrs Linscott, recalled, said she had her father insured for £3 6s. - Mrs Brock, a neighbour, who helped deceased from the trap to his cottage, said she believed Mrs Potter did all she could for her father and the husband was a very good son-in-law to him. She knew nothing about other members of the family. - Dr Grose said deceased had fractured his right thigh very high up and witness had him removed to the Workhouse Infirmary. After the fracture was set there was apparently an attack of syncope. Deceased had suffered from bronchitis and heart disease and had frequent falls. Witness found the bedding at the cottage all clean, but there was neglect in not calling medical assistance at once. - The Coroner severely criticised the conduct of members of deceased's family. There had been inhuman indifference, and to leave a girl of 14 to attend to a man at 70, who was unable to leave his bed was disgusting. He thought the family deserved severe censure. Mrs Potter he could exonerate under all the circumstances. The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, and agreed with the Coroner that the family had been guilty of neglect. - After hearing the verdict Mrs Linscott fainted and had to be carried from the Court.

Western Morning News, Friday 7 October 1910
BRIXHAM - The Brixham Fatality. - At Brixham yesterday Mr R. de V. Whiteway Wilkinson, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest on WILLIAM HENRY BULLEY, aged 31, of Brownston Farm, who died in the Cottage Hospital as the result of injuries sustained through being thrown from a horse in Milton-street, on Saturday night. The evidence showed that whilst MR BULLEY was riding into the town the horse, a young one, shied two or three times. Later, Percy J. Harris saw the horse shy and throw its rider. - Dr F. Brett Young said death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. There were no signs that deceased was the worse for liquor. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

STOKE DAMEREL - At an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on ANN JEFFERY PREDDEY, aged 72, widow of WALTER PREDDEY, Princes-street, who died suddenly on Tuesday, De E. S. Saunders attributed death to valvular disease of the heart.

Western Morning News, Saturday 8 October 1910
TORQUAY - Ptomaine Poison At Torquay. Sad Death Of A Territorial. - Mr R. de V. Whiteway Wilkinson held an Inquest at Torquay yesterday on THOMAS SIMMONS, 35, blacksmith, Hoxton-road, Ellacombe, who was said to have died from ptomaine poisoning. Mr E. Hutchings attended on behalf of Lipton (Limited). - ALICE SIMMONS stated that on Saturday her husband was quite well. She gave him some sandwiches made of pressed beef which she had purchased the previous evening and he took away the sandwiches with him to the Wall's Hill range, Babbacombe, where he went shooting as a member of the Territorial Engineers. Witness had some of the pressed beef herself, and did not feel any ill effects from it. On Sunday deceased was taken ill with pains in the stomach and witness called in a doctor. So far as she knew at the time when she bought it, the meat was good. In reply to Mr Hutchings, witness said Saturday was a very wet day, but she did not know that deceased got very wet whilst shooting. - Doctor's Evidence. - Dr G. M. Winter said he saw deceased on Sunday morning when he told him he had very acute pains in the stomach and vomiting, which lasted during the night. Witness made inquiries as to what food he had had on the previous day and deceased told him that when he went out shooting he took with him some sandwiches of pressed beef. He also said that a lot of the beef near the edge in one of the sandwiches did not taste very nice. SIMMONS died early on Thursday. On Tuesday Dr Dunlop saw deceased with witness and on Wednesday Dr Eales, and they were all three of the same opinion that deceased was suffering from ptomaine poisoning, and a post-mortem examination confirmed this. It was quite possible that two persons might eat portions of the same piece of meat and only one be poisoned. Deceased was of very good physique and he was one of the Torquay volunteers who went out to the South African war. In witness's opinion, he died from ptomaine poisoning. - The Coroner: You could not say it was through eating the pressed beef? - No; I could not say that at all. - In reply to the Jury, Dr Winter said he did not think that the inflammation was brought on by deceased getting wet whilst shooting, as his illness was of a much more acute nature than it would have been from a cold, although this might perhaps cause him to be more susceptible. Deceased had enteric fever badly when he was in South Africa and that might have affected his resisting power. It was impossible to say whether deceased would have got over the illness if he had not got wet. - Answering Mr Hutchings, witness said this was a case of acute ptomaine poisoning, caused by some animal poison. It was quite possible that a portion of the beef was not quite as good as it might have been and then it would be infective. - Wm. French, french polisher, Ellacombe-terrace, said he was with deceased at Wall's Hill, and after the shooting deceased gave him two or three of the sandwiches. He ate them and felt no ill effects. - How Pressed Beef Is Sold. - George Frederick Rowlands, assistant at Lipton's, said he served a good many people on Friday evening, but he did not remember serving MRS SIMMONS. - The Coroner: Who has to test your meat as it comes in? - We ask an inspector round every week and we also see to it ourselves. The manager looks at everything and he had looked at this pressed beef, which only arrived the same morning. We sell about 6lb. or 7lb. of this beef in a day. It is made at Lipton's in London and there are people there to examine it. We have never had any complaint about it. It is not tinned at all. It comes down in 7lb slabs in a cardboard box, packed with grease-proof paper. - The Coroner: Have you any rule in your shop that if anything is at all wrong it shall be taken away? - Oh, yes; if we suspect anything it is put aside. When meat comes, it is looked after by the manager and this particular piece was inspected and nothing was found wrong with it. We have strict instructions, if we find anything wrong, to put it aside. If we don't sell all the meat in one day the remainder will keep for three or four days, but we arrange to have it in small quantities so that we can sell it out in one or two days. - In reply to Mr Hutchings, witness said this particular piece of pressed beef came by passenger train at 9 a.m., and was taken direct to the shop premises. It was sold to a customer wrapped in grease-proof paper. - Have you had any complaint in respect of meat sold on the day in question? - None whatever. During the four years and a half I have been at Lipton's , I have sold a tremendous lot of this pressed beef. - Was there anything in the condition of this beef that drew your attention to it? - Nothing whatever. It would be despatched from London the night before or very early the same morning. - The Coroner remarked that it might sometimes happen that through misadventure there might be a very small quantity of meat in which there was some putrefaction and that probably happened in this case. The shop assistant, however, had shown that all meat received was examined and that if it was found to be not fit for human consumption, it was at once discarded. - The Jury returned a verdict that Death was due to Ptomaine Poisoning, through Misadventure. They expressed their sympathy with the widow and family, and the Coroner associated himself with this expression.

STOKE DAMEREL - Fatal Accident At Crabtree. - At the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest on EDWARD LAWRANCE SIDGREAVES, aged four years and son of SERGEANT-MAJOR EDWARD SIDGREAVES, R.G.A., living at Laira. - Alfred Wm. Rich, dairyman, Underwood, stated that at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday he was driving to Plymouth, and got to the Crabtree Inn, when a farm wagon was in front of him and three little children were holding on at the back of the wagon. The older girl ran across the road and witness just escaped knocking her down, when the deceased also ran out and must have struck against the step of the trap. - Henry Beable, Colebrook, farm labourer, said he had told the children to go away and thought they had gone, but later he heard a shout and a little boy ran out towards the trap, and one of the wheels went over its body. It was a pure accident. - Dr H. Tanner said deceased was admitted to the Hospital at 11.30 a.m. suffering from abdominal and head injuries and shock. His condition became rapidly worse and it was seen to be hopeless to operate. Witness made a post mortem and found a tear right across the small intestines. There was a fracture of the skull below the wound and some minor injuries. Death was due to shock. - The Coroner said it was often seen that when vehicles were moving about the children were quite oblivious of the danger. It was a wonder there were not more accidents of the kind. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," adding a vote of sympathy and stating that in their opinion it was a pure accident.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 11 October 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Constable's Death. Unsuspected Heart Weakness. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Borough Coroner) conducted an Inquest at the Devonport Guildhall yesterday on P.C. JOHN PEARCE, a member of the Borough Police Force, who died suddenly at his residence, 11 Northbrook-street, on Saturday morning. - Thomas Henry Rippin, Johnston-terrace, brother-in-law, said his sister had informed him that on Saturday morning she was aroused from her sleep by a peculiar noise deceased was making. She tried to rouse him, but failed. Deceased had been in the Police tug-of-war team. His wife did not like the idea of him taking part in the competitions, but he had not made any complaints. He was not in the rowing club. - William Russell Tomkins said he found deceased groaning, but otherwise he seemed to be asleep. Dr McElwaine was sent for. - Dr T. McElwaine, Police Surgeon, said life was extinct when he arrived. Witness had made a post-mortem examination. Death was due to syncope, the result of valvular disease of the heart. - The Coroner: Do you examine the men in the Police Force from time to time? - Not unless they are ill. - A man might be walking about with his heart very much diseased, and yet not know it? - Quite so. - Don't you think it advisable to make periodical examinations of the men in the Force? - They are no more liable to the disease than ordinary civilians. - Only they are exposed to every kind of weather, which other people are not. Do you think taking part in the tug-of-war competitions hastened death? - It was a great strain on the heart, particularly as the walls were so thin. - The Coroner: All the men in the Force might be suffering from valvular disease of the heart? - They might. To see the deceased about in the streets one would think he was the healthiest man in the Force. - Chief Inspector Down said deceased had been in the Force 14 years, and had always been regarded as a healthy man. He was a very great loss to the Force, and they extended their deepest sympathy to the relatives. Deceased was a man of exceptionally good character. - The Coroner remarked that he was at the Assizes on one occasion when the Judge complimented the deceased on the way in which he had given his evidence. He was very highly respected and it was a severe blow to the Force. - A verdict of Death from "Natural Causes" was returned, and the Jury joined with the Coroner in expressing their sympathy with the relatives.

EXMOUTH - Seaman's Death At Exmouth. Found Drowned. - Mr E. R. Tweed held an Inquest last evening at Exmouth on PATRICK MACALLISTER, single, a native of Antrim, aged about 30, who was found drowned. - Donald MacKinnon, captain of the s.s. Fluor, lying in the Bight, off Exmouth, stated that his vessel left Riga on September 25th. The crew consisted of fifteen all told, amongst them being deceased, PATRICK MACALLISTER, who was a fireman. Witness last saw him alive at 4 p.m. on Friday, two hours before he went ashore. He was a man of good character and had not given away to drink since joining that vessel on June 18th. Deceased went ashore with a coloured man named James Williams, another fireman, and the second engineer. Deceased and Williams were on good terms with each other. He could not say whether Williams gave way to drink or not, as he only shipped him on September 17th at Middlesbrough. Williams returned to the steamer some time after six o'clock on Saturday morning and was at that time quite sober. He was taken aboard by an Exmouth boatman. - By the Coroner: The crew could come and go when they like. They might stay away a night. There were rules about leave, but they were not always kept. - James Williams said he was a trimmer on board the s.s. Fluor. He had only known MACALLISTER since he joined the Fluor, and they had been on the best of terms. Having finished their duty for the day, witness and MACALLISTER and two others went ashore at six p.m. Witness left deceased in a public-house and rejoined him later when he was still drinking. They stayed about an hour and then visited another public-house, where deceased drank gin, beer and stout. MACALLISTER next went to a restaurant to have supper, witness remaining at the public-house. They met again and about 11 o'clock proceeded towards the pier. Witness added that he was the worse for liquor and so was MACALLISTER, who had drunk a good deal. He did not remember any more until he woke up in the morning in a shed on the landing stage near the docks. He had not seen his companions since. He returned to the Fluor, expecting to find the deceased on board. Witness could not account for MACALLISTER being found in the water. - P.C. Brown said that at 10.58 p.m. on Friday he saw MACALLISTER and Williams in Rolle-street. The former was carrying a bag of provisions and the latter was the more drunk of the two. They went towards the docks and witness did not see any more of them. - Thomas Slocombe, boatman, said MCALLISTER and Williams told him they would be returning to their ship between 10 and 11 o'clock. Witness waited until half-past 12 and then went home. It was not unusual for men to absent themselves from their ship for 24 hours. - Dr Beesley described the condition of the body and stated that death was probably caused by fracture of the base of the skull. The body had, he believed, been in the water 30 hours. Replying to a Juror, he said the fracture of the skull could not have been caused by a blow in a quarrel. - The Coroner: It could have been caused by a foot at the back. - A Juryman said that ugly rumours were about the town respecting money the deceased was supposed to have had. The Jury would like to know if he had any money? - P.S. Rattenbury replied that money was found on the deceased. - P.C. Cross stated that he saw Thomas Slocombe recover the body, and witness removed it to the mortuary. On searching the clothing he found a silver watch, which had stopped at 5.9, a purse containing £5 2s. 7 ½d. in gold, silver and copper, a Russian coin, two medals, a pocket knife, a Prayer-book, a braided necklet and receipts for the purchase of provisions. - The Jury, in returning a verdict of "Accidental Death" entered a protest against the custom of viewing the body.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 12 October 1910
EXETER - At an Inquest at Exeter last evening on the infant daughter of ALFRED H. WIDGERY, a blind canvasser, of Looe-road, St David's, Mr G. F. Webb, Surgeon, said there was an abscess in the left lung, which caused suffocation.

EXETER - Knocked Down By A Bicycle. Heavitree Widow's Death. - Mr W. L. Brown yesterday conducted an Inquest on MARIAN CHURCHILL, widow, aged 72, of Pinhoe-road, Heavitree, Exeter, who died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after being knocked down by a bicycle. - Alan Henry Ware, of the Exeter Dispensary, stated that deceased, his mother-in-law, was not deaf, but somewhat absent-minded. - Caroline Haynes, of Upton Pyne, deposed that on Friday, at 6.20 p.m. she saw the deceased about to cross Pinhoe-road. She also saw a young lady riding slowly on a bicycle. Deceased appeared to see the cyclist, but witness could not say whether the cyclist rang her bell. Deceased was knocked down, but as far as witness could see, the cyclist was in no way to blame. - By the Foreman: Deceased appeared to walk against the cycle. Edwin Pole, schoolmaster of Pinhoe, said the cyclist was riding at a moderate speed. He could not say that he heard a bell sounded. - Bessie Coombes, of Poltimore, stated that she was riding very slowly on her way home on Friday. Deceased hesitated in the middle of the road and walked into the cycle. Witness rang the bell when several yards from the deceased and she looked up as if she heard it. - P.C. Chapman spoke to Miss Coombes saying she could not avoid the collision. - Mr E. Stur[?], Assistant House Surgeon at the Hospital, said deceased had a wound on the back of her head. She became unconscious, and died on Sunday. Death was due to haemorrhage of the brain. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and attached blame to no one.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 18 October 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Child's Death After Scalds. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, yesterday on WILLIAM GEORGE COUSINS, aged two, who died at that Institution on Friday as a result of severe scalds. - EDITH J. COUSINS, mother, of Granby-street, said the previous Thursday she placed some hot water in a bowl near the door. Deceased was running away from his brother when he slipped and fell. His hand went into the bowl, causing the hot water to splash all over his face. He was taken to the Hospital. - Dr H. H. Tanner said death was due to heart failure caused by broncho-pneumonia, following the scalds, and a verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 22 October 1910
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Carpenter's Death. - The Plymouth Coroner, Mr R. B. Johns, held an Inquest yesterday on RICHARD HENRY ATWILL, Shaftesbury-cottages, Plymouth, aged 54. Mr H. Lawrence Spear held a watching brief on behalf of an insurance company. AMELIA ATWILL said her husband was a journeyman carpenter. In the course of his work he was pulling out some timbers from a store, when the end of one slipped and struck him on the jaw. An apprentice was with him at the time. He had not worked since, but had been able to get about. In reply to the Coroner, witness stated that the deceased did not consider the accident serious at the time and went to work the next day. Later, however, he was compelled to abandon work. - Dr Ernest Blaid stated that on August 3rd he found a large swelling on the left side of deceased's face. Inside the mouth was a large ulcerated mass. On his recommendation deceased was admitted on one of the Hospitals and during that period was attended by a colleague of witness, who agreed that he had malignant disease of the jaw, which accelerated death. The actual cause of death was exhaustion. - A verdict was returned of "Accidental Death," and sympathy expressed with the widow. [The remains of Mr R. H. ATWILL, for thirteen years secretary of No. 2 branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, were interred at Plymouth Cemetery. He had been annually elected chairman of the District Trades Council from its formation. The attendance at the cemetery of about 300 members of the allied building trades and others from various parts of the Three Towns, including his late employer, Mr W. Palk, is a strong testimony to the respect in which the deceased was held.]

Western Morning News, Tuesday 25 October 1910
PLYMOUTH - Found Drowned At Plymouth. - Mr J. Graves, Deputy Borough Coroner, held an Inquest at the Plymouth Mortuary yesterday on THOMAS HENRY JAMES, aged 57, gentleman's servant, Bath Lane. - MIRIAM JAMES, daughter of deceased, said her father was in good circumstances and was of a happy disposition. He had never threatened to commit suicide. He was in the habit of staying away from home all night with friends. When he did not return home on Friday night, she was therefore not worried. - Robert Chown, attendant at the Corporation bathing-place under the Hoe, said on Saturday, just after 6 a.m. he saw the body of deceased floating. - P.C. Morgan said he examined the body and found a cut over the left eye. - A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned, and the Jury expressed their sympathy with the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - Fatal Fall At Plymouth. - An Inquest was held by the Deputy Borough Coroner, Mr J. Graves, yesterday at Berkeley-place, Plymouth, on JANE TOOLE, aged 80, of the same address. - The husband of deceased, JOHN LANG TOOLE, a tailor, said that on Saturday week deceased on rising from the chair, fell to the ground and fractured her left hip. - Dr M. D. Keily said deceased was subject to fits of giddiness. She died on the 23rd inst., from the effects of the fracture. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

STOKE DAMEREL - Inquest At Devonport. Midwife Censured. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at Morice Town School, Devonport, last evening on MARTHA TREMLETT MAHER, aged 37, of Albert-road, who died on Friday. PATRICK MAHER, stoker in the Royal Navy, said deceased, his wife, gave birth to a female child on August 31st last. - Sarah Ann Pedrick said she found deceased in a fainting condition. No midwife was present. Witness fetched Dr Fleming. - Mrs Alice Huckpitt Hamson, 24 Portland-place, certificated midwife, said when the child was born she had some difficulty. Another person kept worrying witness to come and deceased said, "Never mind me, go on to the next person, and I shall be all right until you come back." Witness went and when she returned she found Dr Fleming present. - The Coroner: The fact that you had never had a case like it before ought to have told you it was dangerous? - I did think it was dangerous but MRS MAHER told me to never mind. - The Coroner: And notwithstanding this you left deceased and went to another patient. She might have been dead by the time you returned. - The Coroner: It was your duty to send for a doctor? - I was going to when I came back. - The Coroner: You should have sent for a doctor, and when he arrived gone to the other patient. - The Coroner: You might be put on trial for manslaughter. - Witness: I have never done anything wrong before. - Dr R. J. Fleming described the condition in which he found deceased. A few days later she developed a temperature and eventually it became a case of septicaemia, which was the primary cause of death. - The Coroner: Do you think that the manner in which Mrs Hamson performed her duty was skilful? - She was very unwise to leave the patient. - Nurse Seaton of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, said they had a staff of certificated midwives and nurses and sailors' or soldiers' wives could call in a midwife belonging to the association and also a nurse. The fee was 10s. 6d. for the first baby and 7s. 6d. after, for ten days' attendance, or longer if necessary, while it was absolutely nothing for a general nurse. - The Coroner, in summing up, said Mrs Hamson seemed to have seriously neglected her duty. She was engaged to attend two women at the same time. Deceased's case was certainly a very complicated one, but they had to consider whether death was due to neglect on the part of Mrs Hamson and whether it was of such a serious nature as to render her criminally liable for it. He could not understand why people had these midwives when there was in the town associations from which they could obtain equally skilled midwives for practically a nominal fee. - How Mrs Hamson could have got her certificate he did not know. He had never known such a case. He thought it was time that some care should be taken in giving the certificates to this class of nurse. - A verdict of Death from "Natural Causes" in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. - In severely censuring Mrs Hamson, the Coroner said the Jury considered that she had neglected her duty but it was fortunate that they had not stated that it was of such a nature as to render her liable to be tried for manslaughter. He was afraid that would be the last case she would attend. He was surprised that she should have exercised such little common sense. She had made a great mistake. - Mrs Hamson said she was very, very sorry.

BURLESCOMBE - Strange Drowning Case. Newsagent And Bicycle In Canal. - A remarkable drowning case was Inquired into by a Coroner and Jury at Westleigh (Burlescombe) yesterday. An unmarried man named FREDERICK HOLLEY, aged 37, who lived alone at Hill Cottage, and followed the occupation of quarryman and newsagent, was on Thursday last delivering papers. He appears to have cycled from the village towards Aysford hamlet on the banks of the G.W.R. canal, but after calling at Old brook Dairy, about 12.30 midday, he was not seen alive again. - On Saturday a London gentleman, whilst fishing in the canal, noticed under one of the bridges, in about five feet of water, the body of a man and near it a bicycle. Two men helped to recover the body, which was searched by a Constable, who found, among other things, a watch which had stopped at 1.52. There were no marks of violence on the body and the opinion is that the deceased either collided with the bridge and was thrown into the canal or else rode straight into the water. The path is narrow and there is a sharp angle hereabouts, added to which the man was carrying a bag of papers, which may have handicapped him. - At the Inquest yesterday, before Mr H. W. Gould, JOHN HOLLEY identified the deceased as his brother and said he had no suspicion of foul play or suicide whatever. - P.C. Searle (Westleigh) said he saw no signs of foul play. The body was fully dressed and upon it witness found 13s. 5 ½d. in cash, a pipe and tobacco pouch, a front door key, a silver watch and a metal watch-chain. Nothing was found at the house that would throw any light on the affair. There was a sensible letter written to his sister. Witness thought it was a very dangerous bridge. There was barely three feet under the bridge to walk or cycle on. - A Juror stated that there was a very awkward angle, and his opinion was that HOLLEY could not turn and rode straight into the water without touching the bridge. The Juror was understood to add that others had ridden or fallen in at this spot. - Emma Ware, Old Brook Dairy, said that HOLLEY called to deliver the paper about 12.30 p.m., and appeared just as usual. She saw him go along the canal banks, as was his habit. - The Coroner: Deceased's watch stopped at eight minutes to two. how long would it take him to get to this spot after leaving Mrs Ware's? The Constable: The distance is about two miles and riding slowly it would take him about twenty minutes. - Assuming that to be the time of his death, have you found out where he was in the interval? - No, I have made every inquiry and cannot gather anything further. I am unable to trace him after leaving Mrs Ware's. - Mr G. R. Macdonald, Surgeon, Holcombe Rogus, said death was due to drowning and there were no marks of injury. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Wednesday 26 October 1910
RACKENFORD - North Devon Farmer's Suicide. - At an Inquest at West Rackstone Farm, Rackenford, yesterday, on WILLIAM SLADER, 57, the widow stated that deceased left home about 11.30 on Monday morning, saying he was going to put some bags to keep the ducks from the corn ricks. He had had influenza for a month or more and worried about his farm because he had had notice from the owner that he was going to sell it. His brother took his life 20 years ago. Deceased had put the bags round the ricks. - George Ackland, labourer, in the employ of deceased, said as he did not come in to dinner he went to call him in. He found him in the wagon linhay hanging by the neck by a rope. There was a cart near deceased from which he could have jumped. - Mr A. H. Brown, Surgeon, Witheridge, said he attended deceased more than twelve months ago for depression. he should not have been surprised then if he had committed suicide, but he recovered. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane."

TAVISTOCK - Tavistock Farm Labourer's Death. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Tavistock yesterday on ROBERT LEY, farm labourer, aged 67. - JOHN LEY, farmer, Lapford, North Devon, stated that the deceased, his brother, was a widower, and had no one dependent on him. - Thomas Roskilly, Nutley Farm, Tavistock said that deceased had been in his employ for eighteen months as a cattle man and was thoroughly capable. While they were drenching two yearlings on October 8th, one became troublesome and struck the deceased on a muscle of the right arm with its horn. He uttered an exclamation, but did not afterwards complain of pain. On the 17th he complained of feeling ill and Dr Smith was sent for. Next day LEY was removed to the Workhouse Infirmary. He told a fellow-workman that on October 15th he was reaching to get some meal for the pigs out of a hutch, when he was scratched by a nail on the same arm. - Dr J. S. Smith did not think that the bruise caused by the cow had anything to do with the death. There was clear evidence of a nail scratch and he considered that was the cause of death. The nail might have been poisonous in itself, or in the course of his duties the man might have picked up a poisonous germ in the farmyard. There was no evidence of lockjaw. - The Jury found that the deceased died from Blood Poisoning due to a scratch, Accidentally Received.

Western Morning News, Friday 28 October 1910
EXETER - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on the body of FREDERICK HOWES, aged 60, Dr Pereira said death was due to heart failure, caused by emphysema of the lungs, and the Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

LANDKEY - Barnstaple Cab-owner's Suicide. - FREDERICK BRAYLEY, cab proprietor, Newport, Barnstaple, committed suicide yesterday by drowning himself in a disused quarry at Landkey. BRAYLEY who was 51 years of age, leaves a family of twelve. - At the Inquest last evening, Frances Grigg, a little girl, stated that she saw BRAYLEY throw himself into the water shortly after one o'clock. She ran and told her father. - Further evidence showed that the latter and a man named Parr tried to rescue deceased but when he was got out of the water life was extinct. - FREDERICK BRAYLEY, deceased's son, stated that his father had been drinking. When he came out of the Taw Vale Tavern the previous day he was spoken to by a Policeman, and this had evidently worried him. - "Suicide whilst Temporarily Insane" was the verdict, sympathy being expressed with the relatives.

Western Morning News, Monday 31 October 1910
SOUTH BRENT - At the Inquest on Saturday at South Brent on ELIZABETH TAPPER, aged 19, Granby-street, Plymouth, who died the previous day at Brent Railway Station, Margaret Dingle, married, stated that the deceased, her sister, had frequently written asking her friends to fetch her from Didworthy Sanatorium. She died when witness was bringing her home on Friday. Dr W. B. Livermore deposed that he advised deceased not to leave as she was too weak to undertake the journey. It was further stated that deceased was very ill on admission. She improved for a time, but afterwards grew worse and determined if possible to return home to die. The Jury found that death was due to heart failure, the result of tuberculosis.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 1 November 1910
PLYMOUTH - Killed On The Line. Plymouth Engine-Driver's Death. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Old Laira, Plymouth, yesterday, relative to the death of WILLIAM AYRES, aged 37, of 14 Old Laira-road, who as an engine-driver was employed by the G.W.R. Company. Representing the G.W. R. Company were Chief Inspector Poultney and Inspector Cooke. - Charles J. Widgery of Pinhoe-road, Exeter, an engine-driver, employed by the L.S.W.R. Company, said that on Friday he was driving an engine attached to a passenger train, which was due at Friary at 3.16 p.m. The Lipson signal was against him and he slackened speed for an approaching G.W.R. train, the steam of which was beating on the ground. When the steam had gone witness saw a man walking on the left side on the metals just in front of the engine he was driving. He puffed up his train, his speed at the time being twenty miles an hour. - The Coroner: You immediately pulled up your train? - Widgery: Yes. I at once applied the brake and blew the whistle. - How far away from the deceased were you when you first saw him? - About ten yards. It was difficult to gauge exactly. I looked out and saw deceased was in front of the engine and I immediately came to the conclusion that he must be run over. I thought he had been knocked backwards because he was found at the end of the train. - The Coroner asked if there were regulations with reference to using the metals and lines. Was it usual to use the line? - Chief Inspector Poultney replied that the men had no permission to use the line. There was a footbridge erected by the G.W.R. Co., to prevent the crossing of the metals and lines at this spot. - P.C. Grant stated that it was the custom for some railway men in that district to cross the line and not the footbridge. - The Coroner: Have you seen them there? - Yes. - Chief Inspector Poultney observed that the men went out of their backdoors and crossed the metals. There was a very small difference in the distance of the bridge and the metals. - The Coroner said it seemed to be a pure accident. Deceased was walking on the metals when he should have used the bridge. - P.C. Grant, in answer to the Coroner, said there were terrible injuries to the head and right arm. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and exonerated the driver of the train from blame. The Coroner and Jury expressed sympathy with the relatives.

PLYMOUTH - Refused To Take Food. Remarkable Suicide Of An Aveton Gifford Mason. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital yesterday respecting the death of CHARLES JONES ROGERS, 57, mason. - MINNIE ROGERS, of Walnut Cottage, Aveton Gifford, stated that she resided with her father. On the morning of 6th October, between five and six o'clock, the deceased knocked at her bedroom door and said his throat was cut. A doctor was sent for and after giving medical attention, her father was removed to the Hospital. The previous night she saw her father at 7.30 and he was calm, and did not seem to be excited in any way. Witness had never heard him say that he would take his life. Her sister lived in South Africa and recently lost her husband. That fact seemed to worry him. - P.C. Sandercock said that deceased was a most respectable, steady and sober man. Witness found a large knife and a quantity of blood about the lavatory. Dr E. Roberts, House Surgeon, said that the deceased had a wound four inches in length on the throat and mostly on the right side. The man died on October 28th. - What was the actual cause of death? - The actual cause was starvation and exhaustion. He would not take his food in the ordinary or any other way. He absolutely refused to take food of any kind. Witness added that death was due to the deceased refusing to take any food and the reopening of the wound in his throat. ROGERS broke the stitches in the wound, and made no effort to get well. - Was he right in his mind? - He was in a very low state and did not make any effort to recover. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while Temporarily Insane," and the Coroner and Jury joined in sympathy with the relatives.

EXETER - At the adjourned Inquest at Exeter yesterday on ROBERT SANSOM, aged 68, Dr Starr said death was due to shock, caused by the injuries deceased received and the Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Wednesday 2 November 1910
NEWTON ABBOT - At Newton Abbot yesterday Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest upon JAMES BROWN POWER, 68, retired grocer, of Fisher-road, who died on the Kingsteignton-road on Monday. ANNIE POWER said her father lived with her mother and herself. On Monday morning he appeared to be as usual and went for a walk. Phoebe Stantiford, Toll Gate House, said she saw deceased coming across the bridge and noticed how ill he looked. He staggered and fell. She went to his assistance, but he never moved. Dr Adam Nisbet said death was due to advanced heart disease and a verdict accordingly was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 9 November 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - The Morris-Tube Fatality. Unexplained Mystery. - The Inquest on THOMAS ROBERT GOODCHILD (16), boy, 2nd class, who was shot while practising at the Morris-tube on board the Inconstant on Monday, was opened yesterday at the R.N. Hospital, Stonehouse, by Mr R. R. Rodd, Coroner and adjourned in order that the Jury might visit the scene of the accident. Mr John Cockram represented the Admiralty Law Agent. - Surgeon James L. Barford deposed to being in attendance upon deceased within a few seconds of the accident happening. There was a wound on the left side of the neck and the bullet could be felt lodged under the skin on the other side of the neck. Deceased was unconscious. He was carried to the sick bay and after receiving attention there was removed to Hospital. - A description of the work being done at the time of the accident was given by Petty Officer 1st Class F. P. Vigurs. Witness stated that he had ten boys, deceased being one of them, under his charge for deflection teaching at the Morris-tube. They were divided into two crews of five, one crew being kept in the rear while the other worked at the gun. Practice was being made with a 4.7 q.f. gun. The gun was fired by means of a rifle, which was attached to it, and the targets were fixed at the end of a spar, pivoted on the top of the gun and carried out clear of the ship's side. The bullets, which were small, dropped, when fired, into a box at the end of the gun. - The Coroner: Whilst the target is fitted in that way no one can get in the line of fire? - Witness: It is possible for them to get there. Proceeding, witness said after several rounds had been fired the target required to be shifted and he ordered "cease fire." - The Coroner: What was done to put the gun in absolute safety? - Witness: I gave the order to No. 2 boy to place the brush in the rifle and give me the bolt. - Does that put the gun out of action? - Yes. - Was that actually done? - Yes. Boy Brant gave me the bolt. After that I trained the gun as far out as I could get it and then gave the order "in targets." As the target was being hauled in it blew out of the frame. Another boy brought another target around to him and this was placed in the frame. Witness then went to the right of the gun and placed the bolt down while he tore off the cover of a cardboard box, with which he intended to plug in the target and so prevent its flapping. Not long after he heard the report of the rifle and saw that the deceased had been shot. - The Coroner: What condition was the rifle in? - Witness: I thought it could not be my rifle, because I had had the bolt in my hand not a minute before, but on knocking the knob of the rifle in I found an exploded cartridge there. The bolt was in its position, and the brush was out. - Have you ascertain how that bolt got back there? - No. Deceased was standing there when he went round. It was this boy's duty to load and the only explanation he could think of was that he did so unknowingly. - Would that be for smartness to be ready? - It is hard to say what the boy had in his mind. - At any rate, no one living has been able to explain how that bolt got into the gun? - No, sir. - I take it, it ought not to have been put back without your orders? - No. - What do you think actually happened? - I think that the deceased himself must have loaded the rifle, and some way or other he must have moved the gun, with the result that it went off. - It would not go off without somebody firing? - It is hard to say. You do not know what may not happen. - No evidence is going to be produced showing who actually fired the rifle? - I cannot tell who did that, or how it was done. - You do not know how the bolt got back to the rifle, who fired it, or whether it was fired at all? - No. - It would look as if there were only two reasons for this boy's death; either that the bolt was not withdrawn, or that somebody, contrary to all orders and regulations, put it back and the gun went off either accidentally or was fired? - Yes, sir. - Were there many in the line of fire when it went off? - No. I was as near as anyone could be. I was out in the front with another boy about the target. Witness added that the deceased had no business to be where he was. When last he was him before the accident he was standing by the rifle. - Why should this boy want to load the rifle? - I can't say. - How long had he been at this sort of work? - Four or five days. He appeared to be a very good boy. - Not a boy likely to do a thing like that, although we know what boys are for skylarking? - I thought he was a very good boy, who would not do anything like that. - It seems an extraordinary thing? - It does. - All these boys must have been well together? - They were not far apart, but when they are standing like that they are gaping about and not paying the same attention to one another which they would if they were firing. - You, as instructor of these boys cannot throw any more light on the matter? - No. - You are positive you had the bolt in your hand? - Yes, the boy gave it to me. - A Juror asked whether it would not be necessary in order to be shot to stand in front of the gun? - The Coroner by way of reply, said it would be necessary for the Jury to see the gun and the targets. For his part, he did not understand the working of it. - A Juror: It seems curious that the boy who put the bullet in should be shot. - The Coroner and Jury decided to view the ship on Thursday and afterwards resume the Inquiry at the R.N. Hospital.

Western Morning News, Friday 11 November 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Morris-Tube Fatality. No Evidence Of Who Fired The Gun. The Jury's Suggestion. [Two further columns of evidence, resulting in:-] Remarkable Silence: Staff-Surgeon W. P. Walker, whose evidence was taken at the R.N. Hospital on the return of the Jury, said the deceased was admitted on Monday afternoon about 2.30 and died shortly after. The bullets (produced) entered the left side of the neck, and in its passage to the other side fractured the spine. - Summing up, the Coroner said he was bound to say that the evidence was not at all satisfactory or free from question. Every one of the eight boys corroborated P.O. Vigurs in the statement that the bolt was withdrawn on the order "cease fire" being given, but it was a very extraordinary thing that not one of them could tell by whom or how the bolt was replaced, the gun fired, and deceased shot. It was first suggested that deceased did it himself, but when asked how he could possibly have fired the gun and got to the muzzle in time to receive the shot it was said, "Well, I don't know. It went off." That was the position as the evidence at present stood; the gun reloaded, the bolt replaced and not a living soul in the ship had told the Jury who fired it or how it was fired. The only help in arriving at their verdict was given by Lieut. Dinwaddy, who said he investigated the matter within ten minutes of the accident, and from what he then heard and from what he knew of Vigurs - a man of 15 years' service, most truthful and reliable - he believed the bolt was withdrawn and further knowing these boys, whose word could not be taken at all - in other words, were most untruthful in his experience - he believed that they were playing with the rifle, that they did reload it, replace the bolt and fire. but which of the boys fired he (the Coroner) thought it was not possible to say, because they all denied having touched the rifle and did not appear willing to say who actually did the mischief. Boys would be boys and for himself he believed this was how it did happen. The mischief was in the instructor placing the bolt out of his possession. The gunnery lieutenant and the Admiralty regulation directed that the instructor "Shall see the bolt is withdrawn," and stopped there. If the Jury took the view that this boy was shot through the other lads playing with the gun, it would be quite proper for them to ask the Admiralty to extend that regulation to say that the instructor should not only see that the bolt was withdrawn, but should also see to its safe custody until it was required for use again, so that if it were left about in a similar way he would be guilty of a breach of the regulation. At present it seemed to him he had not wronged any regulation. He saw the bolt withdrawn and that satisfied the regulation. If the Jury believed that the bolt was withdrawn they must believe that the boys were telling what was not the truth and that they were playing with the rifle when it was discharged and accidentally shot GOODCHILD. - Verdict And Recommendation. - The verdict was that deceased died from a Gunshot Wound Accidentally Received whilst at gunnery instruction, to which was added a recommendation to the Admiralty to enlarge their regulation so as to make the instructor responsible not only for the withdrawal of the bolt, but also its safe custody until required for use again. - Funeral Of The Victim. - The funeral of THOMAS R. GOODCHILD took place yesterday. The body was conveyed to the cemetery in a hearse but otherwise naval honours were accorded. The lad's mother and sister were the only personal mourners, but a large number of his shipmates, under Lieut. the Hon. C. F. Cavendish, Mr T. L. Dix and M H. Attwater, gunners, R.N. were present. On the way from the R.N. Hospital to the cemetery, the band of the Impregnable played Chopin's Funeral March, and at the close of the service two volleys were fired over the grave. Rev. J. H. Moriarty, chaplain to R.N. Hospital, conducted the service. Wreaths were sent by deceased's mother and sister, the officers of the Impregnable, the gunnery instructors of the Inconstant, deceased's messmates and the boys of the Impregnable.

STOKE DAMEREL - At an Inquest held on HENRY LANE, aged 67, upholsterer of Market-street, Devonport, the evidence showed that on returning home on Wednesday morning, he fell down in the kitchen and expired. Dr McElwaine attributed death to syncope and a verdict was returned accordingly.

Western Morning News, Saturday 12 November 1910
PLYMOUTH - Pneumonia Follows A Fall. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at Plymouth yesterday on the body of MRS AMY VENNING SEARLE, aged 91 years, a widow, who had been living in Mutley Park terrace with her son-in-law. the latter, J. A. Cousins, hairdresser, said that on October 8th, while he was away from home the maid, hearing a noise, went to MRS SEARLE'S room and found her on the floor. - Dr Gerald Robinson said he found that MRS SEARLE had fractured her thigh. He had attended her since the accident. Pneumonia had set in and caused death. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Stonehouse Baby's Death. "Nothing But Skin Covering Bone." - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at Stonehouse Townhall yesterday on THOMAS GEORGE MARSHALL, aged one year and ten months, the child of HENRY MARSHALL, general labourer, Peel-street. - MARGARET MARSHALL, the mother, stated that on October 30th the child pulled a cup of tea off the table and was scalded. She did not regard the case as serious and did not call a doctor. She applied sweet oil and continued to dress the injury up to the child's death on Tuesday last. What she took to be liveliness on Tuesday, must have been convulsions. Soon after the birth, a Mrs Elliott, Peel-street, looked after the baby whilst witness went out to work and for ten months after this woman died the baby was cared for by day by Emily Ogden, Peel-street, to whom witness paid 3s. a week to have the child looked after and provided with tea and breakfast. - The Coroner: The child is very thin. How do you account for that? - Witness: I don't know. He was a very heavy baby. - The child is in a very emaciated condition. - I have always done by best. - When did it start to get thin like this? - Only since the accident. - Wasted since then? - Yes, sir. Witness added that her husband was not in constant work and her financial state had a good deal to do with not sending for a doctor. Since the accident the child had only taken broth and liquids. - The Foreman: Seeing the child wasting away, you did not think it necessary to call a doctor? - It was lively and running about. - Dr W. H. Waterfield deposed to arriving soon after the child's death. He found the scald extended from the top of the left shoulder down the left side of the chest. On the arm the scald was only a narrow line, but it broadened out on the chest. The muscles were destroyed. The treatment described by the mother was not sufficient from a medical point of view. Amongst some people there seemed to be an impression that any oil, so long as it was oil, would do. Sometimes camphorated oil was applied. - The Coroner: Was there any reason why the child should not be pulled round? - It would have had a better chance with medical treatment but you can never tell in the case of a scald that a child will not succumb, even with the best treatment. The child weighed only 16 ½ lb., whereas it should have weighed 2 stone. There was not a particle of fat or muscle on the chest, or any part of it. It was extremely emaciated, in fact simply skin covering the bone. If the child had been differently fed it would very likely not have wasted so. Medical advice should have been called in. The organs of the body were very healthy. Death was due to what was known at Curling's ulcer of the duodenum - a complaint which sometimes appeared in the cases of children 14 or 15 days after a scald. - The Coroner considered it necessary that inquiries should be made by the Police as to the case, and for the purpose the Inquest was adjourned until Tuesday next.

Western Morning News, Monday 14 November 1910
TORQUAY - The Torquay Suicide. - At the Inquest held on Saturday by Mr S. Hacker, on FREDERICK DELBRIDGE, professional to the Torquay Cricket Club, who committed suicide by cutting his throat in his parent's house at Daison-cottages, Upton, on the previous day, it was stated by HARRY DELBRIDGE, brother, that deceased, owing to being unwell, had not been to work for a week. After breakfast he went upstairs, saying he would have a smoke and shortly afterwards he returned and took from a shelf what was subsequently found to be two razors. A thud on the bedroom floor was heard and on the brother going into the room he found deceased lying partly on the bed and partly on the floor, a blood-stained razor being near. He was just breathing when his brother reached him and died very quickly. He had complained of pains in the head and during the week had talked very strangely. On Friday deceased had received a postcard from a young woman, but he burned it before it was seen by anyone else. - Dr Winter, who had attended DELBRIDGE at intervals during the past eighteen months, said he had complained of headaches. Witness understood that whilst in South Wales, three years since, deceased had an attack of influenza, which seemed to have left an effect. Although always sensible DELBRIDGE suffered at times from irritation of the brain. The cut in the throat was very deep, all the vessels on one side of the neck being cut through and death was due to the haemorrhage. A verdict of "Suicide whilst in a state of Temporary Insanity" was returned.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 15 November 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Mr J. A. Pearce, Borough Coroner, conducted an Inquest at Devonport Guildhall last evening on MRS ANNIE WILLIS, a widow, aged 64, who was found dead the previous day in a house at Bartor-avenue. THOS. ALBERT WILLIS, Granby-road (son), Mildred Alice Gill, Warleigh Avenue, Gladys Emily Gill and William Gill having given evidence, Dr G. Pearson attributed death to syncope, due to fatty degeneration of the heart. A verdict of Death from "Natural Causes" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - Mr R. B. Johns held two Inquests at the Plymouth Mortuary yesterday. In the case of ANN JOHNSON, widow of a journeyman shipwright, who died at 12.30 on Sunday, Dr Lindsey said death was due to heart disease. Touching the death of ALICE MABEL JOHNSON, the three-month-old child of a naval stoker, of St Leonard's-road, deceased's mother stated she found the child dead early on Sunday morning. Dr Hughes said death was due to inflammation of the heart. "Natural Causes" was the verdict in each case.

NEWTON ABBOT - Child's Death From Scalding. - At Newton Abbot yesterday Mr S. Hacker, Coroner, held an Inquest upon FREDERICK GEORGE TUCKER, aged three. SARAH ANN TUCKER, mother, stated that on Friday at tea-time, the child, who was in the kitchen with two other children, got on a chair to reach something from the mantle-piece. He over-balanced, and in falling clutched at the spout of the kettle, containing boiling water. This fell on him, badly scalding his head. - In reply to the Coroner, witness said she had a fireguard, but it was not in use at the time. Mr Cook and herself were there when the accident occurred. - The Coroner said the law was that fireguards must be provided where there were children. - William Henry Cook said there was no one near the child at the time. - Dr Llewellyn Jones said deceased was suffering from scalds on the face, thigh and forearm and also from shock. The child was about to have measles, and that might have contributed to the accident by causing dizziness. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 16 November 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Stonehouse Child's Death. Censure For Not Calling A Doctor. - At Stonehouse Townhall yesterday, Mr R. R. Rodd, County Coroner, resumed an Inquest on THOMAS GEORGE MARSHALL, aged one year and ten months, the child of a labourer, living in Peel-street, which had been adjourned in order that the Police might make inquiries, the medical evidence showing that deceased was in a very emaciated condition. The mother had stated that the child was healthy and in good condition until a fortnight before its death, when it pulled a cup of tea off the table and received scalds about the chest. Since then it had wasted, but it was not thought necessary to call in a doctor. The injured parts were dressed with sweet oil. The cause of death was Carling's ulcer of the duodenum, which Dr W. H. Waterfield said sometimes appeared in children after severe scalds. - Alice Maud Tartett, a neighbour, the first witness called, said she had known the MARSHALLS for 14 years. They were hard-working people and all right as parents. Deceased was a fine little boy before the accident, fat and healthy. - The Coroner: You do not think she would wilfully neglect her child? - Witness: Oh! no, sir. - Emma Ogden, Peel-street, deposed to deceased previously being healthy and in good condition. The mother appeared very fond of it. - Inspector Joslin, Devon Constabulary, gave the result of his inquiries. He found the other children of the family well clad and looking very healthy. In the course of the last three years he had observed that, although the family were sometimes very poor through the husband being out of work, the children always looked clean and all right. - The Coroner, in summing up, said MRS MARSHALL was a person of sufficient experience to have been able to observe that the child's injuries required medical treatment. The father and mother were equally to blame. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and censured the parents for neglecting to call in a doctor. The Coroner said the mother had admitted being aware she could have had the services of the parish doctor if she could not afford to engage another.

Western Morning News, Thursday 17 November 1910
ST BUDEAUX - Inquest At Honicknowle. - Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest at the Victory Inn, Honicknowle, yesterday, on REGINALD FREDERICK MAUNDER, aged six months, the child of a general labourer living at Quarry-cottages. - Inspector Westcott, N.S.P.C.C., said that on May 24th he found the home was in a filthy condition, but the child was fairly clean and appeared healthy. On August 5th the house was as bad as ever and the deceased looked very ill. He told MS MAUNDER she must call in a doctor. He found the house very dirty and the child neglected on various other dates. - Miss Clarke, district nurse at Crownhill, said she first saw the child at the age of one month. It was then in a dirty and unhealthy condition. She had visited the home at least a dozen times since then, and the child seemed to improve and become stronger. The house was exceptionally dirty. Witness believed the conditions were due to the mother's carelessness, but she was also ignorant. - Dr Olver, Crownhill, said the surroundings were bad, and the cottage was very dirty. The death of the child was due to syncope, the result of acute indigestion, caused through improper feeding. The general state of the internal organs was quite healthy and there was no reason, if the food had been prepared as directed, why an attack of syncope should have supervened. Witness thought the mother was careless as well as ignorant. - Mr Rodd then asked the father if he would like to address the Court. - The Coroner said there had no doubt been neglect, but it was for the Jury to say whether that neglect amounted to criminal negligence. He thought they would content with severely censuring the mother and warning her to be much more careful in the future. - The Jury concurred. - The Coroner, addressing MRS MAUNDER, said she might consider herself very fortunate that she had got off so lightly. She had had a narrow escape from being committed for manslaughter. She must see in future that her home was kept clean, otherwise she and her husband would get themselves into serious trouble.

Western Morning News, Saturday 19 November 1910
NEWTON ABBOT - Deadly Flannelette. - At Newton Abbot yesterday, an Inquest was held on JANIE BASTOW, the eight-year-old daughter of WM. L. BASTOW, an engine driver of Kingsteignton. The mother stated that on Wednesday night she left deceased and the baby in the kitchen while she went for some supper beer, the other three children having gone to bed. She did not remain in the Inn more than five minutes. A piece of candle, which was kept in the cupboard, had been burnt at the stove. Witness supposed that the child fetched the candle in order to get some coals for the fire. - Dr Culross said the child was so badly burned that it was marvellous that she lived to reach the Hospital. All he could do was to dress the wounds and inject morphia to deaden the pain. The child knew she was dying. - It was stated that the child was wearing a flannelette skirt and the Coroner, Mr S. Hacker, commented strongly on the danger of this material and on leaving a fire without a fireguard. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and cautioned the parents to provide a fireguard in future. The Coroner said the child's death was caused by the neglect of proper precautions. If she had been under seven years of age the parents would have been punished according to law.

Western Morning News, Monday 21 November 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - A Little Street Arab. Devonport Boy's Death At The Workhouse. - Mr J. A. Pearce (Devonport Borough Coroner) held an Inquest at the Workhouse on Saturday on WILLIAM JOHN BADMIN, aged 15, son of WILLIAM HENRY BADMIN, Dockyard labourer, Queen-street. MRS BADMIN said deceased was admitted to the Workhouse Infirmary on October 17th. Two or three months previously witness sent for Dr Bolus, and, he being away, Dr Wilson saw deceased. Subsequently, Dr Bolus saw him and gave him some lotion and pills. A midwife had seen the boy before Dr Bolus and it was in consequence of what she told her, that she called in a doctor. She did not continue to have Dr Bolus as she could not afford to do so, but obtained a bottle of lotion from a chemist. Deceased did not seem to get any better and Inspector Westcott, N.S.P.C.C. called on October 15th and said the boy must be removed to the Workhouse Infirmary, as witness only had two rooms. Witness had seen deceased every week and was satisfied that he received every attention. Deceased was rather weak-minded and earned about 3d. a day selling papers and ginger-beer on ships with other boys. - The Coroner said that the deceased being weak minded, witness ought to have seen what he was doing. He wanted the parents to realize their responsibility. The boy should have been removed to the Infirmary before. - Witness said she did not know how to go about the matter. - The Coroner said she could easily have ascertained. - Witness said that in consequence of deceased having made a complaint about a stoker on board the Ramillies, witness took the lad on board, but the man was not there. Deceased afterwards picked out a man at the R.N. Hospital, but the man denied the allegation made against him. She had not seen the sailor since. Sometimes deceased used to be out until 11 p.m. - Dr G. C. Sandford said that after the admission of deceased to the Infirmary, witness communicated with the Police. Deceased progressed favourably until Thursday evening, when he complained of headache. The nurse took his temperature, which was about normal, and told the other patients to keep quiet. About 4.30 on Friday morning he appeared to have an epileptic fit and died the same morning. Witness had made a post-mortem examination and found that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage, the most probable cause of which was the disease from which deceased was suffering. - The Coroner said he could not understand why the father took no steps to inform the Police. Until a neighbour wrote to the Police anonymously they knew nothing about the matter. Witness said he went to the Ramillies, but was told that the man complained of was in Hospital and he had since been informed that he had gone on foreign service. - Chief Constable Watsons aid the case came to his notice on July 24th through the receipt of an anonymous letter, evidently written by someone who lived in the neighbourhood. He (Mr Watson) communicated with the Inspector for the N.S.P.C.C. and sent one of his own inspectors, to whom the boy made a statement. The sailor against whom the allegation was made absolutely denied it and said it was a case of mistaken identity. He (Mr Watson) discussed the case with the justices, who agreed with him that there was no evidence to justify a prosecution. He believed the father was a quiet, decent working man, but the mother was addicted to drink and did not look after the children. The deceased had been running the streets wet nights and fine. He was what was commonly known as a little street arab. - The Coroner described it as a terribly shocking case. The boy, being weak-minded, should have been better looked after by the mother during the day, and the father, who was home in the evening. The Jury found a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence; and the Coroner admonished both parents.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 23 November 1910
EXETER - An Old Wound. - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on NORMAN LEITH HOY CLARK, 64, of Frog-street, it was stated that deceased was a retired lieutenant of the navy and had seen a great deal of active service, being retired with a pension for service and for wounds. - Dr Atkins said on making a post-mortem examination he found an old ununited fracture of a rib, evidently the result of a wound received years ago. Death was due to heart failure, occasioned by a diseased liver and congestion of the lungs. - Verdict accordingly.

SOUTH BRENT - Ex-Judge's Death At Brent. - An Inquest was held last evening at Brent concerning the sudden death of MR EDWARD BOVILL PEACOCK on Sunday morning at the Pack Horse Hotel. - Mrs Blanche Evelyn Howard-Jones (London) said deceased was her father, aged about 70 years. He was a retired judge, formerly of the Indian Civil Service and had a pension. Deceased had lived in Brent for about 10 years. She knew nothing about his illness until Monday morning. Her father had made a will. - Mrs Elizabeth Jane Carpenter, of the Pack Horse Hotel, stated that she had nursed the deceased through his illness. He would not have a doctor, although he had a bad cough, complained of shortness of breath and appeared feeble. She heard him about 4 a.m. and again at 6 a.m. on the Sunday, but on going to the room about seven o'clock she found him dead. - Alfred Shillabeer, a labourer, stated that deceased used to call him his groom, as he had to look after his horses. He received payment in small sums at various times. On Saturday deceased told him to sell his horses. - Dr Style stated that he had known deceased for years, and attended him for influenza in March, when he was living at Brent Mill. Witness was then aware of an affection of the heart, probably valvular disease. In his opinion death was due to natural causes. The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with this evidence.

Western Morning News, Monday 28 November 1910
DARTMOUTH - Stoker's Fatal Fall. Thrown Out Of A Trap Near Dartmouth. - On Saturday at Dartmouth Mr A. M. Davson held an Inquest on JAMES CONNOLLY, 25, stoker, of H.M.S. Pomone. Eng. Lieut. Richardson, R.N. College, was present. John Henry Johnson, stoker, stated that on the previous Sunday afternoon the deceased, witness and another stoker named Bulmer left Dartmouth for a walk to Blackawton. At the Inn at Hemborough Post, they had two glasses of best each. On arriving at Blackawton they entered the George Inn, where they had two glasses of beer, some bread and cheese and after that two more glasses of beer. They arranged to drive home and when about half a mile from Blackawton witness, who was with the driver, was told CONNOLLY had fallen out of the trap. They jumped out and helped him back into the trap. His nose was bleeding and they thought he was stunned by the fall. Deceased did not complain of any internal injury. They drove as far as Tower College, Dartmouth and then got out of the vehicle; CONNELLY walking home accompanied by witness. When in bed deceased made a complaint to witness and in the morning he sent for a doctor. he did not consider deceased the worse for drink. Victor Bulmer, stoker, corroborated and said CONNOLLY fell out of the wagonette when he got up to light his pipe. A wheel caught in a rut and he was pitched out. The witness also said the deceased was not the worse for liquor. John E. Gordon, landlord of the George Inn, said the men were not the worse for drink when they left his house. - William Cole, driver of the vehicle, made a similar statement. Dr J. H. Harris gave evidence as to the internal injuries and said they had caused peritonitis, to which death was due. There was a hole in the road where the accident occurred, caused by a spring. It had been mended but the water had caused another hole. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

Western Morning News, Tuesday 29 November 1910
PLYMOUTH - At the Plymouth Workhouse Infirmary yesterday the Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) held an Inquest on JOSEPH HENRY REID, aged 18. The mother stated that her son had resided with her in Buckwell-street. On the 4th inst. he fell, spraining his ankle. He became so ill that he was first sent to the Homeopathic Hospital and then to the Workhouse Infirmary. Dr Cooke said after admission at the Infirmary the youth's foot became inflamed and it was found necessary to amputate it. At that time he had abscesses on other parts of the body. For some years REID had a deformity of the foot, which was injured by the fall. Death was due to gangrene and abscesses.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 6 December 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Baby's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce, Coroner, held an Inquest at the Royal Albert Hospital, Devonport, yesterday, on WINIFRED MAY RAMBRIDGE, aged 2, who died from burns on Saturday. SUSAN ELIZABETH RAMBRIDGE, wife of a bookbinder of 21 Church-street, said on Saturday morning she left her two children, a boy, age 5, and the deceased, in bed. A small fireguard was before the fire. When she returned five or ten minutes later the room was full of smoke. Some rags were smouldering in a chair. Deceased was standing by the side of the bed with nothing on. She was badly burnt all over. Witness picked her u and handed her to a neighbour. Deceased had been dressed in a flannelette bed-gown and a woollen vest and these had been burnt. Deceased might have climbed on to the top of a chair, and fell into the fender, or a cinder might have fallen out and caught her nightgown on fire. - Mrs E. Purdie, 12 Church-street, said she wrapped the child in cotton wool and applied oil. Dr Rolston ordered the child's removal to the Royal Albert Hospital. - Dr Hugh White, House Surgeon at the Hospital, said when admitted deceased was unconscious and severely burnt all over the body. She died about three hours after admission, and the cause of death was shock due to burns. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, and the Jury expressed sympathy with the parents.

Western Morning News, Monday 12 December 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Servant's Death. - Mr J. A. Pearce, Coroner, held an Inquest at Devonport on Saturday, on ALICE SMITH, domestic servant. Miss Florence Woodrow, 19 Cumberland-street, said deceased, who was about 33 years of age, had no relations. She had not enjoyed good health and had received medical attention. The previous evening about ten o'clock deceased was taken ill and said she could scarcely breathe. She died almost immediately. Dr T. McElwaine said death was due to chronic valvular disease of the heart. A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 17 December 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Dockyard Fatality. - At the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, yesterday, Mr R. R. Rodd held an Inquest on WILLIAM MARTIN, aged 39, a Dockyard labourer of Beatrice-avenue, Plymouth. Mr L. P. Evans, H.M. Inspector of Factories, was present, and Mr J. Cochrane represented Messrs. Goldsmith and Peck, Admiralty Law Agents. - MRS MARTIN, the widow, having identified, said in Hospital her husband told her he was crushed by the crane. He did not suggest that anyone was to blame. - Staff Surgeon Blunt, R.N., said MARTIN was suffering from internal injuries. Death was due to haemorrhage of the left pleura cavity. Four ribs were fractured, and there was also injury to the arteries. - Wm. K. Lugger, labourer, of William-street, Morice Town, said MARTIN was working between two steam cranes in Keyham North Yard, unloading coal from a collier. The crane next the one which deceased was working, suddenly stopped when being turned around, and he found that MARTIN was jammed between the carriage and the revolving part of the crane. It was not necessary in the discharge of his duties for MARTIN to be so near that crane. - Henry G. Young, crane driver, also gave evidence. - James Friend, Inspector of store-housemen, said there was ample room in which MARTIN could have worked safely. He was really infringing the regulations in leaving his crane. - As the Jury thought it inadvisable to arrive at a verdict without the evidence of the second crane driver and the night attendant at the Hospital. The Inquest was accordingly adjourned until this morning.

Western Morning News, Monday 19 December 1910
TEIGNMOUTH - Teignmouth Tragedy. - Mr S. Hacker held an Inquest at Teignmouth on Saturday on WILLIAM THOMAS BOWDEN, aged 68, picture and art dealer, 16 Batton-street, who was found dead on the previous morning. - One of the Jurors, Mr Irving Taylor, asked if it was necessary for the Jury to view the body and the Coroner answered in the affirmative. - SAMUEL ROWDEN, brother, said deceased was a bachelor and lived alone. At 7.30 on Friday morning he found the gas in deceased's house still burning and everything as he had left it the previous night. Descending to the basement leading to the kitchen he found deceased lying at the bottom of the stairs. It looked as though deceased had fallen down backwards. Dr F. E. Little said the cause of death was fracture of the base of the skull. In August last deceased had a seizure and it was possible that he had some sort of a seizure before he fell. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

EAST STONEHOUSE - Dockyard Crane Accident. - At the Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, on Saturday, Mr R. Robinson Rodd resumed the Inquest on WILLIAM MARTIN, 39, Dockyard labourer, who died from injuries resulting from a crane accident at H.M. Dockyard, Keyham. - Wm. John Hawkin, crane driver, said deceased asked him to "take tally" temporarily of the buckets of coal which were being hauled from the Frances Duncan. Deceased had to stoop to pass another crane and witness thought that was how the accident occurred. It was witness's opinion that the matter was a pure accident and that nobody was to blame. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and expressed sympathy with the widow and Coroner concurring.

Western Morning News, Tuesday 20 December 1910
STOKE DAMEREL - Mr J. A. Pearce, Coroner, held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on WILLIAM WELLS, aged 57, pensioner, 16 Johnston-terrace. Deceased died suddenly in the morning. Dr W. H. Davis said death was due to valvular disease of the heart and the Jury recorded a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

EGG BUCKLAND - Lance-Corporal's Death. Hastened By Playing Football. - Mr R. R. Rodd, County Coroner, yesterday held an Inquest at Crownhill Barracks on GEORGE HENRY DEEMING, lance-corporal in the Sherwood Foresters and a member of the regimental football team. KATE DEEMING, widow, stated that her husband left home on Saturday to play football at Oreston. He was then apparently quite well. Just after 6.30 he returned home in good spirits. He had some tea, but did not seen inclined to eat much. He complained of having been sick on the football field. Some time after he had finished tea he was taken ill and died before assistance could be rendered. He had enjoyed good health, but for the past week had not been quite himself. - Pt. Thomas Murphy, Sherwood Foresters, one of the football team which played at Oreston, said the deceased, who was centre forward, was not playing his usual good game. Witness asked him what was the matter and he said he felt ill. He vomited slightly. Witness did not see him receive any knocks on the field. He had known him four years and during that time he had been the picture of health. - Capt. Waters. R.A.M.C., in medical charge of the troops at Crownhill, said a post-mortem examination showed that death was due to syncope. The exertion of playing football had doubtless hastened the end. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes," and expressed sympathy with the relatives. - The Coroner remarked that the deceased seemed to have been exceedingly popular in his regiment and he thought the Jury would sympathize with his comrades in their loss.

Western Morning News, Thursday 22 December 1910
TORQUAY - Mysterious Death. Allegation Of Blow After A Torquay Election Procession. - At Torquay yesterday Mr Sydney Hacker, Coroner, held an Inquest on CHARLES ERNEST HAWKINGS, aged 60, cabman, who a short time prior to his death alleged that he was hit on the head and knocked down. - Richard Herbert Stoyles, of 3 Alexandra-road, Ellacombe, said deceased accosted him in Market-street on Monday evening when returning from seeing the torchlight procession, held in connection with the election. Deceased was staggering and witness asked "What is the matter?" He replied, "They hit me on the head and knocked me down." Witness asked for an explanation, but deceased was unable to reply, so witness and his wife took him by the arms and led him towards his home. Deceased on the way tried to speak and complained that his head was aching, and he seemed to become more insensible as he went along. Eventually he collapsed and witness had to carry him the rest of the journey. On reaching home deceased commenced vomiting and again referred mysteriously to a blow he said he had received. No satisfactory information could be got from him, however, Stoyles also said he went for Dr G. M. Winter but the doctor said he was unable to attend deceased at that moment; he would try to come later on. - In reply to Police Inspector Pratt, witness said deceased's clothes had no appearance of street mud. There was a dry mark as if he had leant against a wall. - Died Before Arrival of A Doctor. - MRS CHARLOTTE HAWKINGS, the widow, who has recently had a seizure, was next called but she was in an almost helpless condition. She was understood to say that when the deceased arrived home on Monday evening he was very ill, but bore no marks of a blow. He died before midnight and before Dr Winter arrived. - The Coroner said certainly in so serious a case another doctor should have been fetched. - A daughter of deceased was present to give evidence, but fainted during the Inquiry and was unable to make any statement. - Dr G. M. Winter said when Stoyles called on him about ten o'clock, he told him he was unable to come, but advised him to call another doctor. He added that he would come at eleven or twelve if he could be of any assistance. He suggested that Dr Cook should be called. - MISS MAUD HAWKINGS: Dr Cook was not at home. - The Coroner: How do you know? - Mr Stoyles saw him watching the procession. - Dr Winter, continuing, said he arrived at deceased's house soon after midnight and found that he had been dead apparently about fifteen minutes. There were no marks of violence externally, all appearances being perfectly natural. A blood-vessel had been ruptured on the brain and in his (the doctor's) opinion death was due to apoplexy. - Questioning by the Coroner, witness said there was not necessarily any direct connection between a blow and the haemorrhage. With the muscular tissues degenerated, as was the case with deceased, a slight blow might have caused abnormal excitement, which might possibly have caused the blood-vessel to give away. It was possible to sustain a very heavy blow on the head without affecting the brain internally. It was rather unusual, however, in such a case, for the deceased to be able to talk at the end of a certain length of time. - Constable Saw No Disturbance. - P.C. Avery said he was directing the traffic at Market Corner from eight until eleven on Monday night. There was a big crowd in the front street the whole of the time, but he did not see anything like a disturbance nor did he see deceased. - Summing up, the Coroner said it was possible deceased had been under a delusion and had imagined that he had received a blow, thereby becoming excited, so as to cause indirectly apoplexy. - A verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned. - The Coroner added that it was always the duty of relatives when anyone was lying in a serious condition to at once summon a doctor. - A Juror questioned whether the doctor would have been able to render assistance had he arrived, but the Coroner replied that it was no question as to whether he would be able to render effective aid or not. It was the relatives duty to call a doctor and see that he attended the person ill.

STOKE DAMEREL - Plymouth Lad's Death. The Discovery In A Cruiser's Boiler-Room. - Mr J. A. Pearce held an Inquest at the Royal Albert Hospital yesterday on ALFRED CHARLES COLE (14), boiler-maker's boy, in the employ of Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, who died on the previous day from injuries received through a fall on board the cruiser Lion. - Mr. K. E. Peck appeared on behalf of the dockyard authorities. Mr Percy T. Pearce for Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Mr F. W. Skardon for the mother and Mr C. H. Morris for the Home Office. - ELLEN MARY COLE, 10 Stooks-lane, Plymouth, said the deceased had been in the firm's employ only four weeks. - Fredk. William Foxwell, 54 Victory-street, boiler-maker, in the employ of Messrs. Vickers, said he had been working with the deceased. He saw him at 6 a.m. when he was holding a plate whilst witness made holes in it for the uptake. At that time witness wanted an order for some iron bolts and sent deceased to get it from the chargeman in another part of the ship. It was quite dark, there being no electric light in that part of the stokehold. He was working by the light of two candles. There were arrangements for the electric light, but it had not been fixed. In reply to Mr Skardon, witness said he watched the deceased cross the staging and disappear in the darkness. - Dr White, House Surgeon at the Hospital, said the deceased was admitted about 8.30 a.m. He was unconscious. Blood was flowing from his nose and part of the brain was protruding. The right side of the skull was completely shattered and as there was no hope of recovery, witness decided not to interfere. A post-mortem examination showed that the right side of the skull was broken into thirteen or fourteen pieces. One portion of the bone had penetrated the brain to the extent of 1 ½ inches. Death was due to fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain. - Charles Thos. Hunt, Ryder-road, coppersmith, said about 6.30 on Tuesday morning he had occasion to go into A boiler-room of the Lion, where he found the deceased in an unconscious state on the top of a tank. He would have to go down the ladder to get into the boiler-room. It was dark where the boy was found. - Mr Morris said he did not think the boy fell down the ladder but from a plank which he would have crossed to get on deck. He might have ascended the ladder and got on to the plank. He did not like the look of the plank when he saw it that morning. Continuing, witness said the ladder was well lighted. - Geo. Barr, 5 Balfour-terrace, Stoke, engineer foreman, employed by Messrs. Vickers said A boiler-room was in the forward part of the ship. From the top of the ladder to the tank was about 22 feet. To get the bolts the deceased would have had to climb the ladder, but he could have got from the ladder to the deck without going on the plank. There was a chance that the lank was slippery. There were obstructions of all kings on the top of the tank. - Mr Morris again expressed the opinion that the boy did not fall from the ladder. They were good solid steps, 4ft. wide. - A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. - Mr Pearce, on behalf of Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, said they deeply regretted the calamity that had befallen the lad's mother. The Jury also passed a vote of sympathy with the mother.

Western Morning News, Saturday 24 December 1910
EAST STONEHOUSE - Eccentric Man's Death. Found In A "Dilapidated " Room. - At the Inquest at Stonehouse Townhall yesterday on EDWIN JOHN SEYMOUR, who was found dead in his room at 44 George-street, Stonehouse, the previous evening, Sarah Jane Jean, widow, sister of the deceased, said he was brought up as a shop assistant and had been a commercial traveller. He had done no work for some years. Lately he had shown signs of weakness. Deceased was very eccentric and would not even allow witness into his room. - P.C. Nicholls said he found the body fully dressed. The room was in a dilapidated condition and full of rubbish. There was bread and meat in the house. A penny was found in his possession, in addition to a letter from the Bishop of Exeter, with a postal order for 5s. There were several pawn tickets in his possession. Deceased was cold and had probably been dead for several hours. - John Cox, in whose house the deceased lived, spoke of the deceased's eccentricity and Dr W. H. Waterfield said death was due to heart disease. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned. The Coroner said the deceased was known to them all and he was sure they were glad that it was a very merciful ending for him.

EAST STONEHOUSE - Parental Ignorance. Infant Fed On Boiled Bread. - At Stonehouse Townhall yesterday, Mr R. Robinson Rodd, Coroner, held an Inquest on LILIAN KATE SCOLES, aged three weeks, daughter of a dock labourer. The mother, EMMA SCOLES, said she had fed the deceased child from the breast, but had given it boiled bread on one occasion. - The Coroner: A most ridiculous thing to do. You might just as well have given her poison. - Dr W. H. Waterfield said death was due to suffocation, caused by infantile convulsions. It was very improper to feed a young child on bread. It caused irritation of the intestines and brought on convulsions. No child should be fed on solids until after it was twelve months old. - The Coroner said personally he thought it was a case of ignorance on the part of the mother, but it must be clearly understood that young children must not be fed with boiled bread, particularly at the age of three weeks. He would be compelled to take notice of such cases if they continued. The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

STOKE DAMEREL - Fatal Slip At Devonport. - Mr J. A. Pearce, Coroner, held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on ELIZABETH JESSIE SHUTTLEWORTH, 77 James-street, who died the previous day. HARRY SHUTTLEWORTH, husband, said deceased was 40 years old. She had complained at times of her heart and during the last four years she had frequently received medical attention. On Monday he was called to 4 Duncan-street, the residence of his sister-in-law, where he saw his wife sitting on a chair in the passage. P.C. Warne was there and Dr Sanders had been sent for. His wife told him she had slipped down in the street. He had her removed to his home, where she was put to bed. On Tuesday she complained of pains in her heart, and on Wednesday she collapsed. She did not recover, but died at 1.30 on Thursday. - Mary Ann Louisa Bolt, 4 Duncan Street, deceased's sister, said she was present when deceased slipped down in the street. Deceased said she had broken her leg. - Dr E. G. S. Sanders said after the accident in which deceased received a simple fracture of the left leg, she did not progress at all well. On Wednesday he called in Dr Fox for consultation. Death was due to heart failure, induced by simple fracture of the leg. A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical testimony.

PLYMOUTH - Laira Child's Death. - The Coroner (Mr R. B. Johns) held an Inquest at the S.D. and E.C. Hospital (Plymouth) yesterday on the 12 year old daughter of HENRY COCKING, army pensioner of Trefusis Cottage, Laira. Sarah Ann Hathaway, matron of the Girls' Industrial School, Portland-villas, said that on two occasions the girl fell down whilst playing with another girl. The second time she fell on her right arm, as a result of the parting of the rope on which she was swinging. She did not complain of the accident for some time after, but she saw Dr Eccles. Two days after she appeared to be a little worse and later he had a consultation with Dr Wilson. They agreed that it was a case for a Hospital. Dr Roberts, House Surgeon at the Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted on November 21st suffering from an abscess under the right arm. She was operated on and the abscess opened. She improved but there was another operation on December 10th, other abscesses forming. In his opinion the original abscess was caused by the fall. She died on December 21st from an abscess on the lung, which resulted from the first abscess. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Wednesday 28 December 1910
TIVERTON - Tiverton Infant's Death. - Mr A. Fisher, Coroner, held an Inquiry at Tiverton Infirmary last evening on EMILY LILIAN JURY, aged 14 days, daughter of MR and MRS JAMES JURY, of Barrington-street, who was found dead in bed on Christmas morning. MRS JURY, the mother, said the child was very healthy, the only trouble being a cold in its head, for which she rubbed in camphorated oil on the chest and back. The infant died on Christmas morning. - Dr Burgess said death was due to suffocation. He considered it a very dangerous practice for mothers to go off to sleep holding their infants to the breast. - The Coroner asked the midwife (Mrs Thorne) who had given evidence to warn mothers, in all future cases she attended not to hold infants to the breast when going to sleep. The midwife said she would act on the Coroner's suggestion. "Accidental Suffocation" was the verdict returned.

Western Morning News, Thursday 29 December 1910
EXETER - Fatal Fall At Exeter. - At an Inquest at Exeter yesterday on ELLEN HEWETT PARTRIDGE, widow, aged 80, of 11 College-avenue, Exeter, Robt. Britton of Little Silver, said about five weeks ago deceased fell over three stairs. She was downstairs when witness arrived four days later, and he took her upstairs and sent for a doctor. Deceased said she did not think it was necessary to call a doctor. - Dr Duncan said deceased had sustained a fractured thigh. Death was due to shock. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

STOKE DAMEREL - Lonely Man's Death At Devonport. - Mr A. Gard, Deputy Coroner, held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on SAMUEL JOHN MITCHELL, aged 39, waterman of 48 Cornwall-street, who was found dead in his house the previous night. ALFRED MITCHELL, 48 Cannon-street, brother, said he last saw deceased on Sunday night. On Tuesday night he was called to his brother's house where he found him dead in bed. Deceased lived by himself. Dr T. McElwaine said deceased's room was dirty and the bedclothes very scanty. he attributed death to inflammation of the base of the right lung. A verdict of "Death from Natural Causes" was returned.

Western Morning News, Saturday 31 December 1910
BATTERSEA, LONDON - Devon Doctor's End. Takes Poison During A Fit Of Depression. Pathetic Letters Read. - At the Battersea Coroner's Court, London, yesterday, an Inquest was held on EDGAR RICHARD SENHOUSE LIPSCOMBE, 51, a registered medical practitioner, who formerly resided at Starcross. - The widow, who gave her evidence almost inaudibly, and spoke in emotional tones towards the close, stated that her address was Granville-place, Portman-square, W. Deceased, after leaving Starcross, travelled for the benefit of his health and last month went as a patient to stay with Dr Reynolds, of Balham-hill. Witness had been told that the deceased was suffering from neurasthenia. When she last saw him, recently, he was so depressed that everyone in the house noticed it. He had suffered for over two years and a hundred times a day he used to say that he must take his life, as he was going mad. One doctor who attended him said that if he could put him into an asylum for twelve months he would cure him, but the deceased could not be certified as a lunatic. He went voluntarily to Dr Reynolds as he thought that he was going mad. - A Nervous Breakdown. - Dr Leonard Grugeon Reynolds said he received a telephone message from a doctor who was treating deceased and the latter came to stay with him on November 22nd. He was suffering from nervous breakdown of some standing. - The Coroner: Did he ever threaten his life? - The most he said to me when he was depressed was that there was a limit to human endurance. About three times he said that. - What was your judgment of the case? - That his nerves were absolutely shattered and that he required feeding up and encouraging. He put on weight very much and was improving considerably. He went up half a stone. On Monday morning, as deceased did not come down to breakfast, witness went to his room and found him sleeping quietly. Deceased had previously expressed a willingness to stay in bed and witness imagine he was doing so. On returning from Brixton at 11 o'clock witness went to the deceased's room and saw his right hand and his legs move. Twenty minutes later witness decided to awaken him as deceased had to go and see his wife and children at Granville-place. Deceased did not answer and could not be aroused and witness found he was unconscious. He immediately sent for his next door neighbour, a doctor, and proceeded to treat deceased for narcotic poisoning. - The Coroner: Why? - The pupils were very contracted, but there was nothing else beside that. I tried to restore him and washed the stomach out. We gave him strychnine and his pulse improved and we applied friction as he showed signs of improving. But as he did not come round altogether we telephoned to the Police to bring an ambulance and he was taken to Bolingbroke Hospital. - How far away is that? - About a mile and a half. The reason for moving him was to see if anything could be done, as I was not sure it was narcotic poisoning. There was an alternative diagnosis - some lesion of the brain. - That would rather suggest he ought not to be moved? - There was nothing to prove that he had taken poison. I saw no fresh marks on his arms only the vaccine marks. I found nothing in the way of a drug after making a search. - Pathetic Letters. - A letter was left. I found it on my return from the Hospital on a piece of furniture at the head of the bed. It was in his handwriting. It ran:- Dear Dr Reynolds, - I wish to thank you for your kindness since I have been with you and implore your forgiveness for my final act, especially at this season, but I can no longer stand the strain of the fight which has been going on so long. I beg you, as a last kindness, to see my remains are cremated. - Sincerely yours, E. LIPSCOMBE. - Rising from the back of the Court, the widow asked the Coroner to read another letter written by her husband, although she had been told by a Police Officer that it was not necessary to give it up. The letter ran:- Forgive me, oh, forgive me, my dear wife and children. I cannot any longer bear the mental and physical suffering. I have fought long against it, but my mind is giving way at last and I can no longer restrain myself. God bless you all always. Think mercifully of me, if you can. You know my desire to be cremated, but I cannot hope my ashes will be placed beside those of sweet Anne, though I should like it so. The thought of the rest of my life separated from you all is the last straw. - The Coroner pointed out that both letters were undated. - Dr Reynolds said death took place in the Hospital. He attended the post-mortem examination and saw no signs of haemorrhage on the brain. There appeared to be morphia poisoning. In deceased's room there was no smell of opium. - Questioned as to the deceased's mental state, witness said that deceased was suffering from the mental depression that accompanied nervous breakdown. He used to talk to me when he was very depressed about the long fight and ask me whether I really thought he was going to get better. I said, "Yes, you will get on well. All you have to do is to feed well and put on weight." And he was treated accordingly. - The Coroner: What precaution did you take to prevent any attempt? - I was with him all day and at night the surgery was locked. - When he went to see his wife did he go alone? - Yes. - Then he could go to the nearest chemist's shop? - He might do. - Could nothing be done to prevent such a thing. You would not certify him? - No. - Sleeping Draughts. - Mr Hill, who stated that he represented the deceased's legal advisor, and was appearing on behalf of the widow and friends, questioned the witness. He asked: Did DR LIPSCOMBE ever say to you that he was afraid of himself, as he felt himself going, or words to that effect; that he was afraid of his own company when very depressed and he felt he could not be trusted alone? - Yes. - He was often like that? - After he had been getting better, during the last few days he was very depressed. - He received a shock from the death of a very dear relative during the last few days? - He did - what he called his favourite uncle. - And you noticed that it had a very great effect on him? - Yes. - Did you find it necessary to induce sleep? - yes, he had a drug at night. - Every night? - Yes. - The Coroner: What were the drugs used? - He had been having veronal. - Did he have a sleeping draught last Sunday evening? - Yes. - Were the symptoms when you saw him on Monday consistent with veronal? - He did not have veronal that night. He had chloraldehyde. - Mr Hill: Were the symptoms consistent with that? - He was breathing quite naturally. - The Coroner: That is not quite an answer. The suggestion is that he might have taken an overdose of chloraldehyde. Have you ever seen a case of poisoning by chloraldehyde? - No, it is a perfectly safe hypnotic. - That depends on the quantity taken, and on the patient? - Yes. - Mr Hill pointed out that there was nothing to show when the letters were written, but the witness remarked that when the deceased went to bed on Sunday night they were not in the place where they were found. - Mr Hill: Is it not possible that they may have been written during severe depression consequent on the news of the uncle's death? - There is no date, but they may have been. Witness mentioned that on Sunday night he gave the deceased one and a half drams. - The Coroner: Has he had the same before? - Only one dram. He had had chloraldehyde once before. - Why did you increase the dose? - Because a dram did not last for long and he said he had a heavy day before him going up to town. it was recognized that he must have sleep to improve his condition. - And he asked for a larger dose? - He asked whether I could not give him more. I said "Yes." - Do you think that at 9.30 on Monday morning he could have been under the influence of the narcotic? - Yes. - Death Due To Narcotic Poison. - Dr Prior, of Bolingbroke Hospital, said deceased did not recover consciousness, and died the same evening; death being due to some narcotic drug. If he had had an overdose of chloraldehyde, the pupils would not have been so contracted. Witness had never seen a case of chloraldehyde poisoning. - Dr Freyberger, pathologist and toxicologist of St Thomas's Hospital, described the state of the body as revealed by the post-mortem examination and said that deceased showed signs of having died from narcotic poisoning of some kind. He gave reasons for his opinion that deceased had not died from an overdose of chloraldehyde. - The Coroner told the Jury that it was necessary to have a full investigation. The letter written to Dr Reynolds showed that the deceased must have contemplated taking his life, though it did not prove that he had done so. - The Jury brought in a verdict of "Suicide while of Unsound Mind." - The body of DR LIPSCOMBE is to be cremated this morning at Golder's Green and later in the day the ashes will be conveyed to Starcross for interment.

HULL - Another Devon Man's Suicide. Evidence At The Inquest. - Painful evidence was furnished to the Hull Coroner last evening at an Inquest concerning the death of NORMAN HALL MAINWARING, 51, commission agent, a native of Devon, who died at apartments in Hull on Thursday morning. The widow, who said the deceased was the son of the late GENERAL MAINWARING, journeyed from Scarborough, where she had been living apart from her husband. - The Coroner said the circumstances pointed to suicide in a somewhat curious way. As the deceased had opened the femoral artery he thought a post-mortem unnecessary. - Dr Stewart said he found MAINWARING in bed in a dying condition. He remained an hour before death supervened, but was unable to feel MAINWARING'S pulse. The bed was saturated with blood and the deceased had lost a considerable amount. The wound was incised, quite two inches long. on the upper part of the right thigh. The saphenous vein was cut near the femoral artery. - Replying to the Coroner, the doctor said he considered from the position of the wound that deceased had anatomical knowledge, and that his intention was to cut the femoral artery. He contended that the wound was self inflicted. Bleeding had ceased when witness saw the deceased and the wound had been inflicted about an hour before his arrival. Death was due to haemorrhage consequent upon the wound. - Louie Dodd, daughter of the deceased's landlady, said MAINWARING had lodged with them for two years, and always seemed in good spirits. He had never threatened suicide in her presence. He was not in debt with his lodgings and was a temperate man. - Thomas Hall, a lodger, said MAINWARING told him that he was a medical student and a married man living apart from his wife. The latter circumstance caused him depression. Deceased was not in pecuniary difficulties, for he had several pounds on him at the time of death. Witness saw him on Wednesday evening, when he seemed depressed. He heard groans early on Thursday morning and visited the deceased's room with another lodger. Deceased was in bed, which was saturated with blood. Witness failed to identify a penknife with which the injuries were inflicted, but said deceased once remarked that if he had the courage to face the next world he would do away with himself, but did not think he could do it. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide."

PLYMOUTH - At the Inquest on PATRICK BYGRAVES, the five-months-old child of a hawker of 46 High-street, Plymouth, a verdict of "Natural Causes" was returned. Dr Crowther said the child was not a healthy one and he had advised the parents not to have it vaccinated. Death was due to insufficient nourishment in the child's food.

PLYMOUTH - An Inquest was held at Plymouth Mortuary yesterday on JAMES BLACK, cook of the steam trawler Chanticleer, of Milford Haven. Wm. George Taylor, master of the Chanticleer, said he last saw deceased alive on the afternoon of Christmas-day. He was then going ashore and in good spirits. Deceased was under the influence of drink. P.C. Leat said he recovered the body from the water near the Fish Market. A verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

PLYMOUTH - A Lovers' Tiff. Sordid Story Told At Plymouth. - Mr R. B. Johns held an Inquest at the Plymouth Mortuary yesterday on EMMA RIGGS, aged 23, domestic servant of 5 Lifton-road, whose body was found under the Citadel on Thursday morning. Sarah Cornelius, of Cromwell-road, said on Wednesday evening deceased went out to see her fiancé's brother. She had never threatened to commit suicide. She was in the habit of keeping late hours. - Alan Sheriff, stoker, on H.M.S. Warrior, said he became engaged to deceased five months ago. He last saw her alive just before midnight on Wednesday. This was at his home at 75 Jubilee-street. She seemed then to be all right. Witness had been drinking and deceased took away two shillings from him. They had "a bit of a lovers' tiff" over this and she threw the money on the table and left in a huff. They had previously been at his brother's house and had only spent a couple of minutes at witness's home when deceased went away. Witness had been drinking, but deceased was quite sober. - Thomas Henry Williams, stoker, R.N., said he saw deceased with a sailor in Jubilee-street about ten minutes to twelve on Wednesday night. He knew her and called out "Good night," but she made no reply. She was in an untidy and dirty state and drunk. Witness could not say whether the sailor was drunk or not, but both were reeling about. He followed them a short way and it seemed to him that deceased was anxious to get away from the sailor. Witness could now identify the sailor as the previous witness. - P.C. Pope said on Thursday morning at 8.50 he went under the Hoe near Tinside beach and found the body of the deceased. It was face downwards, and only partly clothed. He drew the body from the water and conveyed it to the mortuary. - The Coroner remarked that the case was a very unsatisfactory one, but since they could not get any more evidence the only thing they could do would be to return an open verdict, so that if anything further transpired, the Inquest could be reopened. - "Found Drowned" was the verdict.

STOKE DAMEREL - Devonport Widow's Suicide. - The Devonport Deputy Coroner, Mr A. Gard, held an Inquest at Devonport yesterday on CATHERINE DAVIS, aged 70, widow of a Civil Service pensioner, who lived at Ford-hill. MINNIE EMMA MALLETT, wife of a naval pensioner, of Ford-hill, stated that deceased, her mother, had enjoyed good health up to the last few months. About September she saw Dr Pullen, who had attended her since. Witness saw her mother last on Thursday morning, just before ten o'clock, when she took her a cup of tea. She had been very melancholy during the last few months and had been worrying as to whether she had cancer. She had never before attempted to take her life, but had threatened to do so. About ten o'clock witness found her mother lying face downwards on the floor by the bed and there was a razor on the table. - P.C. Holbeton next gave evidence. - Dr Pullen stated that when he reached the house deceased was semi-conscious. Witness found that little could be done. The only chance was to get her to a Hospital, and have the windpipe stitched up, but she ceased to breathe before they could remove her. Death was due to haemorrhage and suffocation, caused by the wound. - A verdict of "Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind" was returned.