Liverpool Mercury, Jan 7th 1899,
Deaths and Inquests
A fatal explosion occurred on Thursday at the premises of Messers ISAAC, General Merchants, Liskeard, by which William JOHNS, aged 65, storekeeper met with a horrible death. The cause of the explosion is not established but at 5 o’clock a terrific report was heard on the upper part of the premises, and the body of JOHNS was found huddled in a corner, in a sitting position. His head and arms had been blown off, his chest and ribs smashed and his thighs and abdomen gashed. Gunpowder and some dynamite cartridges were on the premises.
On Tuesday, an inquest was held at St Helens by Mr S. BRIGHOUSE on the body of John LANGLEY, aged 37, a labourer of 232 Boundary Rd, who was found dead on the sofa at his home on Friday last. Prior to his death LANGLEY and P.C. CARMODY of the Borough force had been wrestling and the deceased was knocked down and fell against the fire-grate. The Coroner ordered a post mortem on the body to be made.
Dr GRAY had carried out the examination and found death was due to Cardiac Syncope, accelerated by excessive drinking. Cons CARMODY said, that on the previous Tuesday morning, while off duty, he went with his father to the Nags Head in Boundary Rd. LANGLEY, came in with 5 other young men and treated everybody round, afterwards in a friendly way he got hold of the witness and said he could get him on the floor. They fell and rolled over and the deceased hit his head on the fire-grate. On the night of the following day he and Cons GREGSON found LANGLEY lying drunk in Knowsley Rd and took him home, leaving him in the charge of his two sisters. Coroner was satisfied death was due to excessive drinking.
When the FENNELLA was crossing from Liverpool to Douglas, during Monday’s heavy storm it was believed that a Manx man, William QUAYLE, Schoolmaster in Liverpool, went overboard and drowned. He was spoken to on the passage, but never reached Douglas where he has relatives. He was a young man with one child.
Mr William OVERTON. J.P, of Wrexham, died on Thursday, aged 86.
Mr BRIGHOUSE held an inquest on Wednesday on the death of James BURNS, aged 60, a sailor, who died at his home, Olivia St, Bootle on the 22nd of last month. In September last he came home from sea on the ship LABRADOR and when the vessel was in port he received an injury to his leg. He went to the Walton Workhouse Hospital and was treated for three weeks. He then went back to work on the steamship VIRGINIA and in November last while carrying something up the gangway, he fell and injured himself. He afterwards became ill and died on the date stated above. He however received no medical treatment. The inquiry was adjourned for further evidence. The jury concluded that the deceased died from the results of the second fall, whist working on the ship VIRGINIA.
At the Liverpool Coroner’s Court on Wednesday an inquiry was held into the death of Samuel GUEST, aged 60, who lived with his wife at 33 Cavendish St. For 35yrs deceased had been a very heavy drinker and had been intoxicated nearly every day of the week. On the 19th last, deceased went to a neighbour’s house and partook of a great deal of liquor. A young woman entered the house where the deceased and his friends were drinking and the deceased remarked, “She was a very nice young woman,” and behaved indecently. She repulsed him, and, on him again trying to assault her, caught up a 2lb jar and hit him over the head with it. For a few days he seemed none the worst for the wound on his forehead, but on the 29th December last he consented to be removed to the Walton Workhouse Hospital, where he died on the 31st December.
Medical evidence showed all the deceased organs were diseased and that death was due to a cerebral haemorrhage, accelerated by drink, and the head wound in no way was connected to the death, the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the findings, the Coroner remarked, that even a drunken man had no right to assault a woman and the woman was justified in protecting herself.
Mr Rev G. S. MEEK, Wesleyan Minister, Heywood, died on Monday at Manchester
An announcement has been made of the death of Rev R. E. GUY, O.S.B, one time connected with St Anne’s, Edge Hill, and founder of the male voice choir
On Tuesday Mr J. E. WOLSEY held an inquest on the death of Joseph BALL, aged 42, foreman plumber at the United Alkali works, Weston near Runcorn. John FRASER said that at 11.30 am on the previous day he knocked on the door of the hut the deceased occupied, he got no reply and the door was locked. He kicked the door in and found the deceased hanging from a nail on the wall. He cut the body down but life was extinct – suicide whilst temporary insane
At 9am on Sunday, two children named EDGE were playing at their home in Ritson St, Toxteth, when the clothing of one of the children caught fire, the child was taken to the Royal Infirmary and died soon after.
Edith CRAIG wife of a cab driver of 120 Crab St, St Helens, committed suicide. She was found on the kitchen floor with her throat badly gashed a blood, stained knife was near by. Dr DOW was immediately called but the woman died in a few minutes.
On Monday morning Elizabeth EVANS, a farmer’s wife, residing at Talygath, Glynceiriog, was found by her husband lying dead on the floor. She had a gash in her throat from ear to ear. A large carving knife was near by. It is supposed she committed suicide, but no reason can be assigned for the rash act.
On Wednesday, Mr JONES Dept Coroner held and inquest at Ince near Wigan on the mysterious death of Alice LOWE, who was employed on the pit-brow and was 19. On Sunday she was in the company of her sweetheart and became unconscious and died later. Her mother said several family members had died in a similar manner – death by natural causes.
As a result of the terrible storms in the Rhos and Ruabon districts on Monday night a terrible discovery was made on Tuesday at Ponkey. Some youths were passing over “Ponkey Banks” and saw the body of a man at the bottom of some old rocks. Police were informed and the body was found to be that of Joseph BELLIS, aged 70, of Princess St.
Inquest held at St Helens by Mr BRIGHOUSE, on William KEY, aged 36, a labourer, Parr St, who was found drowned in the canal at Pocket Nook on Monday. The deceased was drunk on New Years Day but went to work on the night-turn at Pocket Nook, Gasworks. Later he left work and crossed the canal over a bridge to a beer house, he later left the beer house but was not seen again at his work place. James FORBER said, they heard cries coming from the canal on Sunday night and got lights out, but did not see anyone in the water. Cons WHALLEY said, when he found the deceased he still had his pipe in his left hand – accidentally drowned.
William RAMSAY, aged 34 of 31 Oak St, Birkenhead, on Thursday met with his death under very sad circumstances. He was employed by the, Mersey Docks and Harbour board and about 1.30pm, James CALDERBANK, a joiner, sent him for a boring machine, which was in the cumulator on the South Side of the West Float Dock. RAMSEY ascended the platform about 30ft high and surrounded by a guard or railing and whilst leaning over the latter to lower the boring machine with rope, his head and neck were crushed by some machinery in motion. William HANDLEY, Joseph MORRIS and P.C. WRIGHT assisted to get the unfortunate young man in the horse-drawn ambulance, which was sent for. On arrival at the Borough Hospital Dr HARE pronounced life extinct.
Liverpool Mercury 14th Jan 1899
Deaths and Inquest
The body of William DUMBELL was found by the police on Monday morning at the bottom of the Trafford Dock, the deceased was employed as a carter by Thomas WILSON of Strand St.
Mr BRIGHOUSE held and inquest on Monday on the body of a Lascar named, Abdul GUFFAL, a native of Bombay who was one of the crew of the HADDON HALL. While cargo was being taken out of the vessel the deceased was sitting on a mainstay, securing a block. Another block attached to a crane on the quay, belonging to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, struck the mainstay and knocked GUFFAL off, he fell 15ft and died from his injuries – accidental death
At the Liverpool Coroner’s Court, Dale St, Wednesday
An inquiry was held into the death of Roderick William PINTO, aged 15, of 15 Fernie St. On Jan 10th, the deceased an apprentice was working on a ship, the NAVIGATOR, belonging to Messers T and J. HARRISON of Liverpool, in the Harrington Dock. He and another boy were taken down by the foreman to clean the bottom of the ship. They reached the 2nd “tween decks” when the foreman realised it was too dark to do the work. He asked the lads to sit where they where till he returned with a lamp.
Deceased, however, climbed up a ladder and whilst walking past the coamings of the bunker hatch ladder, he tripped, and fell 20ft to the bottom of the hold. He was taken to the Royal Southern Hospital with fractures to the base of his skull and died soon after – accidental death
At St Helens on Tuesday Mr BRIGHOUSE held and inquest into the death of George CLARE, aged 25, a glass grinder of 69 Oldfield St. On Saturday night he and a man named William MAWDSLEY of Haydock and two women, Mrs Lavina SLATER, a widow and Mrs Margaret GRUNDY were together in Park Rd, CLARE and SLATER left the other couple. Afterwards a man named WYNN living in Back Bolton St heard a noise in the back entry. When he got there he found CLARE lying on the ground and SLATER trying to raise him. He died shortly afterwards
Cons JACKSON was called, SLATER told him they were walking to her home and denied they had gone into the entry for any other purpose, Cons JACKSON had no doubt what had taken place. Dr F. J. KNOWLES performed a post mortem on the body and found the deceased bowel and stomach over distended and this had displaced and crowded the deceased weak and diseased heart, producing the fatal syncope. He stated, anything leading to an excited heart action, while so embarrassed, would conduce fatal consequences – natural causes.
At Birkenhead Mr A. F. COTTON, held and inquest on Monday on the body of William Alexander RAMSEY, aged 25, joiner’s labourer of 33 Star St, Rock Ferry. On Thursday last deceased was working on the hydraulic accumulator at the West Float Dock and went for a boring machine on the platform of the accumulator [about 30ft off the ground] While the deceased was leaning over the platform rail lowering the boring machine by a rope he was fatally crushed by the accumulator descending. At the Borough Hospital Dr HARE certified life was extinct deceased had multiple fractures to his skull and neck.
P.C WRIGHT was on the scene when the accident occurred he saw deceased go up the ladder, then heard a moan and some liquid came down, A fellow workman remarked, “Something has burst.” Witness replied, “ No Jimmie its blood.” – accidental death.
Liverpool Mercury, Jan 21st 1899
Mr T. E. SAMPSON, Liverpool Coroner, held an inquest on Wednesday at Dale St on the death of Eustace Montague TOWNEND, aged 28, who was Lieut in the troop of the Royal Niger Company in West Africa.
Miss Ada Constance TOWNEND, sister of the deceased of 11 Lorna Rd, Hove, Brighton said he went out to Africa on 13th November 1897. Last month she received a letter from the company saying her brother had been injured during a rebellion with natives and that he was being sent home on the steamship OLENDA. The vessel arrived at Liverpool on the 31st December last and the deceased was taken to the Royal Infirmary. Witness came to Liverpool tom see her brother, but, he was too ill to tell her anything about his injuries and was never conscious after that and died in her presence last Saturday.
Miss Louisa Anne SIDKY, Hockenden, St Mary Grey, Kent, a friend of the deceased said, she received a letter from the deceased last November, he told her he had been fighting rebellious natives beyond Issela Assaba, but he had not been wounded. A week before Christmas she was informed by the company that he had been wounded and was being invalided home. She then accompanied his sister to Liverpool after the vessel arrived.
Charles John RYCROFT, Shore purser, for Messers Elder Dempster and Co, steamship owners, Africa House, Water St, stated that on the 31st December last the OLENDA of the above company arrived in Liverpool from the West Coast of Africa, the deceased was a passenger. The ship’s surgeon brought the deceased from the ship on a tender, when the tender reached the stage the deceased was taken immediately to the Royal Infirmary by Horse ambulance, which was in readiness. The deceased was very ill but he did not know what he was suffering from.
John Harry WATSON, House surgeon to Professor PAUL at the Royal Infirmary, said the deceased was admitted on the 31st December last and was accompanied by Dr NESBITT, the ORLENDA’S surgeon. Deceased was very weak and had two gunshot wounds to his left side. Dr NESBITT said the deceased had been fighting at a place beyond Issela Assaba and had led some troops against natives entrenched in a ditch. The advance was in single file and he was the at the head, 2yds from the trench he was shot at and fell immediately, the man who shot him was killed by Lieut WAKE.
At the beginning of the year his recovery was considered hopeless, but after subsequent operations he improved. However a relapse occurred and the deceased died last Saturday caused by exhaustion through the wounds.
The Coroner said that this was a peculiar case and it had caused him and his officers some anxiety. There was no evidence in this country how the gunshot wounds occurred. He had no doubt the story from the ship’s doctor was correct, but then, this country was not at war with regard to that place in West Africa. He supposed the Niger Company, formed for developing the Niger Territory, were obliged to have troops there, if he had been shot, the person who shot the deceased, would be liable for the death, there being no war there, that would be murder.
An adjourned inquest was held on Tuesday afternoon
By Mr W. Wynn EVANS, East Denbighshire, Coroner on the death of John Lewis RIALTON, aged 14mths, the illegitimate child of a single woman, Kate Annie RIALTON, of Acrefair, Ruabon.
Andrew JONES, desired to give evidence, coroner advised against it but JONES pressed his desire, and said both he and his wife had always treated the child well. On January 5th the child fell off a chair, he did not know it had broken its arm till Dr DILLON told him on the 11th.
Kate JONES, wife of above, repeated her previous evidence and was asked whether she wanted to contradict the statements of the BAKERS, she said she had not told Mrs BAKER that her husband had broken the child’s arm.
Dr DILLON, Rhos, said on examination of the deceased he found both arms broken, one fracture of a months standing the other a week. There were bruises all over the child’s body. The cause of death was due to violence and exhaustion due to the injuries.
Dr J. C. DAVIES who accompanied Dr DILLON at the post mortem, said the fractures could not have been caused by the child falling off a chair. The bruises showed evidence of ill treatment of long standing.
Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against both Andrew and Kate JONES, both were taken into custody by the police.
Liverpool Mercury, Jan 21st 1899
Deaths and Inquests
Liverpool Coroners Court
Tuesday
Inquiry into the death of John MOUNTAIN, General labourer, aged 74, 19 Latham St, on 12th deceased returned from work [employed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co] with a bruise on his forehead and said he had been blown down by a strong wind when crossing Sandhill’s Bridge. About 6mths ago he had a paralytic stroke. On the 14th his wife took him his breakfast in bed and left, on returning to him some minutes later she found him dead. - medical evidence, heart disease accelerated by shock.
Wednesday
Inquiry into the death of Caroline JONES, Bookbinder, widow of a ship’s rigger, aged 57, who lived in a court off Upper Mann St. Last Wednesday on going to work on crossing Church St, she passed behind a tramcar and was knocked down by a shandry. She later died at the Southern Hospital with a scalp wound and poisoned ear - accidental death
Inquiry into the death of Simon Samuel DUNNE, foreman ship’s painter, aged 52 of 32 Westbourne St. Deceased was steady and reliable and had been employed for 28yrs by Messers SUTER, HARTMANN and RAHTJENS, Rumford Place. On Tuesday he was employed painting the ship KIRK LOCH, in the Canning Graving Dock, he slipped on the steps on the side of the dock and fell to the bottom of the dock, dying immediately of a fractured skull - accidental death due to the fall
On Thursday at Bootle Police buildings an inquest was held on the death of Edward BOUCHER, aged 52 of Cornwall St, Glasgow, who was quartermaster on the steam-ship TAURANIAN of the Allan Line. On Wednesday last deceased was going down a gangway leading from the steamer to the quay when he slipped, he managed to grab a rope but could not hold on and fell into the dock. He was taken from the water 15mins later and taken to Bootle Hospital where life was pronounced extinct - accidental death
A workman named Henry GAFFNEY, aged 42 of Petton St, was engaged in an old mill in Boundary St on Tuesday afternoon and was crushed to death by the hydraulic machinery.
Sudden death at St Helens
James BOARDMAN, aged 24, a labourer of Platt St, Parr, while walking to his home on Saturday, fell to the ground, a man named ELLAM went to his aid and found him dead.
On Monday Ernest WILLIAMS a breaks man for the Great Western, while attending to his train at Mold Junction, was knocked down by some moving wagons, which severed one of his arms and a leg. He was taken to Chester Hospital and died at 4pm. He was married and lived at Connah’s Quay
On Saturday at Tuebrook, on Scorton St, Rocky Lane, an aged man, named Robert BAMFORD, while standing in front of the grate in his night clothes, was set on fire, he was seized with faintness and fell backwards on the grate. A neighbour heard his cries and he was removed to Mill Rd, his condition is very serious.
Copyright 2002 / To date