Coroner's Inquests, before Mr P. F. CURRY, Borough Coroner
On the body of Margaret infant daughter of Richard HOLDEN, carter, Citron St, the deceased who was 4mths was accidentally suffocated in bed on Monday morning. verdict, "Accidentally suffocated"
On the body of George DOBBS, infant son of Joseph Henry DOBBS, plumber, 29 Temple Lane, who was 4mths was accidentally suffocated in bed on Sunday morning. verdict, "Accidentally suffocated"
On the body of Sarah Ellen, infant daughter of Ralph LEE, boilermaker, 9 Holland St, Toxteth Park, who was 2mths was accidentally suffocated in bed on Sunday morning. verdict, "Accidentally suffocated"
On the body of John infant son of Margaret McGINNIS, an "unfortunate" living No 6 court, Ford St, who was 5wks was accidentally suffocated in bed on Sunday morning, verdict, "Accidentally suffocated"
On the body of Sarah Jane, infant daughter of Joseph PICKERING, brass finisher, No 35 court, Hornby St. On Saturday week the deceased who was 10mths old was left in a chair by the fire, near which was a kettle of boiling water, by some means the kettle, chair and child fell together upon the hearth stone, the boiling water spilled upon the poor infant, scalding it fearfully and causing its death on Sunday last, verdict, "Accidentally scalded"
On the body of Thomas GIDMAN aged 72, watchmaker by trade who lived with his son in Spencer St, Everton. The deceased was in a feeble state and had a fire in his bedroom, on Saturday the inmates of the house heard his cries, and found him with his clothes in flames, the injuries caused his death the following day. verdict, "Found burned, how there is no evidence to show"
On the body of Catherine HOBIN, widow, aged 79, who lived with her son-in-law in Poever St, some days ago she had a fall and injured one of her thighs, and died from the effects on Monday. Medical evidence showed death was due to shock from the fall, verdict, "Accidental death"
On the body of Bridget wife of Michael BERRY, labourer, 16 Grayson St, on Tuesday week, the deceased who was addicted to drink, was at a wake and was drunk there, on leaving the house she fell upon the footwalk, and thence into the area of the cellar. She was much injured about the head and died from the effects on Monday last, verdict, "Accidental death"
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Liverpool Mercury May 9th 1864
Coroner's inquests before Mr P. F. CURRY
On the body of Mary Ann PHILLIPS, aged 42, widow of the late John David PHILLIPS, licensed victualler, 69 Regent Rd. About 4mths ago she was engaged to be married to a person named LEGGE, but the engagement was broken, the disappointment appears to have preyed upon her mind. At 10-30pm on Thursday the servant went to bed leaving the deceased in the bar, in the morning when she came downstairs she found her suspended by a rope around her neck to the beam across the doorway of the bar, quite dead, verdict, "Temporary insanity."
On the body of John WESTHEAD, an apprentice in the employment of Mr WOODS, cabinetmaker, Bold St, who fell through the skylight of the workshop on Wednesday last, and received injuries which terminated fatally, the same afternoon in the Royal Infirmary. The deceased had been cautioned against going on the roof of the workshop. The jury returned a verdict of, "Accidental death." coupling with their verdict a presentment to the effect that there was a great neglect on the part of the employer in not having secured the skylight by which access was obtained to the roof.
On the body of Louisa WILLIAMS, aged 20, servant to Jane BOLTON, a widow living at 81 Everton Village. The deceased was subject to fainting fits, she went to bed at 10pm on Friday, at 8am on Saturday she was found dead, lying on her right side, with her head and shoulders resting on the floor. Inquest adjourned until a post-mortem is made.
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Liverpool Mercury June 4th, 1864
HORRIBLE DEATH FROM HYDROPHOBIA
Yesterday considerable sensation was created in Prescot and the neighbourhood, in consequence of the death of a boy from that fearful and hitherto incurable disease hydrophobia. The deceased John Henry WAINWRIGHT, was stepson to Mr James CREED, one of the gamekeepers in the service of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley. He was 11yrs old and resided with his parents in Huyton Rd, nr Prescot. About five weeks ago the deceased was in the kitchen connected with his father’s house, when a strange dog entered and bit him slightly on the hand, the wound was considered unimportant and no notice was taken of it at the time. The deceased continued in his usual health until Tuesday last, when, being at school, he complained of a headache and general debility. His indisposition increased and on Thursday the symptoms assumed the character of hydrophobia. Dr MORRIS and Dr BARROW of Prescot and Dr TYRER of Rainhill were called, but were unable under the circumstances to do anything more than alleviate to some extent the suffering of the patient. He exhibited throughout the prominent symptoms of the dreadful disease to which he was suffering, a repugnance to the admission of air into his room, and an unconquerable aversion to cold water or any other liquid. During Thursday night he was more or less convulsed, after which a state of exhaustion ensued, and he gradually sank, expiring, after the most intense agony, about 9am yesterday. In some of his most violent paroxysms it required the aid of several persons to hold him in bed.
The dog which bit the deceased was a strange one and never seen afterwards. We understand a short time ago a similar case occurred at Rainhill, which was attended by Dr TYRER. A young man named MERCER died after the most intense suffering, having been bitten by a dog eleven weeks previously.
Inquests
Yesterday and inquest was held at the Queen’s Hotel, Birkenhead, before Mr H.CHURTON, Coroner on the body of William COWAN a man who was injured on the 18th ult, by falling from a building at Rock Ferry. The deceased expired in the Borough Hospital on Wednesday, a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Coroners Inquests before Mr P. F. CURRY, Borough coroners :-
On the body of John ABRAM, 48, who lived with his mother in a provision shop in Maguire St. He was a man of intemperate habits and had not been sober for 5wks, for some days past his manner appeared very strange and he talked a great deal about people who had hung themselves. On Thursday he was found suspended by the neck with his handkerchief from a spindle of a coffee mill in the shop, life being extinct. He had previously attempted to destroy himself, verdict “Died from strangulation, how produced there was no evidence to show.”
On the body of Joseph CARTER, aged 35, of Arrow St, who was a coachman for a gentleman in Edge Lane. On Wednesday night he fell from a horse, being seized with a fit and died within a few minutes. Verdict, “Accidental death.”
On the body of Hugh MULHOLLAND, aged 65, a labourer of Highfield St. He was found lying in Milk St by police on Tuesday morning last in an insensible state from drink and removed to the Bridewell. He was unable to appear before the Magistrates that day and a doctor was sent for from the north dispensary. Dr ROBERTSON attended and found him suffering from the effects of excessive Drinking and removed to the workhouse by cab, where he died the following day, Verdict, “Died from the effects of excessive drinking.”
On the body of Ellen WELSH, infant daughter of Catherine WELSH, an unfortunate living at 12 Ben Johnson St. The mother came out of the Liverpool workhouse where she was confined of the deceased on Tuesday last week, and on the following night went out on the town, leaving the deceased lying on a table at her residence She got drunk and was locked up in the main bridewell for being drunk and disorderly. She was discharged before the magistrates next morning and went home, and found the deceased very ill. Her landlady turned her out that night and she with the deceased in her arms remained in the streets till Thursday. About one that afternoon while she was sitting on some steps in Church Lane, she found the deceased dead in her arms. The body was removed to the Deadhouse, Princes Dock. Dr RAE made a post mortem examination on the body and found death was due to, extravasation of blood to the brain due to violence, jury returned a verdict to that effect that the deceased had died of injuries received, but how received there was no evidence to show.
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Liverpool Mercury, Sept 6th 1864
The fatal accident to Mr MERCER
The melancholy death of Mr W. MERCER, of Newton, has produced great regret over the wide district in which, as agent of Mr W. J. LEGH. M.P, he was intimately known. An inquest was held at the Queen Inn, Golborne, before Mr DRIFFIELD and a respectable jury, on Saturday afternoon, when a verdict of, "Accidental death" was returned.
Thursday last being the commencement of the shooting season, Mr MERCER, accompanied by his friend Mr BIRLEY, sugar refiner of Earlestown, went out for a days sport. They passed the day upon Lightshaw Farm, and started for home shortly after 9pm, the night being very dark. The conveyance was a four-wheeler, drawn by a pony which had been in Mr MERCER'S possession for a considerable time. Mr MERCER took the reins and Mr BIRLEY was seated upon the front box by his side. Behind were a foreign gentleman named ZOCHELSKAY and his friend, and Mr MERCER'S servant. At Golborne the road which the party had to take turns at right angles, and here the casualty occurred which has resulted in Mr MERCER'S death. It is supposed that in abruptly turning the corner the fore wheels of the carriage got into such a position as not fairly to support the body of the vehicle, and the weight of Mr BIRLEY overbalanced it on his side. The consequence was that the conveyance was upset, and the whole party thrown out.
Nobody was seriously injured except Mr MERCER, he had been precipitated completely over Mr BIRLEY, and fell upon the back of his head with great violence. He was picked up insensible and taken to a farmhouse occupied by Mrs PIERREPONT close by. Mr BARROW of Golborne was immediately in attendance and shortly afterwards Mr LEETE of Newton, for whom a messenger had been sent arrived. These gentlemen made every effort to restore Mr MERCER to consciousness, but without success. He was suffering from severe concussion of the brain, but, beyond a flesh wound about the size of a half-a-crown at the back of his head, there was no external injury.
On Friday morning Dr SMITH and Mr John LEE where sent for from Manchester, but the means they prescribed proved equally ineffectual with those before adopted. The unfortunate gentleman lingered in this way without recovering a moment's consciousness, till 4.20 am on Saturday when he died. On Saturday evening his remains were removed to his own residence Park House, Newton.
For 21yrs Mr MERCER had been the principal agent to Mr W. J. LEGH. M.P, of Lyme Park, for his estates both in Lancashire and Cheshire, and previous to that he was the honourable gentleman's mine surveyor. In both capacities he gained the goodwill and respect of the tenantry and all with whom he was brought into contact. He also had the position of chairman of the Newton Improvement Commissioners, and in that locality where he lived was well known and highly esteemed. The deceased was unmarried and aged 65 yrs, he will be interred this morning in the burial ground attached to St Oswald's Catholic Chapel, Ashton, when the Rev H. NEWSHAM will officiate.
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Liverpool Mercury, Sept 10th 1864
Coroner's Inquests
Before Mr P. F. CURRY, Borough Coroner
On the body of Joseph, infant son of Joseph RIGBY, a whitesmith of Clifford St. The deceased was accidentally suffocated in bed on Thursday night and a verdict to that effect was returned.
On the body of Bridget, wife of Martin MANNIX, cabinet maker of 5 Poplar Lane. The husband said she was 54yrs old, he had separated from her about 18yrs ago and went to live with another woman, who had four children by him. He gave the deceased half-a-crown a week. She was a sober woman, he had saw several times whilst he was living apart from her. He had been working in Ireland for the past three years, and returned to Liverpool about three months ago. He left the woman with whom he had been living in Ireland and came to live with the deceased. She told him to leave the house, and he did so, but returned in two or three days. She had little to say to him and at night when they were in bed he had heard her talking to herself in a rambling manner. She seemed very much put about because he had left her, and he did not think that she was in her right mind. Between 5 and 6 am on Thursday he left the house to go to work and when he returned at night he was told she was dead.
Ellen SIDDELEY, the wife of a porter, living in Cumberland St, said she had known the deceased for the last 13yrs, she was a very sober woman. She seemed to fret very much about her husband living with another woman. About 7 or 8 weeks ago she told witness that her husband had spoken to her about this woman saying she was a, "silver cup," to him. This seemed to annoy her very much and witness had lately observed a strangeness in her manner. She saw her on Thursday afternoon, when she [the deceased] gave her money to get a pint of ale, telling her it would be the last, as she was going to be teetotal. About 5pm the witness went up to her bedroom, and found the door locked on the inside. She burst it open, and found the deceased hanging by the neck to a cord which was fastened to a hook in the ceiling. She shouted and a man named John PENDERGAST came in and cut the deceased down but she was quite dead.
Ann DOGHERTY the mistress of the house where the deceased resided, said she told the latter on Thursday afternoon to keep up her spirits. The deceased replied, "On my heart is broke to see a man who is well able to earn a living for me going to earn a living for another woman, and leave me to the mercy of the world. I can't stand it." The jury returned a verdict of , "Temporary insanity" and the coroner told MANNIX that his conduct was most disgraceful.
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Liverpool Mercury, Oct 20th, 1864
Coroner's Inquests, before Mr P. F. CURRY, Borough Coroner
On the body of Charles CONNOLLY, aged 6wks, son of a labourer of 30 Court, Upper Henderson St. Mrs CONNOLLY, stated that about a fortnight after the deceased was born he became very cross, a neighbour advised her to give the child some paregoric, which she got from a druggist at the corner of Bedford St and Warwick St. She gave the baby a teaspoonful of water with 3 drops of paregoric in it at a dose. She told the druggist the deceased was only 2wks old, but he did not tell her how much paregoric to give him, nor did she ask. Some of the old women in the neighbourhood told her what to do, she gave it in the evening and about 1 or 2am, when he would become cross. He would sometimes fall asleep after getting it and would sleep for an hour, he would then be flushed in the face. She gave the deceased two pennyworth of paregoric in a week. She took the deceased to the dispensary on Thursday last, but she did not give him any paregoric for two days previous. A surgeon prescribed for the child and she gave him the medicine, but he died on Saturday last. Mr ROWE, surgeon at the South Dispensary, said the deceased was taken there on Thursday last. The face was livid and cold, and the respiration was difficult. Theses were the appearances of narcotic poison. He had since made a post mortem and found the appearance of poisoning by opium, the mother told him she had given the deceased a teaspoonful of paregoric at a dose, which was too much for a child of his tender age. His opinion was that death had been caused by poisoning by opium. Verdict, "Chance medley, " the jury making a presentment "that the druggist was very culpable indeed in selling paregoric to a young female, and giving it out in a bottle without a label and direction for use."
On the body of Felix O'NEIL, aged 45, a labourer of 7 Westmoreland St. On Monday last he was working with some other men, in a warehouse in Watkinson St, owned by Mr G. H. LAWRENCE, but in the occupation of Mr M'QUIE, warehouse keeper, Brunswick-buildings, Brunswick St. The deceased, with other men, was sent to the "jigger" loft to lower a number of hogheads of sugar. Soon after 11am they were lowering the 26th hogshead, when one of the uprights in which the barrel was placed gave way, causing a rope used as a break to give way, and throwing a greater pressure upon the handles of the winch. When the upright broke the hogshead dropped a short distance, causing the winch to give one or two revolutions, and the deceased was injured on the head, being jammed between the winch and the bulkhead, he was removed to the Southern Hospital where he died that afternoon. Two of the men who were working with the deceased said the upright which broke was old and worm-eaten, just above were it broke. William MUCH, a block-maker, 13 Brown St, employed by Mr M'QUIE to examine all gear in connection with the warehouse, denied it was worm-eaten, but said it was old. A witness said the jigger loft was too small, and this warehouse was one of several that ought to have been condemned long since. A person who represented Mr M'QUIE said the men ought to have lowered the hogsheads by hand, they had no right to use the winch. A warehouseman said the men could not lower it entirely by hand. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." They also made a presentment that the present jigger loft in the warehouse is insufficient and recommended the present tacking be removed, and that a double purchase be substituted. Also that the present space which is reserved for the working thereof is not sufficient, and that more room is requisite in order to carry on the system of hoisting or lowering in the warehouse.
On the body of Thomas WHITBY, aged 35, licensed victualler, of 22 Everton Village. For the last fortnight the deceased had been addicted to habits of intemperance. On Monday last he was drinking brandy, and that night got very drunk, his wife assisted him upstairs and got him to bed. When his wife awoke at 8am she found him lying dead on his side. Verdict, "Died from the effects of excessive drinking."
On the body of George LITTLE, aged 39, greengrocer, who resided at 38 Hill St. On Saturday last he went to Haymarket, and after loading his cart he was about to proceed home, went to get on top of his cart, but doing so lost his balance, and fell into the street, fracturing his spine. He was taken home and attended by Dr BURROWS, but died the following day. The deceased was drunk at the time of the accident. "Verdict, "Accidentally killed whilst in a state of intoxication."
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