Inquests Taken Into Suspicious Or Unexplained Deaths

For the County of Devon

1841

Taken from the Western Times

[Printed in Exeter]

Inquests

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.

Provided by Lindsey Withers

[No's in brackets indicate the number of times that name occurs]

Names included: Addems; Andrews(2); Anley; Arnold; Back(2); Baker(3); Ballamy; Barratt; Bartlett; Bastard; Bennet; Bennett; Bickford; Blackmore; Bradshaw; Brand; Burrough; Calley; Canniford; Case; Caunter; Caze; Chapple; Clerk; Clist; Coad; Coade; Coleman; Coles; Colman; Coombe; Cornelius; Cottey; Couch; Coughlan; Cummings; Curtis; Dunbar; Ellace; Elliott; Ellis; Evans; Farley; Furzey; Graves; Gribble; Guy; Hallet; Hamlyn; Hannabus; Harris; Harrison; Hausois; Haywood; Head(2); Holdsworth; Holway; How; Hughes; James(2); Jarvis; Kelly; Knowling; Lavers; Loving; Luscombe; Madders; Manley; Mills; Mitchell; Moore; Morgan; Morris; Moxey; Moxhay; Nichols; Nowel; Pack; Palk; Parsons; Pearcy; Peck(2); Perkins; Perrington; Phillips; Pochitty; Prout; Quick; Rich; Rider; Roberts; Rockey; Rugg; Salter; Scoble; Shaw; Shields; Smart; Solman; Staddon; Stockford; Stradling; Sweetland; Taylor; Terry; Tozer; Trout; Tuckett; Turner; Waldron; Wall; Westacott; Westcott; Wilcocks; Wilkey; Wilkins; Willing; Wills.

Western Times, Saturday 2 January 1841
TIVERTON - An Inquest was held at the Guildhall on Monday last, before F. S. Gervis, Esq., Coroner, on the body of WILLIAM HANNABUSS, who had been burnt to death on one of the lime kilns, during the preceding night. As several reports got into circulation as to the state of destitution of the deceased, and his having been refused proper relief, we publish the whole of the evidence given on the subject. - DOROTHEA, wife of JOHN HANNIBUS - My husband's son, WILLIAM, informed me, on Wednesday, that he had been to Mr Sellick, the Relieving Officer, but had not been relieved; I advised him to go again for an order for the Workhouse. I do not know whether he got it or no. I have not seen him since. He has not been at his father's house for the last two years. He was 31 years old. The cap on the table I believe to be his. - W. Davey, and G. Holway proved finding the body on the lime kilns, which had been unstopped; the greater part, if not the whole, of his clothes were burnt when they first saw him. - John Radford (keeper of the Bridewell) - On the 9th November last, HANNABUS was taken up on a charge of stealing four fowls; he was caught roasting them at the lime kiln, with some potatoes. He was remanded for eight days and at length committed under the Vagrant Act for a month. I believe the cap on the table to be the same he wore when in the Bridewell. I have seen him several times since. I saw him last Thursday, and also on Saturday. He appeared to be in great distress for he had parted with his boots and shirt, which were good. I persuaded him to go to Mr Sellick. He spoke to me first, and complained much to me - said he had no work, had had nothing to eat all day and was starved with the cold. It was one or two o'clock. I again persuaded him to go to Mr Sellick. He said they wouldn't give him anything. He had been one night in the Workhouse and was turned out. I am sure he said so. He said Mr Collard (the Governor) turned him out and told him to go to Rose Ash, where he came from. I again persuaded him to go to Mr Sellick, or Mr Mead (vestry clerk) and if they would not relieve him, to go to the Mayor, or Mr Coles. I heard that he was seen going down Kiddell's Court (the residence of the Relieving Officer, and also of the Mayor) that afternoon. - James Sellick (Relieving Officer) - Some child knocked at my door on Christmas-eve, and said there was a man lying in the street. I left my tea and went up. He was laying on the left side of Kiddell's Court, coming down. I roused him up and he appeared to be tipsy. I believe he was so. The people said he couldn't speak. After a time I got him to speak and left him. I went home, but thinking he was distressed, I got him down to my house and finding, on enquiry, that he was destitute, I gave him an order for the night for the Workhouse. He did not ask me for the order; he did not ask me for relief. He told me his name was WILLIAM HANNABUS. I produce a copy of the order I gave him. My son was with me, and saw me take him down to give him the order. I saw nothing of him afterwards. I had never seen him before, nor did I know him. I believe the cap produced is the same he wore. - Joseph Collard, Jun., (Master of the Workhouse) - On Thursday evening I received an order of admission into the House for WM. HANNABUSS - it was about 7 o'clock - the porter stated he considered the man to be in liquor. Mrs Collard went and saw him and she was of the same opinion - he had a warm supper and a bed in the probationary ward. I saw him the next morning. I questioned him particularly where he came from and where he had been living. He told me he had been living at Rose Ash for some years, but about 12 months ago had his arm injured, by reason of which he had not been so well able to maintain himself. I told him his order appeared to be for the night and asked him what he meant to do. He told me he should go back again to Rose Ash, for he had lodgings there with an old man, with whom he had been living from the time of his accident. I noticed the cap he wore. I believe the one on the table is the same he had in his hand when in my office. I told him if he did go to Rose Ash, and should be n want, he should immediately apply to the Relieving Officer, and if he couldn't be found, to the Overseer. I am quite sure I did not tell him to leave the House, but if he had chosen he might have been there at this moment. I am not aware whether he had any money. - The Coroner remarked to the Jury that the deceased appeared to have been a bad character and in reference to what he had told Radford, observed that a man who would steal, would not hesitate to tell a lie. Verdict - Found Burnt.

SALCOMBE REGIS - Inquest by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - An Inquest was held at Salcombe on the 24th ult., on the body of EMMA COTTEY. From the evidence adduced it appeared that on the previous day, a young woman named MARY ANN COTTEY, an elder sister of the unfortunate deceased, took up a gun which was standing in the corner of their inner room, with the intention of carrying it out to a young man from whom it had been borrowed. The gun stood nearly opposite the door leading into the outer room, where the deceased child EMMA, and another sister called RHODA, were standing. On the gun being taken from its position, the muzzle of it was towards the door. MARY ANN COTTEY unfortunately touching the trigger, the piece immediately went off. The effect of the explosion was dreadful. EMMA was seen to fall instantly from off the window bench to the floor and RHODA ran to another part of the room, shrieking with pain, when it was discovered that she was shot in the upper part of the left leg and in the hip. EMMA was lifted up and put to bed, where she died in about two hours, the shot having taken effect in the lower part of the bowels. The gun had been left in the room loaded by a brother of the deceased, who had not given any caution to prevent its being touched. Verdict, Accidental Death. The other poor child remains seriously ill.

EXETER - The Death Of A Fortune Teller. - An Inquest was held on Monday last, at the London Ale House, in St. Mary Arches-street, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a woman named SARAH GRIBBLE, who had been found dead in her bed on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was well known as a celebrated teller of fortunes and her fame in this way had secured her an extensive practice. She occupied a tenement in a back court in St. Mary Arches-street, consisting of two rooms of small dimensions, one on the ground floor and the other over. The former of these was as miserable and comfortless as can well be imagined; and it was here that the numerous visitors, who came to seek for information of the good and evil things that were in store for them, were compelled to wait until the prophetess was at leisure to attend to them. The room above stairs was that in which the deceased ate and slept and in which she was accustomed to deliver her oracles; and here in fact the whole of her time has been spent for several years past. To convey anything like an accurate idea of the scene which presented itself on entering this apartment, would be altogether impossible; it was a scene indeed of filth and wretchedness, which altogether defies description. In one corner of the room a space was partitioned off by a couple of deal planks, which served this singular being for a bed and here, with nothing but a heap of filthy rags between her and the floor and with a miserable covering of the same description, she was accustomed to pass nearly every moment of her time. Clothes, or linen upon her person, she had none - if we except an old pair of stays, which she wore next her skin, and a piece of coarse fustian cloth, which was tied round her waist. A dirty brown handkerchief was thrown over her shoulders and tied in a knot upon her breast and her head was covered with a cap, which she had never been known to change during the time she had resided in the house. She wore neither shoes nor stockings, but, dressed as above described, used to sit continually in her bed, remaining constantly in the same position, with (as one of the witnesses stated), "her nose and knees together." In her bed place were found, after her death, a great quantity of articles of food, which appeared to have accumulated for some time, and which there is much reason to fear had been purloined by servant girls, who probably found it more convenient to satisfy their curiosity at their masters' expense than their own. There were heaped together, in one heterogeneous mass, potatoes, turnips and vegetables of all kinds, fruit, butter, bacon, dripping and a variety of other articles of a similar description, which the deceased was never known to have purchased and the possession of which can only be accounted for in the way we have described. A half pound of butter was found under her thigh immediately after her death, and the other provisions were directly at her feet. The only articles of furniture were two deal chairs, a small table, a tea kettle and some trifling vessels of earthenware. There were heaps of rags and dirt covering the whole of the apartment, and upon the mantel piece a bottle which had contained rum. The window was completely covered with cobwebs and the odour exhaled from so much filth was intolerable. One thing struck us as curious, it was an old tin candlestick with a deep bottom, which was entirely filled with the "snuffs" of candles, piled up so as completely to hide the tube in which the candle should have been placed. There was a fire place in the room, but she had never been known to have a fire in it, and her kettle was boiled for her by a neighbour, who was paid 7d. a week for her trouble. About the room were scattered several packs of cards. The room was never cleaned and she herself had never washed her skin while she had resided in the house. And yet, wretched as was her abode, SALLY GRIBBLE had numerous visitors, many from among the more respectable classes of society and on a market day especially, her ante-room was thronged with customers, anxious to obtain admittance. She was the daughter of a woman who was famous as a fortune teller in her day, and had never been married, and she delivered her predictions with an air of authority, which no doubt gave them all the greater weight. Her manner was anything but conciliatory; and when displeased, or unseasonably interrupted, she would order the intruder away, with the most horrible imprecations. She always pretended the greatest poverty, although, as will be seen, a large quantity of money was found in her apartment and the necessaries of life were evidently supplied to her in abundance. the circumstances of her death will be better understood by the evidence given before the Coroner, which we now subjoin. - Catherine Vaughan, residing in the same court yard with deceased, said she had lived there about 18 months and was in the habit of boiling her kettle for her. She never had any fire in her room and never had anything cooked, except occasionally a small bit of bacon, which witness dressed for her. Deceased used to sit continually on a heap of rags in the corner of the room, and witness had never seen her laying down in it. She never wore linen of any description. She was in the habit of having tea twice a day, once between four and five in the evening, and again about eleven o'clock at night. A great number of females and many most respectable ones, used to come to her to have their fortune told. Witness had seen as many as 30 or 40 of an evening. Until within the last five or six days deceased was in the habit of bringing her kettle to the down stairs room, and calling to witness to take it and then she would immediately return to her old position in the bed. During the last week she had been unable to come down and witness had gone herself to the room to fetch the kettle. The last time she saw her was between 11 and 12 on Friday night, when she gave her her tea and she was then sitting as usual. She had been complaining of being ill, and witness had offered, ask she had repeatedly before, to send for the doctor, but she would not hear of it. She desired witness to lock the door, as was her custom and to take the key with her, and to come to her again at her usual time on the following day - that was between four and five o'clock - witness offered to come in the morning, but she said she should not. On going on the following day in company with a person named Godfrey, she found MRS GRIBBLE dead. A message was instantly despatched for an officer, and Ginham promptly attended, followed shortly afterwards by Shears and Sparks, the beadles of the Corporation of the Poor. The deceased always pleaded the greatest distress, saying she had not a farthing in the world, and she could not tell how she should pay the rent that was due; she had been failing for some weeks, and fancied she was dropsical. - Elizabeth Godfrey, who lives next door to the deceased, had been sent for on Friday night, during the absence of Mrs Vaughan, to render some assistance which was required. There were some other persons in the room, they were unable to get near the bed to help her in consequence of a small table being in the way, witness proposed to remove it, but deceased laid hold of the leg and said she should not. She appeared to be very unwell and witness and a man who was present helped her to shit her position as well as they could. She remonstrated with her on her manner of living, and entreated her to think of it seriously, but she ordered her to desist, as she did not want any preaching - witness fetched her something from her own house, which she fancied would be useful to her, but she bade her take it away, as she would have no white things there. Witness suggested that she should have a little gin, and she declared that she had not a farthing in the world, although she wished to have the gin. At this moment in attempting to get away the table, a table was thrown down and a quantity of silver money fell out. Witness spoke to her of the assertion of poverty, which she had just made, but the only reply she got was, that there was £10 10s. in the basin, and they wanted to rob her; witness counted up the money, which amounted to £11 1s. 11 ¼d. She put it in a basin and handed it to deceased, who placed it inside her on the floor. She was apprehensive the next day that something had happened to deceased, and wished Mrs Vaughan to go and see. She did not go, however, until about 5 o'clock, and then they found her dead; witness could not tell if the basin found by the officers was the same as that in which she had placed the money on the previous night. - John Ginham deposed to having been sent for on Saturday evening, he found GRIBBLE dead; She had fallen over on her right side, with her face quite close to the wall and her nose had been flattened by pressing against it. Witness caused shears and Sparks to be sent for, and a quantity of money was found, which was given into their possession. A basin was found inside the bed, close to deceased's thigh, it contained only £2 8s. 1 ¾d. - John Shears, beadle of the Corporation of the Poor, stated that he had, assisted by the other offices, made a search of the room, and they had succeeded in finding money to the amount of about £94. Of this sum £54 12s. 6d. was in sixpences, £34 11s. in shillings and 16s. in copper. There was but one half sovereign and the remainder of the sum found was made up of half-crowns. About £11 was found, wrapped in an old pocket, under the head of the deceased, but the greater portion of the money was found in small baskets, in a corner of the cupboard, completely concealed by cobwebs. Other small sums were found wrapped in dirty pieces of rag, or paper, in other parts of the room, a great deal of the money was quite black and cankered and had evidently not been disturbed for several years. The search was not yet complete. The money had been given into the hands of the Treasurer of the Corporation of the Poor. - The Jury returned a verdict of "Natural Death." - While the old woman lived she was not known to have a relative in the world, but immediately on her death and the discovery of the money becoming known, more than one person was found to claim kindred with her. She used at one time to keep a number of cats, who were her only companions, but latterly she had only one remaining which has been loitering about the premises since the death of its mistress and manifests a great anxiety to get into the old dwelling. - The body of the deceased was interred immediately after the Inquest in the burial ground at the new cemetery.

STOKE DAMEREL - Death From Fire. - An Inquest was held on Wednesday, on the body of a boy, 6 years of age, named GEORGE POCHITTY, living in Doidge's Wells. The cause of his death was stated to be from playing with lighted paper, with another little boy, about sixteen days previous, when his apron caught and he ran out of the house. Ten minutes elapsed before the fire could be extinguished. He lingered in great pain. Verdict - Accidental Death.

PLYMOUTH - On Friday, a little boy, aged between six and seven years, son of JOHN ELLACE, a seaman of H.M.S. San Josef, and living in St Andrew's Street, was so severely burnt that he died on Thursday last. The little fellow had been playing with snow balls and while warming himself by the fire, his clothes by some means caught fire. An Inquest was held by R. J. Squire, Esq., and a verdict of Accidental Death returned.

Western Times, Saturday 9 January 1841
TOTNES - On the third instant an Inquest was held at Bridgetown, Totnes, on the body of SUSANNA PARNELL PACK, a child, four years of age, who was burnt to death in the absence of her mother. Verdict, Accidentally Burnt to Death.

Western Times, Saturday 16 January 1841
TIVERTON - An Inquest was held at the Guildhall on Wednesday, the 13th inst., by F. S. Gervis, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man called CUMMINGS, a labourer, who was found dead in his bed. - ELLEN CUMMINGS, sworn:- I am the wife of the deceased, THOMAS CUMMINGS. He was about 63 years of age. He has been employed by Mr Rew, the Surveyor, in breaking stones on the road; it was about six weeks since he went to his usual labour, he has not done any work since that period. During the long days he earned five shillings a week for the last month that he worked to the best of my knowledge. He earned for the first fortnight five shillings and three shillings for the last fortnight. At the time he was working in the roads he received two shillings weekly from the parish for the last four years. I applied to the parish for relief last summer on account of illness and was allowed two shillings a week and two pounds of mutton ever since. My husband's pay was then stopped. We have no family at home to maintain. Three weeks since my husband applied for parish relief, and he has been allowed four quartern loaves of bread to this day. There was no money allowed. He only made one application to the Board for relief. He has been unwell about a week, but thinking it was only a cold, he would not have any medical assistance. He has been subject to attacks of cold on his chest for many years, but was not worse than usual yesterday. He came downstairs about one o'clock in the afternoon and I brought him some cider and tea, which he drank. I boiled some broth for his supper. He took the broth but not the bread as he had no appetite for it. We went to bed about eight o'clock in the evening - he undressed himself as usual, and about midnight I heard him say he was rather easier, and then turned on his right side. He had been complaining previously of pain in his side and stomach. After we went to bed, we talked together some time and he did not then appear worse than usual. I awoke this morning about 5 o'clock and fancied that I did not hear him breathe. I went out immediately to call a neighbour in, on her reaching the room we found that he was dead. There was no blood escaping from his nose or mouth. He was then lying on his left side and his face was not discoloured. I am in my 60th year. I never heard my husband make any complaints about the allowance made him by the parish. - Catherine Thorn, the neighbour who was called in, corroborated the witness, and the Jury returned a verdict of Natural Death.

Western Times, Saturday 23 January 1841
BARNSTAPLE - On Wednesday, Jan. 20th, an Inquest was held on the body of JOHN WESTACOTT, of Barnstaple, butcher, aged 70 years, who was found hanging in a linhay belonging to Mr Wm. Parkin, of Sowden, Barnstaple. The deceased has for a number of years carried on the trade of a butcher: Latterly, by his depraved habits, he has lived apart from his wife and rented a small room of a Mrs Hunter, in Anchor Lane. He had been confined to his bed for some time. On Monday last, his landlady gave him notice to quit his apartments, and would not suffer him to remain any longer in her house, on account of his dirty habits. He got up as usual on Tuesday morning about seven o'clock, for the purpose, as the landlady supposes, of getting fresh lodgings, but very shortly afterwards he was found by a man going to his work, called Challacombe, hanging to a hurdle in the linhay of Mr Parkin. An Inquest was held on the body by Thomas Copner, Esq., Coroner, when a verdict of "Temporary Insanity" was returned.

EXETER - Mr J. Warren, Esq., held an Inquest at the Valiant Solder Inn, South-street, on Saturday last, on the body of a little girl named MARY ANN COLES, who had died in the Hospital on the day preceding. The child was only five years old, its parents reside in Exe-lane, and it came by its death in consequence of its clothes having accidentally caught fire. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

LUPPITT - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, at Luppitt, on Monday the 11th inst., on the body of SARAH MITCHELL, an infant about 5 years of age, who died from her clothes taking fire on the Saturday previous.

CULMSTOCK - Death From Excessive Drinking. - An Inquest was held before Mr Aberdein, on Wednesday, the 13th inst., at Culmstock, on the body of HENRY WALL, labourer, aged 39 years. It appeared that the deceased returned home to his lodgings on Monday night between 10 and 11 o'clock, rather tipsy. He ate some bread and cheese and then said he would have something to drink and he went out again and returned with a half gallon jug of beer. There were then in the house his landlord, Jas. Sheen, and his wife and brother. The deceased put the beer on the table and swore he would drink it up in two minutes. The woman said "Don't HARRY, it will kill thee." He then bet with Jas. Sheen he would drink it in two minutes - he poured it out into a pint cup and drank it at four times following, drinking up the whole in about two minutes. The deceased then sat down before the fire and appeared to be sleeping and on the woman's return in about a quarter of an hour, she and her husband removed him into a back room and laid him down on some hay, covering him up with bags to keep him warm. This was between 11 and 12 o'clock at night. He was very drunk and insensible, and they continued to look at him several times afterwards, when they perceived a considerable discharge from his mouth and saw him gasp twice. They called in assistance, but deceased died soon after 12 o'clock. Verdict - Died of Apoplexy, arising from Excessive Drinking.

DARTMOUTH - On Tuesday, the 19th inst., an Inquest was held at the Guildhall before Mr Richard Anthony, Coroner, and the following respectable Jurors:- Daniel Codner, Esq., Foreman, William Newman, Esq., Phillip Beard, Arthur Stapledon, and John Trist, Esqs., Messrs. Garland, Langworthy, Wills, John Windeatt, James Daly, John Soper, William Follett, John Tucker and James Philips, on the body of HENRY HOLDSWORTH of Mount Galpin, Esq., aged 67. It appeared that on Saturday, the deceased was discovered by his servant from a crash that was heard by him when in the kitchen, and on his proceeding up stairs with a light, on the first platform he found the deceased lying on his back, grasping the top of and several stair rails that were torn away with the grasp and weight of the deceased, and one iron was broken close out at the bottom previous to his fall. It was a rounding staircase and no candlestick being seen he must have been coming downstairs in the dark - and the evidence of the medical gentlemen, who were summoned to the aid of the deceased, was, that the deceased had had an apoplectic fit and that the concussion from a fall, from the circumstance of the stair rail having been torn away, accelerated his death. He lingered until three minutes after 12 o'clock the same night and died. He did not speak after he was found on the platform. The deceased was on good terms with his servant, who had lived with him 24 years. The Coroner having summed up and the Jury having consulted, returned a verdict of "Died by the Visitation of God."

BIGBURY - Inquest Before J. Gribble, Esq., - On the 2nd inst., at the Kings Arms, Bigbury, on ISRAEL HALLET, aged 47, who died of inflammation of the lungs, brought on by intoxication and cold Verdict Accordingly.

TOTNES - Inquest held before J. Gribble, Esq., - Jan. 3rd, at the Exeter Inn, Bridgetown, on JOANNA PALK, aged 4 years, who was accidentally burnt to death.

HALWELL - Inquest held before J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 4, at the Old Inn, in the parish of Halwell, on the body of JOHN PEEK, aged 73 years, who, being afflicted with a dropsical complaint, died suddenly in the arms of a person who was assisting in lifting him into his bed. Verdict, Died by the Visitation of God.

BRIXHAM - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 4, at the Rising Sun, Brixham, on the body of MARY SMART, aged 82 years, who was discovered with her clothes on fire in her room on the 10th of December and died of the injuries she received. Verdict, Accidentally Burnt.

ASHPRINGTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 9, at the New Inn, in the parish of Ashprington, on the body of JOHN SCOBLE, aged 64 years, who, while going from a farm house to his home was taken ill in the road, supposed to be caused from the severity of the weather acting on his nervous system, he was carried home to his house where he lingered a few hours and died. Verdict, Died from the Effects of the Cold.

CHUDLEIGH - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 11th, at the White Hart Inn, Chudleigh, on the body of BETTY CORNELIUS, aged 63 years, who was taken ill and died almost suddenly, supposed in an apoplectic fit. Verdict, Died suddenly by the Visitation of God.

EXETER - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 11th, at the Hospital of the County Bridewell, on the body of JOSEPH FARLEY, a convicted prisoner, aged 24 years, who died of a consumptive complaint.

HOLNE - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - January 13, at Langaford Farm, in the parish of Holne, on the body of MR THOMAS HAMLYN, aged 62 years, who died almost suddenly on the previous Sunday. Verdict, Died by the Visitation of God.

HARBERTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 13, at Monkey Oak Cottage, in the parish of HARBERTON, on the body of MARY ANDREWS, aged 68 years, who died almost suddenly it is supposed of a disease of the heart and the rupture of a blood vessel. - Verdict accordingly.

MORETONHAMPSTEAD - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 15, at Smallbridge, in the parish of Moretonhampstead, on the body of JOHN GUY, aged 54, who, after drinking freely at a public house at Dorkham, on the Saturday previously, and on endeavouring to reach his home while crossing Meardon Common, it is supposed was unable to proceed, as his body was found by his son on the Monday following partly buried in snow. Verdict accordingly.

MORETONHAMPSTEAD - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq,, Coroner - January 15, at the White Hart Inn, Moretonhampstead, on the body of JAMES HOW, aged 64 years, who died almost suddenly from injuries he received from falling on the ice. Verdict accordingly.

LODDISWELL - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - January 18, at the Turks Head, Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge, on the body of DEBORAH BASTARD, aged 81 years, who for many years was a post woman in the above neighbourhood and on Friday evening last, in dark and very stormy weather, while passing by a brook in her way home, it is supposed she accidentally fell into it. She was found in it the next day, quite dead. Verdict, Accidentally Drowned.

Western Times, Saturday 30 January 1841
COLYTON - Inquest by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner - On Friday, the 22nd inst., at Colyford, on the body of JOHN LOVING, who was found on the morning of the 21st inst., lying dead in a field called Pit Close, in this place - he was quite stiff and frozen to the ground, so as to occasion some difficulty in removing him. The deceased, who was about 70 years of age, had been seen on the evening of Tuesday, the 19th, on the road from Musbury to Colyford, about 9 o'clock - he was going towards Colyford. In a field adjoining to Pit Close, where he was found, there stood a linhay and footsteps were traced from the linhay to where the body lay and no further, and it was supposed that he must have fallen dead where the body was found, no marks appearing of any struggle having taken place, or of violence on the body.

HIGHWEEK - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 23, at the Commercial Inn, Newton Bushel, on the body of RICHARD PERRINGTON, aged 38, who was found drowned in the river Teign, the particulars of which appeared in the Western Times of last week. Verdict - Found Drowned.

CHUDLEIGH - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - January 23, at the White Hart Inn, Chudleigh, on the body of ELIZABETH BENNETT, aged 85 years. She was heard to exclaim "O God" by a neighbour on the 13th January and on going to her assistance she found her clothes in flames, by which she was so shockingly burnt that she died from the injuries sustained on the 22nd instant. Verdict - Accidentally Burnt to Death.

Western Times, Saturday 6 February 1841
NORTH MOLTON - On Sunday morning, the 24th of January last, about half-pat one, MR CHRISTOPHER WESTCOTT, of Oldridge Farm, left the town Arms, South Molton, in a state of intoxication. Mr Bright, the landlord of the Inn, wished him to stay the night, but he refused and he very kindly saw MR WESTCOTT out of town, who on his way home, missed his way and fell into the Mole river, where his hat was found on the Monday. Every search was made in the river to find the body without avail, and on Tuesday he was found on the opposite side, two fields from the water in a hedge trough, dead. A Coroner's Inquest was held on the body by Thos. Copner, Esq., Coroner, on the Wednesday, when it was stated to the Jury that he was found in the hedge trough as above, on his face - there was some water standing in the trough, and a mark was seen by the side of the hedge where he appeared to have sat; it is supposed that he got asleep and the cold killed him before he fell from his seat, as there was no marks of his having struggled. It will be remembered that it was very cold on the morning in question, with severe hail storms. Deceased has left a widow and ten children to lament his loss. Verdict, "Found Dead."

Western Times, Saturday 13 February 1841
HONITON - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, at the Union Workhouse, Honiton, on Thursday the 4th inst., on the body of JOHN HOLWAY, an infant about a fortnight old, which died suddenly in the night previous. The fact elicited but little interest, and the medical opinion appears to be that the child had died from injuries to the head received during the severe labour of the mother.

Western Times, Saturday 20 February 1841
EXETER - An Inquest was held at the Valiant Soldier, in this City, on Wednesday last, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of an infant, named WILLIAM ROBERTS, only two years of age, who had died on the same day in the Devon and Exeter Hospital. The child's clothes had accidentally caught fire on the day preceding, but the flames had been extinguished before it was much injured. The fright was so great, however, as to occasion its death, and the Jury returned a verdict to that effect.

BROADHEMBURY - Inquest by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - On Wednesday, the 10th inst., at Kerswell, in Broadhembury, on the body of ELIZABETH SWEETLAND, aged 15 months, who died from injuries received from its clothes taking fire.

COTLEIGH - Inquest held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner - On Saturday, the 13th inst., on the body of SARAH ANN WILKINS, an infant, 8 months old, who was also burnt to death. This was a case to say the least of it, of gross neglect, amounting to inhumanity. The poor little infant was left by its mother, tied into a chair before the fire with the string of her gown, while she went to the village shop to do some errands, or to have a gossip as the case might be, and was absent as she said 10 minutes. The child was heard to cry during her absence and the neighbours went in, when the poor little thing was discovered lying on its side in front of the fire between the fire irons, a fire burning on the earth! the greater part of its clothes burnt off and its body literally roasted. It died in a few hours after.

EXMOUTH - Inquest by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner - On Monday, the 15th inst., at Exmouth, on the body of J. W. MORRIS Esq., who was found dead in Manchester-street, in that place, about seven o'clock in the morning of Sunday last. The deceased, who was about 50 years of age, had been much given to intoxication, but had not been at all disordered in his health for some time past. He had been heard at various hours in the night previous singing in the street, and had been home to his lodgings and gone out again. Upon a post mortem examination of the body, it appeared that he had been labouring under disease of the lung of some standing - a stoppage of blood, in which had prevented the blood passing into the heart and produced apoplexy.

AVETON GIFFORD - Inquest by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner. - January 28, at the King's Arms, in the parish of Aveton Gifford on the body of JOANNA RIDER, aged 38, who shortly after being confined, was taken ill and died from the effects of a diseased stomach. Verdict accordingly.

NEWTON ABBOT - Inquest by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - February 1, at the White Hart Inn, Newton, on the body of WILLIAM BRAND, aged 43, who, while afflicted with an ulcerated sore throat, retired to bed and was shortly after found dead.

BRIXHAM - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - February 2, at the Lord Nelson Inn, Brixham, on the body of ELIZABETH COADE, aged 24, who died almost suddenly, by a rupture of a blood vessel in the leg.

BUCKFASTLEIGH - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - February 3, at the Sun Inn, Buckfastleigh, on the body of NANCY ELLIOTT, who died almost suddenly, from the rupture of a blood vessel in the head, causing effusion on the brain. Verdict, Visitation of God.

BUCKFASTLEIGH - Inquest by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - February 5, at Buckfastleigh, on the body of JOAN CHAPPLE, aged 57, who, in a fit of insanity, hung herself.

EXETER ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., - February 8, at the Turk's Head, St. Thomas, on the body of JOHN BAKER, aged 6 years, who, in the absence of his mother, was accidentally burnt to death.

LODDISWELL - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., - February 10, at Read's Farm, Loddiswell, on the body of SILVANUS WILLING, aged 6 years, whose death occurred by being accidentally burnt to death.

DODBROOKE - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - February 11, at the King of Prussia, Dodbrook, on the body of JOHN JARVIS, aged 3 years, burnt to death.

HALWELL - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - February 12, at the Old Inn, Halwell, on the body of MARY ELLIS, who was taken ill in bed and died shortly after.

BUCKFASTLEIGH - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - February 13, at the Sun Inn, Buckfastleigh, on the body of WILLIAM BARTLETT, a little boy, whose clothes accidentally caught fire, which caused his death.

Western Times, Saturday 27 February 1841
EXETER - Awful Sudden Death. - An Inquest was held before M. Warren, Esq., Coroner, at the Honiton Inn, in Paris Street, on Saturday evening last, on the body of an old man, named WILLIAM MOXHAY, who had died suddenly on the same afternoon. It appeared that the deceased, who was 68 years of age, and a very hard working, industrious man, was in the habit of drinking large quantities of cold water. He was employed on Saturday at Mr Bowden's coal stores in Paris Street, and was observed on two occasions in the course of the day, to drink cold water from the pump, while in a state of perspiration. Shortly after his return on the second occasion, he fell down and suddenly expired. Medical aid was sent for and Mr Tucker, Surgeon, promptly attended, but his efforts to restore animation, were altogether without effect. The Jury returned a verdict of "Died by the Visitation of God."

Western Times, Saturday 13 March 1841
KENTISBEARE - An Inquest was held on Tuesday, the 9th inst., at Sainthue, in Kentisbeare, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on the body of ELIZABETH RUGG, who was found dead in a stream of water, called Shut Lake, in that Parish, on Saturday last. Deceased was lying on her let side and the water had been ponded up by her head. On pulling her out, a wad of straw fell out of her hand and an iron back crook was found in the stream, which, it is supposed, she had taken there to clean. It appeared that the poor woman, who was about 36 years old, was subject to epileptic fits, and it is conjectured must have fallen into the stream in one of these fits, while employed in cleaning the crook she had taken there, as they usually came on suddenly and without the least warning. That she had frequently fallen into the fire while in them, and in particular two years since, while residing in Uffculme, she had been seized with a fit with her infant in her hands, which rolled into the fire, and was so severely burnt as to occasion death, and she herself was seriously injured, but recovered. A verdict was returned of Found Drowned.

CHURCHSTANTON - An Inquest was held by Mr Aberdein, on Wednesday, the 18th inst., at Churchtanton, on the body of WILLIAM MOORE, aged 3 ½ years, who died from falling into the fire, on Wednesday the 24th February last.

Western Times, Saturday 20 March 1841
IPPLEPEN - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, February 22nd, at Ipplepen, on the body of MARY JANE CURTIS, a little girl, who died almost suddenly - verdict accordingly.

NEWTON ABBOT - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - February 27, at the Ship Inn, Newton, on the body of THOMAS BRADSHAW, aged 52 years, who died almost suddenly of a complaint on the chest and broken constitution. Verdict accordingly.

NEWTON ABBOT - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - March 1st, at White Hart Inn, Newton, on the body of GEORGE WILLIAM WILLS, a little boy, who having a lighted candle ignited his clothes and was so shockingly burnt as to cause his death. Verdict, Accidentally Burnt To Death.

Western Times, Saturday 27 March 1841
EXETER - On Monday, an Inquest was held at Connett's Sawyer's Arms, on the body of JOHN BALLAMY, who drowned himself, by throwing himself into the river near Trew's Weir, the preceding day. A verdict was returned that this act had been committed while labouring under Temporary Insanity. He has left a widow and family.

TORMOHAM - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - March 5, at the Torbay Inn, Tormoham, on the body of ROBERT TAYLOR, aged 64. White engaged at his employment the scaffolding gave way and he fell from a height of 14 feet and was so seriously injured that he survived only two days. Verdict - Accidentally Killed.

HIGHWEEK - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - March 10, at Highweek, on the body of WILLIAM QUICK, aged 21, a sailor belonging to a vessel called the Hope, who, on endeavouring to get on board his ship in the river Teign, on the 6th of February, accidentally fell into the water and was drowned. Verdict accordingly.

ILSINGTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - At Ilsington, on the body of ANN KNOWLING, aged 67, who, while walking in the road near the above village, was taken ill and died almost suddenly. Verdict accordingly.

BUCKFASTLEIGH - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - March 23, at Churchward's Golden Lion Inn, Buckfastleigh, on the body of JOHN CLERK, a little boy about 14 months old, who, unconscious of danger, attempted to drink from a tea kettle of boiling water, by which he was so seriously injured that he lingered a few hours and died from the accident. Verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 3 April 1841
EXETER - On Wednesday last, an Inquest was taken before Samuel Warren, Esq., Deputy Coroner for Exeter, at Wilcocks' Valiant Soldier Inn, on the body o MARY JANE WILKEY, aged 7 years, who died in the Hospital. She was the daughter of a waggoner living in Exe Island and on the preceding day, her mother being about to quit the house, forbad her from meddling with some potatoes then cooking over the fire. However, she did so and caught her apron on fire, which communicated to other parts of her clothing; and when the mother returned, she found her child a smouldering mass, laying by the door. She was removed to the Hospital, but died in a few hours. Verdict - Accidental Death.

CHUDLEIGH - Determined Suicide At Chudleigh. - An Inquest was held on Monday last at the White Hart Inn, Chudleigh, by Joseph Gribble, Esq., Coroner, on the body of SAMUEL TUCKETT, of this place, about the age of 30, son of MRS SUSAN TUCKETT, residing in Culver-street, widow and farmer, who cut his throat and afterwards hung himself, in the most determined and singular manner. He was never perfectly sane, but rather of weak intellect and generally in the habit of getting up about six in the morning and going to the field to milk the cows for his mother. On Sunday last he got up as usual while the family were in bed and proceeded to the hay loft, which was over the stable in the back premises, where he sat on the end of a nitch of reed, and with a clasped knife (commonly called a sheep's foot knife) cut his throat apparently with his left hand, as the knife was found about six feet from him on the left hand side; he then appears to have wiped his left hand in a sack near him, as the marks of blood from his fingers are still visible; he had quite divided the wind-pipe and cut his throat almost from ear to ear, but the jugular vein was not touched. finding himself still strong, he appears to have gone to the ladder which conveyed him to the loft, about 10 feet from the place where he cut his throat and twisted a rope around the top of the ladder six or seven times, making a noose at the other end of it, by which he was found suspended against the ladder, about quarter before seven on Sunday morning. It was clear that he tied the rope around the ladder after his cut his throat as the inside folds of the rope were covered with blood. He was first discovered by his mother, who, on going to the stable, observed him suspended and by her screams brought her sons and the neighbours to her assistance, who cut him down, but life was extinct. He was still warm, but the pulsation had ceased. The rope by which he was suspended was entirely embedded in the wound; his face was towards the ladder, and he appeared as if in the act of ascending it. He was a man of irritable temper and would often be outrageous without a cause, but of late had been low in spirits, which accounts for the present melancholy affair. The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased cut his throat, and hung himself, while in a State of Insanity.

SALCOMBE REGIS - Inquest Held Before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - On Saturday, the 13th inst., at Salcombe, on the body of JOHN SOLMAN, labourer. The deceased was employed in the lime stone quarry of Mr Wm. Follett, at Salcombe, and was working there on Thursday the 11th, when a quantity of sand rock on the face or side of the quarry fell on the deceased, and knocked him down on a shelf of sand, about 12 or 14 feet below, standing out in the side of the quarry. Both his thighs were broken and the right foot very much shattered. The right leg was afterwards amputated but the deceased died on the Friday morning. Verdict - Accidental Death.

BROADHEMBURY - Inquest held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - On Monday, the 15th March, at Dairy Land, in Broadhembury, on the body of WILLIAM ANDREWS, aged 25, who died from excessive drinking. The evidence in this case exhibited a melancholy instance of the reckless and inconsiderate heartlessness with which events of this description are usually accompanied. The deceased came home from work on the Friday afternoon previous, complaining of pain in his stomach, of which he had complained for some days previously. After having some supper he went into a neighbour's house named Bennett, and asked if he had any still waters, and they gave him some, distilled from cider dregs, about a pint, which he and Bennett drank with about two quarts of cider. His wife went into Bennett's house after him and deceased then made a bet of 1s. with Bennett that he, the deceased, would drink two half pints of still waters more, and go to Broadhembury and back again afterwards - he drank half a pint more of the spirits and then walked away and returned in a little more than a quarter of an hour and claimed the shilling, which Bennett admitted that he had lost - after his return he had another quarter of a pint of spirits as before, which he drank raw - he afterwards appeared much in liquor, and jumping about he fell down. He was led home and put to bed, where he remained till he died, about three or four o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, the 13th, not having spoken or been sensible from the time of going to bed. About 2 o'clock on Saturday his wife sent for a Surgeon, who did not arrive till after he died.

DUNKESWELL - Inquest held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - On Thursday, the 18th inst., at Dunkeswell, on the body of MR JOSEPH MANLEY, aged 69 years. The deceased, who had for some time past been ailing and infirm, fell off his horse while giving some directions to his labourers, and died almost instantly - and as was supposed from the rupture of some large vessel near the heart.

Western Times, Saturday 10 April 1841
TOTNES - An Inquest was held at Totnes, by J. Gribble, Esq., on Monday, the 5th instant, on the body of the infant daughter of MR WILLIAM WILCOCKS, glazier and painter, who died in consequence of a kettle of boiling water falling from the fire place on her. Verdict - Accidentally Scalded, which occasioned her death.

Western Times, Saturday 17 April 1841
AXMINSTER - Lamentable Barbarism. Inquest Held Before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - Much commotion appears to have been excited here by the discovery of the body of an old woman, named ANLEY, which was found lying in a small stream of water, in this parish, on the morning of Good Friday last. The poor unfortunate deceased, who was upwards of 82 years of age, resided alone in a small cottage, and lived upon a pittance of 2s. a week and a loaf of bread, from the parish of Membury, out of which, it appeared in evidence, she paid weekly 6d. for rent and another 6d. for the solitary luxury of snuff. She seems to have borne the reputation of being a witch, or as one of the witnesses more delicately expressed it, an unlucky woman - or as "Gude King Jamie," of demonological memory, might have termed her, "an uncannie woman" in the neighbourhood. She was undressed with nothing on but her shift, an old nightcap on her head and old worsted stockings on her feet, and with many marks of scratches and bruises on her face, body and legs, some of which, however, had been noticed by persons who had seen and attended on her for some days previous, while she had been ailing; to one of whom she had said she had been quarrelling and fighting in the night, though no one appeared to have been in the house with her. She was seen picking sticks on the Tuesday previous by one worthy specimen of, can we say, humanity, who refused to help her lift her load over a gate when asked, because, as he gravely asserted, he was afraid of her, understanding she was an unlucky woman! Another witness stated that the hounds were down round the cottage on that day (observe, the last day the poor wretch was seen out) and that he had heard one of the hunters say that "he thought he had hunted the Devil near Green Down on Tuesday; it could not be a fox, he had hunted and lost so!" This witness, however, affirmed that he did not himself believe the deceased could have turned herself into a fox; and that he (nec crede exemplum) never had been afraid of the poor old creature. Truly the schoolmaster seems to have been abroad here, or these worthies must be in a like predicament with the Irishman, who attended school but one afternoon and then the master was unfortunately absent. Surely our worthy Diocesan and the Commissioners on Education, should not overlook this. - From the circumstances, however, in which the body was found, and the knowledge that the unfortunate woman had been left in her house in bed the evening before, with the door slightly fastened on the outside and the casement having been found forced out in the morning, considerable suspicions were entertained that foul play had been used towards the deceased and a careful investigation of the facts were entered into before Mr Aberdein on Saturday last, which was adjourned to Monday, the 12th inst., when, after a lengthened Enquiry, and a post mortem examination of the body, made by a medical gentleman of Axminster, the appearances then developed led to the conclusion that the deceased had been labouring under inflammation of the brain and that during an access of delirium, produced by such disease, and which would impart a great degree of strength even to a person so infirm and aged as the deceased, she might have forced her way through the casement, and, under the same excitement, have reached the brook where she was found. that she had died from Apoplexy, occasioned by rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, causing instant death and which might also have been produced by such previous excitement. A tea-kettle was found close to the body of the deceased, which was tied round with a piece of old sheet or cloth, in three or four knots.

Western Times, Saturday 24 April 1841
EXETER - On Friday evening the body of a man named GEORGE BENNET was found lying in the Exe, near the Ferry shed. The deceased belonged to Lord Egremont's yacht now lying in the Basin. On Tuesday evening he was put across the Ferry, and when last seen he was sitting in the Ferry shed, apparently the worse for having drank too much. In the morning his bundle of clothes was found in the Ferry shed, but he was not again seen alive. The body was found in the river only a few yards from the above shed. A Coroner's Inquest was held on Saturday, at Uglars', near the Lime Kilns, and a verdict of "Found Drowned" was returned.

EGG BUCKLAND - On Friday an Inquest was held at Egg Buckland, on the body of a lad called COLMAN, who died from the effects of injuries which he received whilst at work at Efford Mill. It appeared that while COLMAN was passing the cogpit-wheel, it caught his smock frock, and, drawing him into the pit, struck him in the head several times. He was extricated from the pit and immediately attended by Mr Fuller, Surgeon, Compton Gifford, under whose treatment he was thought to be going on well, when two or three days after the accident, lock-jaw ensued and he expired on Thursday. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," and adjudged the forfeiture of the wheel as a deodand.

Western Times, Saturday 1 May 1841
STOKE DAMEREL - An Inquest was held on Monday last, on the body of JOHN HARRIS, a shipwright in this dock-yard, who whilst at work on a stage, erected by the larboard bow of the Minden, at the Stern Dock, accidentally fell off the stage into the dock, a depth of about 40 feet. The poor fellow was picked up by those who instantly ran to his assistance, but he was dead. His head being literally dashed to pieces. The stage appeared to have been properly constructed and placed and the Jury expressed their opinion that no blame was attributable to anyone. The deceased has left a wife and three children; he was about 37 years of age. Verdict, Accidental Death.

Western Times, Saturday 8 May 1841
EXETER - An Inquest was held on Monday last, at the Valiant Soldier Inn, before S. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on WILLIAM BLACKMORE, who was killed on the 27th ult., by the fall of a part of Mr N. Tuckett's house, as noticed in our last. - Frederick Austin, a mason, described the accident. He and deceased were at work on the premises on Tuesday last, witness as a mason and deceased as a labourer. A new chimney had been built at the back of the house. This chimney was built against a wall, but rested on the joists of the floor. The floor had unfortunately been overloaded with bricks and being carried down by the weight, the chimney went with it, and deceased and two other men were more or less buried with the falling mass. He was speedily got out, very much injured, but sensible and able to speak. Witness attached no blame to Mr Tuckett nor to anyone else, but in reply to questions from the Coroner and Jury, he said that there was no superintendent of the work but Mr Tuckett, who was not a builder. But the work was all sound and good - the materials being of the best quality and the joists which supported the chimney resting on corbelled stones at one end and an iron girder at the other. - S. Barnes, Esq., stated that deceased had been under his care at the Hospital from Tuesday last till Saturday afternoon, when he died. He found on examination that he had broken the spine at the upper part of the loins, and there was great displacement - the upper part being carried forward an inch and a half. A post mortem examination showed the spinal cord torn across: Some of deceased's ribs and other bones were also broken. These injuries caused his death. - Richard Lee corroborated the evidence of the first witness. He built the chimney and the wall in which the corbel stones were fixed for the support of the joists. Since the accident he observed one of these stones broken, it was a Thorverton stone. the weight of the bricks must have carried down the wall. The chimney that fell had a three feet opening and had one flue; it was intended for the parlour. - Charles Coombe, a labourer, employed on the premises, was near deceased when the accident occurred. Witness fell with the other when the flooring gave, but fortunately received no injury and immediately assisted in extricating the other men. Had seen Mr Tuckett in the cellar a few minutes before, and a short time previously had heard him give orders for the removal of the bricks, saying there were too many in one spot. Mr Tuckett had himself thrown down a great many. - Henry Thomas, mason at work there, also described the accident. Witness believed the building materials used by his master were all of the best quality and believed the overweight of bricks to be the cause of the accident. Had known Mr Tuckett discharge two men for carelessness. - William Lee, a carpenter in Mr Tuckett's employ, said the materials were all of the best sort. - ANN BLACKMORE, the wife of deceased, deposed:- My husband told me on his death bed that no blame could be attached to Mr Tuckett, he having given orders for the removal of the bricks, but before his orders could be executed, the floor gave way. - The Coroner observed that it appeared to him unnecessary to call any further evidence, as it must be obvious to the Jury that it was an unfortunate accident, caused by an overweight of bricks placed on the floor. The Jury appeared to be of the same opinion, and immediately returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and a deodand of 1s. on the proprietor of the premises.

CHARLETON - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 15, at Goveton, in the parish of Charleton, on the body of PETER PHILLIPS, aged 44 years, who was found dead in an orchard, supposed to have died of fits, to which he had been for some time subject. Verdict accordingly.

DUNCHIDEOCK - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 19, at Dunchideock, on the body of WILLIAM SALTER, aged 19 years, who was taken violently ill in bed and died almost suddenly. Verdict accordingly.

PAIGNTON - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 20, at the Globe Inn, Paignton, on the body of NICHOLAS NOWEL, aged 42 years, who after drinking rather freely in October last, received such injury in his neck from a fall that he lingered until April 17th and died. Verdict accordingly.

BRIXHAM - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 21, at the Rising Sun, Brixham, on the body of THOMAS D. HAUSOIS, aged 54 years, a French sailor, who, while endeavouring to go from one vessel to another at Brixham Bay, accidentally fell into the water and was drowned. Verdict - Accidentally Drowned.

IPPLEPEN - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 22, at Forching's Cross, near Ipplepen, on the body of BENJAMIN HARRISON, aged 39 years, an itinerant gipsy, who was taken violently ill and died in a tent by the hedge side, leaving a wife and five children. Verdict - Visitation of God.

IPPLEPEN - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 24, at Coombefishacre, in the parish of Ipplepen, on the body of ELEANOR COUGHLAN, aged 14 years, who, in the absence of her mother, had the care of the house and it is supposed in going too near the fire her clothes accidentally ignited, by which she was so shockingly burnt as to cause her death.

AVETON GIFFORD - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., - April 26, at Aveton Gifford, on the body of ELIZABETH LUSCOMBE, aged 4 years, whose clothes caught fire in the absence of her mother, and she was so dreadfully burnt as to cause immediate death. Verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 15 May 1841
BARNSTAPLE - On Monday, May 10th, a Coroner's Inquest was held at Rawleigh, in this Borough, before our newly-appointed Coroner, Alfred Drake, gent., on the body of a little boy aged three years, son of JOHN STRADLING, in the employ of Messrs. Heathcott, lace manufacturers, who fell into the stream of water adjoining the factory and was drowned. Verdict "Accidentally Drowned." The Coroner's attention was called to the insecure state of the wooden bridge and paling, as this is the third child that has been drowned near the same spot in a very short time.

Western Times, Saturday 22 May 1841
EXETER - On Saturday, an Inquest was taken before John Warren, Esq., at Wilcocks' Valiant Soldier Inn, on the body of JAMES PERKINS, who died in the Hospital the preceding day. He was brought to the Hospital on the 5th inst., having been engaged in driving a waggon laden with coals, and drawn by two horses, when, in descending a hill in the parish of Newton St. Cyres, and being himself riding, the horses set off at a rapid rate, and he was unable to stop them. He jumped off for the purpose of dragging the wheel, but was thrown down and the wheel passed over his leg, inflicting serious injury. He lingered until the time already stated, when death released him; and a verdict that this was the result of Accident was returned. Deceased was a labourer, and about 40 years of age.

EXETER - Suicide. - On Monday last, a shoemaker, named JOHN TURNER, committed suicide by drowning himself in the river Exe. Sometime having elapsed before assistance could be procured, the body, on being taken out, was found to be quite dead. An Inquest was held on the body the following evening, before J. Warren, Esq., and a respectable Jury. From the evidence of the two witnesses, the father and brother of the deceased, it appeared that the unfortunate man had been for some years addicted, at intervals to excessive drinking, and on such occasions was afflicted with a temporary derangement of his mental faculties. Sensible of his melancholy failing, he had made a solemn promise to abstain from all intoxicating liquors for twelve months, but having unfortunately broken this pledge, and drank to excess for a whole week, it so preyed upon his mind, that he put an end to his existence as above mentioned. The Jury were unanimously of opinion that the deceased had Drowned Himself while labouring under a Fit of Temporary Derangement, and returned a verdict accordingly.

PLYMOUTH - A gentleman of London, who was staying at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth, cut his throat on Friday last. An Inquest was held on the body and a verdict of Insanity returned. His name was JAMES, and he was agent to Mr J. Marshall, Emigration Agent, Birchin Lane, London.

Western Times, Saturday 29 May 1841
EXETER - Sudden Death. - An Inquest was held on Monday, at the Valiant Solder, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of CAPT. WILLIAM BARRATT, of the Royal George Inn, who was found dead in his bed The deceased, who was 52 years of age, had been ailing for the last two years and as the evidence left no doubt that the death resulted from natural causes, the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

TOTNES - Inquest was held at Totnes, by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, on the 21st May, on the body of STEPHEN TOZER, son of WILLIAM TOZER, mason. Verdict - "Died by the Visitation of God."

TOTNES - Inquest by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner on the 25th of May, on the body of SARAH LAVERS, wife of RICHARD LAVERS, labourer. Verdict - "Suddenly by the Visitation of God."

Western Times, Saturday 5 June 1841
CHURCHSTANTON - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., at Churchtaunton, on the 22nd ult., on the body of JAMES PARSONS, who fell from a wall while in the act of unloading coals at the factory there, by which he was so seriously injured as to occasion death.

CHURCHSTANTON - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., at Churchtaunton, on the 24th ult., on the body of ROBERT DUNBAR, aged 54, who died from locked jaw, brought on by an injury received in his hand, about three weeks previously, while putting a stone under the wheel of a cart to prevent its running back. The cart having run backward, crushed his hand.

Western Times, Saturday 19 June 1841
EXETER - An Inquest was held at the Plume of Feathers, in North-street, on Thursday, before J. Warren, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a little girl, named STADDON, whose parents reside on St. David's Hill. It appeared that the death of the child was caused by her having accidentally swallowed a small quantity of oil of vitriol a few days previously and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 26 June 1841
CLYST ST GEORGE - Inquest By R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner. - On Monday, the 14th, at Clist St. George, on the body of GEORGE TROUT, who shot himself on the Saturday evening previously. The deceased, who was about 25 or 26 years of age, had been summoned to appear at Exmouth on that day, for an assault upon a woman named Jemima Potter, which summons he had refused to obey, and as a warrant was expected to be out against him, he had been advised by his friends to go away. His father had seen him in the garden of the house in which he lived between five and six o'clock on Saturday evening and advised him to go to his brother's. On the Sunday morning he went to look for him at his brother's house, but he had not been there, and returning home found that in the mean time his body had been discovered lying in the garden against the hedge, and a short gun in the left hand, which appeared to have been lately discharged, he was quite dead and cold. A noise like the report of a gun had been heard at the house the evening before about eight o'clock, but no suspicion was entertained it being thought that someone was shooting at a rabbit. The deceased had appeared low and unsettled for some time past. A verdict was returned, "Shot Himself, being Lunatic."

EXMOUTH - Inquest by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, - On the 21st inst., at Exmouth, on the body of THOMAS COLLARD GRAVES, aged 76, who had been ailing and infirm for some time past and died suddenly soon after a violent fit of coughing. Verdict, "Died by the Visitation of God."

STOKENHAM - Inquest By J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - June 17, at the Quarry House, Stokeinham, on the body of JOHN CAZE, aged 10 years, who while standing near the Whim, at Molescombe Quarry, was accidentally precipitated to the bottom of the pit, a depth of 100 feet, and had his head literally smashed by the fall. Verdict accordingly.

ASHBURTON - Inquest by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - On Saturday afternoon last, as a miner named PHILIP NICHOLS, aged 33 years, was engaged at work in the side of a shaft, at Owlacombe Mine, near Ashburton, the board on which he stood broke under him and he fell to the depth of 216 feet. His death was immediate and his body was shockingly mutilated by the fall. He has left a wife and two children. An Inquest was held on the body and a verdict of "Accidental Death" returned.

EXETER - Awfully Sudden Death. - An Inquest was held on Tuesday last at the Blue Boar's Head, in Magdalen-street, on the body of a person named ROBERT BACK, in the employ of Messrs. Kingdon, who fell down while at his work yesterday afternoon and immediately expired. There appeared no doubt that the deceased had died from apoplexy and the Jury returned a verdict of "Died by the Visitation of God."

Western Times, Saturday 10 July 1841
EXETER - On Thursday, an Inquest was taken before John Warren, Esq., Coroner for Exeter, at the Blue Boar's Head, Magdalene-street, on the body of WILLIAM BAKER, a mason, 35 years of age, who died from the injuries he received on the preceding day, in falling from the roof of a house, on which he was at work, at Alphington. Verdict, Accidental Death.

EXMOUTH - On Saturday last, an Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., on the body of TERENCE SHIELDS, a private in the 9th Lancers, quartered in Exeter. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased was occasionally addicted to drinking and had been intoxicated on Wednesday and Thursday last, at times he was observed to be slightly melancholy. On Friday, whilst the troop was at Exmouth, whither it had been removed during the election, he went to the stable and shot himself through the head with his own pistol, which he had previously loaded with four rounds of ball cartridge, and was immediately after found dead. One of his comrades deposed that he was quite cool and collected five minutes before the act. A verdict of Felo De Se was returned and the body was buried privately the same evening.

Western Times, Saturday 17 July 1841
HEMYOCK - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., on Friday, the 9th inst., at Hemiock, on the body of MARGARET BURROUGH, aged 79, who died suddenly on the 7th inst.

HEMYOCK - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., on the 12th inst., on the body of MARY CLIST, an infant of nine months old, who having been ill with the measles for a few days previous, was found dead in bed on the morning of the 10th inst.

Western Times, Saturday 31 July 1841
EXETER - On Saturday last an Inquest was taken before John Warren, Esq., Coroner for Exeter, at Mitchell's Poltimore Inn, Sidwell-street, on the body of ELIZABETH JAMES, an aged female in her 75th year, whose death had been occasioned by the injuries she received from being driven over on the preceding Tuesday, by a lad named Samuel Trim. It appeared the deceased was very deaf and did not hear the cart approaching. The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death, with a deodand of 40s. on the cart.

Western Times, Saturday 14 August 1841
ST MARY CHURCH - Inquest held by Mr J. Gribble, Coroner, - August 1st, at the Commercial Inn, St. Mary Church, on the body of CHARLES MOXEY, aged 39 years, who, while at work at the side of a quarry, accidentally fell to a considerable depth below, and received such injuries that he lingered a few days and died. Verdict - Accidental Death.

TORMOHAM - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Coroner, - August 2nd, at the Rising Sun, Tormoham, on the body of WILLIAM HEAD, who, while at work in sinking the foundation of a house at Torquay, a great quantity of rubbish, &c., fell upon him, and literally buried him alive. He was extricated, but died almost immediately. Verdict accordingly.

SOUTH TAWTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Coroner, - August 3rd, at the London Inn, South Zeal, on the body of THOMAS MADDERS, aged 60 years, who, while working at a quarry received such violent injury in his bowels, from the springing of an iron bar, that he lingered a few days and died. Verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 28 August 1841
UFFCULME - Inquest held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, - On Monday the 16th inst., at Uffculme, on the body of ABRAHAM MILLS, who died the day previously from the effects of poison which he had taken on Tuesday, the 10th instant. The deceased was a Scotchman, and had formerly been in the Army, but had resided at Uffculme for the last 14 years, receiving a pension of 6d. a day; he worked as a day labourer, and had had constant employment from Mr Furze, the brewer, at Uffculme, until about two months since, when he was discharged and had not had any steady employment afterwards. He told his wife about a fortnight ago that he should go all round the parish and further to look for work, and if he should not succeed he would destroy himself. On Tuesday he had been at work all day, and came home about seven in the evening. His wife was at a neighbour's house. He went to her and asked her to come home and get him some supper. She said she would by and bye, and he went away, and soon after came again, when he told his wife if she did not come and get him some supper that night, she should get him no more. He had some tea and bread and butter for supper and went to bed between eight and nine o'clock. About 12 o'clock his wife awoke on his getting into bed, when he appeared very ill and after a short time stated he had taken poison. Medical assistance was called in, and the usual remedies applied, but without effect. He lingered until Sunday evening when he expired. He was quite sensible during the whole time, and repeatedly stated to his medical attendant and others that he had taken arsenic, and that it was trouble made him do it. It also appeared that the wife of the deceased was given to drinking, which had been the cause of many disputes between them. A verdict was returned of Felo De Se.

UFFCULME - Inquest held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner - An Inquest was held at Uffculme on Friday, the 20th instant, on the body of WILLIAM MORGAN, a quarryman, who died from injury received while working in a lime stone quarry on Wednesday, the 18th. It appeared that the deceased was blasting the rock with gunpowder, and had charged the hole in the rock with powder, and was in the act of filling the hole with small stones and ramming down the picker, when the charge exploded and the deceased having his head nearly on the charge, was blown up and fell off the rock with his head downwards. It is supposed that whilst ramming the stone against the picker, there was a spark of fie fell on the powder, and that the deceased must have neglected to put some hay over the powder before he rammed down the stones, which is usually done. He was removed to his own house in Uffculme, where he lingered until Thursday morning quite insensible, and died from severe injury in the head. Verdict - Accidental Death.

Western Times, Saturday 4 September 1841
BARNSTAPLE - Fatal Accident. - An Inquest was held on Friday last, at Barnstaple, before A. Drake, Esq., Coroner, on the body of W. J. ARNOLD, aged 4 years, son of MR ARNOLD, of Green Lane, who accidentally fell into a boiling furnace of wort the day preceding, and, although immediately extricated, was so dreadfully scalded that he died soon after. Verdict - Accidental Death.

WITHYCOMBE RALEIGH - Inquest held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., - An Inquest was held before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, at Withycombe Raleigh on Monday, the 23rd August, on the body of JNO. HAYWOOD, labourer, who hung himself on the morning of the Sunday previous. The deceased, who was about 59 years of age, was a widower with six children. He had complained for some days before of violent pain in his head, which he said he thought would drive him out of his mind. He returned from his work on Saturday evening and went to bed still complaining of violent pain, and he was found by one of his sons hanging to an apple tree in the orchard adjoining the house, about half-past six o'clock on the Sunday morning. The Jury returned a verdict of "Hung Himself being Lunatic."

OTTERY ST. MARY - Inquest held by R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner - An Inquest was held at Ottery on the 25th inst., on the body of JAMES BAKER, sawyer, aged 25 years, who died in the following awfully sudden manner. - The deceased was at work in a saw pit on Tuesday morning, the 24th, with another man, sawing timber, who was above and the deceased below, and another man, named Ayres, was standing by. The deceased asked what o'clock it was, and Ayres told him it wanted 10 minutes to 11, and he (Ayres) turned to go away, when the deceased asked him to stay and help to turn the piece of timber. Immediately after speaking to Ayres, who was in the pit, BAKER fell down. He was directly lifted out of the pit, his eyes being opened, and his face very black, and he died immediately.

Western Times, Saturday 25 September 1841
PLYMOUTH - A Coroner's Inquest was held at Catdown, on Monday last, on the body of an infant, named MICHAEL SHAW. The Jury were of opinion that the child died of inflammation caused by a cold on his passage to Cork, whither he had been despatched, with his mother, by the officers of St. Pancras parish, whose negligent conduct was strongly commented on. Verdict accordingly.

BRIXHAM - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., coroner. - Sept. 18, at the Dolphin Inn, Brixham, on the body of WILLIAM PEEK, aged 61 years, who after being missing two days, was found hanging to a beech tree in Churston Grove, in the vicinity of Torbay. Verdict accordingly.

PAIGNTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - Sept. 19, at the Union Inn, Paignton, on the body of ANN MARIA HEAD, a little child, whose clothes accidentally caught fire from a lighted candle, and she was so dreadfully burnt that she died shortly after. Verdict accordingly.

EXETER - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - Sept. 19, at the Hospital belonging to the Exeter County Bridewell, on the body of JOHN EVANS, aged 29 years, a private of the 53rd Regt., who was committed to the above prison at the last sessions for a misdemeanour and while confined, was taken violently ill of a fever, which proved fatal in a few days. Verdict accordingly.

MODBURY - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, - Sept. 22., at the Maltman's Arms, Modbury, on the body of WILLIAM COUCH, aged one year and half, who was killed by an accidental fall from a window. Verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 2 October 1841
CHUDLEIGH - Melancholy Death. - On Monday morning last, as MR FRANCIS COAD, tailor, aged 61 years, of Ashburton, formerly belonging to the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines, was on his journey on foot to Exeter to meet his daughter, he was suddenly taken ill near Chudleigh, fell down in the road, and almost instantly expired. His remains were taken to the Exeter Inn, Chudleigh, where an Inquest was held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner, and a verdict returned that the deceased died from a rupture of a blood-vessel near the heart.

TEIGNMOUTH - An Inquest was held at the Exeter Inn, Teignmouth, Sept. 23rd, on the body of JOSEPH STOCKFORD, aged 66 years, who died suddenly while taking his dinner. Verdict accordingly.

Western Times, Saturday 23 October 1841
CHRISTOW - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner. - October 14, at Reed Farm, in the Parish of Christow, on the body of NICHOLAS ADDEMS, aged 40 years, who, while at work in the side of a shaft, the platform on which he stood gave way, and he was precipitated to the bottom and received such fatal injuries that he died on the following day. Verdict - "Accidental Death."

IDE - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 14, at the Huntsman Inn, in the parish of Ide, on the body of THOMAS PROUT, aged 62 years, who, while thrashing alone in a barn, is supposed to have been taken ill and died instantaneously, as he was found there quite dead on the floor, with his flail close by his side. Verdict accordingly.

ASHPRINGTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 16, at the Maltman's Arms, Ashprington, on the body of PHILIP ROCKEY, aged 56 years, who, it is thought, fell accidentally into an inlet of the sea, called Bow Creek, on a dark night, while pursuing his journey. His body was found entangled in some fishing gear, by a boatman, on the 14th inst., the day after the accident occurred. Verdict - "Found Drowned."

Western Times, Saturday 6 November 1841
OKEHAMPTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 22, at the Fountain Inn, Okehampton, on the body of ELIZABETH ANN COOMBE, a child, who being left alone in a house, while in the act of putting shavings in the fire, ignited her clothes and was so shockingly burnt, that she died the following day.

NEWTON ABBOT - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 23, at the White Hart, Newton, on the body of AGNES RICH, another child, who, in attempting to drink from a kettle of boiling water, received such injuries in its mouth and throat, that it died the following day.

DIPTFORD - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 28, at Binley Farm, Diptford, on the body of ELIZABETH CASE, another child, who had her clothes accidentally ignited, while her mother was at work in a field near the house and received such injuries, that she died two hours after the accident.

MANATON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 29, at Freeland, Manaton, on the body of JOHN WALDRON, aged 59, who, while passing near a cart, was accidentally knocked down by the vehicle and the wheel passed over his body, which ultimately caused his death.

BROADHEMPSTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - October 30, at Bickaton, near Broadhempston, on the body of MARY BICKFORD, aged 72, who died almost suddenly.

SLAPTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., Coroner - November 1, at New Inn, Slapton, on the body of JAMES CALLEY, aged two years, who in the absence of his mother, had his apron ignited, and was so shockingly burnt that he died on the following day.

Western Times, Saturday 20 November 1841
UFFCULME - An Inquest was held on the 8th inst., before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., on the body of a man named WILLIAM PEARCY, who, by some accident, had fallen in the road on the night of the 3rd inst., and was accidentally driven over by the carriage of W. H. Walrond, Esq. Mr Walrond behaved with the greatest kindness on the occasion, causing surgical aid to be procured for the man and rendering every possible assistance, but he died on the 6th inst.

WOODBURY - Death From A Wound In The Ankle. - An Inquest was held by Mr Aberdein, on the 11th inst., on the body of SARAH ANN BACK, aged four years, who died on the 9th, from the effects of a punctured wound, received by jumping from a chair upon a toasting fork, one of the prongs of which entered the outer part of the right ankle. The parents applied a poultice and the child continued to run about as before, taking no notice of the injury. On the Monday, the ankle appearing swollen and inflamed, fresh poultices were applied. The child was very thirsty and had some difficulty ins wallowing, but the wound appeared to be doing well. In the course of the night, however, the deceased became very ill and apparently dying, and the parents sent for medical assistance, but the child died before it arrived. The child had been weakly and ailing previous to the accident, and the medical gentleman was of opinion, that she died from an affection of the nervous system, or tetanus, produced by the wound.

GITTISHAM - An awful instance of sudden death occurred in the parish of Gittisham on the morning of Tuesday, the 16th November inst., to a poor man named THOMAS CANNIFORD, who was employed with others in driving dung from the court yard of Combe House, the seat of the Rev. Thomas Putt, in the parish, to the garden. The deceased was observed, a little after 11 o'clock to put down his barrow in the garden and go out of the gate into the field adjoining the garden. He did not return again and about one o'clock one of his fellow workmen went into the field to look for him, and found him lying under the hedge at the back. He was not cold, but appeared quite dead. At the humane suggestion of the Rev. Mr Putt, the breast of the deceased was submitted to friction and his feet and legs put into warm water and a medical gentleman sent for, but to no purpose, life being utterly extinct. From the appearance of the body it was conjectured that the cause of death was disease of the heart. An Inquest was held at Court House on the same evening, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, and a verdict of Natural Death returned.

Western Times, Saturday 27 November 1841
MEMBURY - An Inquest was held on Tuesday, the 23rd inst., at Membury, before R. H. Aberdein, Esq., Coroner, on the body of THOMAS FURZEY, aged 72 years, who was found drowned in the river Yarty, on the Saturday morning previous. The deceased, who was in the employ of Mr Wm. Blackmore, of Membury, miller, had been sent out to various places to deliver grist, and to bring home corn to be ground. He had a donkey with him to carry the grist &c. He left about 8 in the morning and did not return. The rain had fallen that day and the waters were out. In consequence of his not returning inquiries were made in the direction he was sent, and it was found he had not been to Mr Newbery's of Yarty, where he had been accustomed to cross the river by a foot bridge, and on proceeding further the donkey was found without grist, corn or pad upon it. It appeared as if it had been through the water, being thoroughly washed. The body of the deceased was found on the following morning about a mile below the foot bridge, and it is supposed that he had attempted to pass through the river on the donkey near the foot bridge, where the water was ascertained to be five feet deep, and had been higher, and that he was carried away by the stream.

Western Times, Saturday 4 December 1841
ZEAL MONACHORUM - Hayne Ford, Zeal Monachorum. Shocking Catastrophe. - At this spot which was visited by a storm on Monday last, we have the painful duty to record the melancholy death by drowning of the lady and son of the REV. MR HUGHES, curate of Clannaborough, together with a male servant, named KNOWLES. [We have received the following from a valued correspondent, whose letter is dated Nov. 30th.] - On Monday last, the REV. H. A. HUGHES, of Clannaborough and his family went to Bondleigh (Rev. Mr Garrow's) to meet a party of friends at a christening at that gentleman's house. They set off from Bondleigh (MR and MRS HUGHES and servant in their phaeton and his son on horseback,) about six o'clock to return to Clannaborough. The weather had been tempestuous and the extraordinary heavy rain that fell about 4 o'clock the same afternoon had caused a violent swell of the brooks and rivers. They passed through one or two brooks without danger, though with difficulty, until they reached Hayne Bridge, which is below the village of Zeal Monachorum, on the road to Bow - here the waters were both extensively spread over the meadows and the stream rapid - here two labourers were waiting, being unable to return home, and on MR HUGHES'S approach persuaded him not to venture to pass. MR HUGHES'S son made the attempt to pass over the bridge on horseback, in which he succeeded, and turned back again to direct his father how best to come through. Returning upon the bridge his horse either stumbling or getting his foot into a hole, fell directly over the side of the bridge with his rider. At this moment MR HUGHES approaching with the carriage, his horse turned and the current taking the body of the carriage, carried the whole into the stream. The labourers heard a scream and a splash and then all was silent as the grave. The fatal consequence of this awful calamity is the death of MRS HUGHES, her son GEORGE HUGHES, about 18 and the servant boy, about 15. MR HUGHES himself was saved most providentially by the cool judgment and intrepidity of Mr Bibbings of Zeal - who, from his knowledge of the ground, waded into the water a great distance, where he thought, if at any place, the few bushes might be the means of stopping anything washed down the current. After stopping and hollowing he fancied he heard a faint noise, when he saw the head of MR HUGHES above the water, supported by an alder bush; getting near him and cautiously getting a firm hold, he succeeded in getting him out of the water, exhausted, helpless and almost speechless. The body of MRS HUGHES was discovered about 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning, out of the current of the river - her son was got out from a deep pit in the river further down. The bodies were removed to Mr Snell's, at Hayne, to await the Coroner's Inquest. The body of the boy has not yet been found. The carriage and horse were dragged up also - the carriage but little injured and the horse still attached to the carriage. MR HUGHES'S daughter went to Bondleigh with him in the morning, but was persuaded to stop the night, or probably, nay almost certainly, she would have met with the same melancholy fate as her mother. The event has spread a panic through the neighbourhood. Mr W. Wreford, of Clannaborough, was most active by himself and people in finding the bodies. - The accident happened about 7 o'clock. MR HUGHES was a Magistrate of the County. - [From our own Reporter]. - The Inquest. - Was held at the house of Mr Snell, at Hayne Farm, on Thursday (yesterday) before J. Partridge, Esq., and a respectable Jury of neighbouring yeomen. - The Jury first proceeded to view the bodies, which were lying in the Farm House - the only disfigurement observable on them was caused by some slight scratches. They presented a most painful and melancholy appearance. - James Bolt, labourer, living in Exeter, deposed that he was in the employ of Mr Pike, of Sandy Park, in the parish of Drewsteignton. On Monday last he was thrashing at Gill House, near Bow. In the evening, about seven o'clock, he was returning to Bow, over Hayne Bridge. When I came there I saw young MR GEORGE HUGHES, who was on a pony, and I said to him, "You are water-bound, ain't you, sir?" MR HUGHES replied that he was waiting for a carriage. He said he had rode over the bridge and he thought the carriage could pass very well. William Beavis and myself, seeing we could not pass over the bridge on our usual road home, went up Hayne Lane, where we met the carriage, containing MR and MRS HUGHES and servant. I told them they could not go across the water, as it was too high, and would be sure to be washed over. It was moonlight, and I could see MR HUGHES and the rest distinctly. MR HUGHES asked who was talking to him and we told him we were thrashing at Gill House. They drove on. MRS HUGHES looked out of the carriage and begged us to come down and see her safe over the bridge. We went down to the bridge and when we came there MR HUGHES, jun., rode on the bridge and on coming back the horse appeared to stumble about a good deal, and we expected that the horse would have been washed away then. MRS HUGHES began to scream, but the son came safe over and he said, "Papa, I think you can go over." MR HUGHES, who was driving himself, urged the horse forward, with the carriage, preceded by his son. When the carriage got into the middle of the water at the deepest part, the carriage began to float and to be swayed to and fro, and MR HUGHES looked back and said, "Papa, where are you?" The carriage then upset and they were thrown out. The carriage and horse were then forced by the stream over the river. The boy was in the carriage with MRS HUGHES. Young MR HUGHES'S horse then stumbled and he fell into the water, the horse walked out of the stream and galloped off. Presently after I heard MR HUGHES moaning and MRS HUGHES exclaimed, "My God, my God." She was then in the middle of the river. I lost sight of her for a moment, when she rose again and faintly uttered, "My God." She then sunk, and I saw her no more. Beavis went away to get help. Mr Bibbings soon came to the spot, with three or four persons whom I did not know. When I saw the three bodies in the river - namely, those of MR and MRS HUGHES and her son, they were about eight feet apart. MR HUGHES was found hanging on by a bush in the river, and rescued by Mr Bibbings. I do not know when the other bodies were found. I never saw the horse or carriage after they were drawn into the stream. - Wm. Beavis, labourer, living at Exeter, corroborated the testimony of the former witness. I assisted Mr Bibbings in taking MR HUGHES out of the water. - Wm. Bibbings, of Zeal Monachorum, said that about 7 o'clock, as he was coming from Zeal with his son, I met last witness, who requested us to come to the water. He told us what had happened and when we came there we listened a little while to try to catch any sound, but we heard nothing and we saw nothing in the water. After a short time I went into the water, and desiring the rest to be silent, while I made a signal. I cried, "Halloa, MR HUGHES." I then listened intently and could just catch the sound of a very faint voice, saying "Halloa, halloa." I then desired the rest to catch hold of me and follow me into the water. When I had got in about four feet depth of water in the direction from which the voice proceeded, I found MR HUGHES in the stream grasping an alder twig. MR HUGHES cried out, "My dear fellow, save my wife - you have now saved me, and do, there's a good fellow, save my wife - where's my dear SOPHIA? - We carried him out of the water on the bank. We then continued our search for the other bodies till 12 o'clock at night, when we went home. We resumed our search in the morning at 6 o'clock. We first found the horse and carriage and some time afterwards I heard a voice from the marsh adjoining and on going there I discovered John Parish and several others in the act of taking the body of MRS HUGHES out of the water. - John Parish, mason of Bow, deposed to finding the body of MRS HUGHES in a hedge, ten perches down the river; the hedge is about ten yards from the water; the body was on the hedge and the legs were suspended over the side. Her head was reclining on her left hand. - Richard Pike, of Bow - I saw the body of MRS HUGHES on the hedge. I also saw the body of GEORGE HUGHES near the weir, about 25 land-yards below the bridge. It was in the water, the head under the roots of some alders, by which it was detained. Giles Bond took the body out of the water and I assisted him. There appeared to be no marks of violence on either of the bodies; there were some scratches on the face of GEORGE HUGHES, received probably among the alder roots, where he was firmly fixed. There was a great number of persons present. - The Rev. Septimus Palmer, of Northtawton, stated the age of GEORGE HUGHES to be 18 years and MRS HUGHES about 50. - Margaret Towel, nurse, said there were no marks of violent injury about either of the bodies, but a few scratches on the faces, which might have been received among the bushes. - The Jury immediately returned a verdict of "Accidental Death By Drowning." - Hayne Bridge is in a very bad state and has been so for a long time. We do not know whether Mr Ley, the Lord of the manor, or the County Magistrates should see that it is in a proper state to meet such occurrences as a flood. There is, however, an awful responsibility somewhere.

Western Times, Saturday 11 December 1841
BROADHEMPSTON - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., - December 4, at Bickaton, in the parish of Broadhempston, on the body of RICHARD CAUNTER, aged 67 years, who, after taking supper, on the 2nd inst., was taken suddenly in a fit of apoplexy and died almost immediately. Verdict accordingly.

SOUTH BRENT - Inquest held by J. Gribble, Esq., - December 7th, at the Anchor Inn, Brent, on the body of MARY ANN COLEMAN, a little girl, aged 6 years, whose clothes caught fire in the absence of her mother, and she was so severely burnt that she survived only for a few days. Verdict accordingly.

TOTNES - Sudden Death. - MR ROBERT TERRY, of the Commercial Inn, Totnes, died suddenly on the 3rd inst., aged 62 years. An Inquest was held the same day, before J. Gribble, Esq., and a verdict returned of "Died by the Visitation of God."

TOTNES - Dreadful And Murderous Attack Of A Woman On A Man. - On Saturday, the 20th ult., a travelling man, who, it appears, came last from Kingsbridge, arrived at the Kingsbridge Inn, in Totnes. After he had been a short time in the house, a woman came in and commenced an attack on him with the kitchen poker, and struck him a severe blow on the head. The weapon immediately was taken from her by the people of the house, who, at the same time, discovered that she had the fire shovel in the other hand behind her back. This also was immediately taken from her, and she was ordered to quit the house, but refused unless her husband, as she called him, went with her. They at last went away together and in the open street she made another attack upon him with her fist, from the effects of which he staggered against a house. All this while, it seems, the man made no resistance. They afterwards went to the North Star Inn, where she again made a more brutal attack than before, with the kitchen poker, which was a very massive one, inflicting most cruel injuries on him, until the poker was taken from her by the landlord. She then seized a large cast iron sifter fire pan, and as the man lay with his head on the table struck him several severe blows on the back between the shoulders, when he, raising his head, exclaimed, "You may as well kill me at once." The fire pan being taken from her, she took off her shoes and beat him about the head with them. After all this they returned to bed together, but in the night another disturbance took place, and a Constable was called in, by whose interference quietness was restored for the rest of the night. The next day the woman went to a druggist and procured some oil to anoint the bruises occasioned by her violence. The poor fellow lay in bed for several days, the woman still with him, but being reduced in circumstances the landlord applied to the Relieving Officer, who, on his visiting the poor man, saw that medical assistance was necessary and called in Mr Killock, the Surgeon of the parish, who administered the necessary medicines, but the poor fellow sunk, under the dreadful punishment he had received on the 2nd inst., and on the 3rd an Inquest was held before J. Gribble,. Esq., Coroner, and a very respectable Jury. Mr Killock, on his examination, deposed that the man died from inflammation caused by the bruises on the back. He also stated that the poor creature first said that the woman was his wife, but subsequently he said it was not so. He said his name was JOHN KELLY, and her's Sarah Baker. The Jury, after consulting together a short time, found a verdict of Manslaughter against Sarah Baker, and the Coroner issued his warrant for her apprehension, to take her trial at the next Assizes for the offence. The woman effected her escape when she knew that the man was in a dangerous state, but Bishop, the town sergeant, in whose hands the warrant was placed, traced her to Exeter, where he took her into custody and she is now in the County prison.