Coroner’s Inquests 1831 cases
There were 17 cases, that I could find, in the year of 1831.
James Clark appears in the village of Collingborne with an American colleague, he seemingly having been in the Royal Navy and even at Trafalgar, but there is uncertainty in his and his colleague’s story of how he obtained his fatal injury.
Some servants and hands were lucky in the decency of their masters, and some were terribly unluckily. John Sims seems to have been most unlucky in his lot, being carter to Mr Biggs of the Bustard Inn on Salisbury Plain, who, from the evidence concerning his behaviour over the death of his servant, seems a real hard-horse. Sims was bringing a waggon loaded with grains from Devizes back to the Inn, and after climbing on the Plain was accompanied by the Inn’s post-boy William Harroway, who witnessed Sims falling from the shafts of his cart, though not the subsequent passing of the wheel over his leg.
Harroway’s fear of his master is evident in that he told the inquest that he went on to the Inn at midnight, and told his master straight away what had happened, though his master was reported as saying that Harroway knocked his window at three or four in the morning. Either way, Sims was left with a terribly broken leg for twelve hours on the road in the open air of Salisbury Plain, being found by a passing surgeon and eventually taken a joggling dozen miles to Salisbury Infirmary, where his smashed leg was removed, followed shortly after by his life.
I’ll leave you to decide how much to believe of the witnesses, but it is worth noting that most cases of being run over carry a deodand by the jury of a shilling on the waggon or horse, but in this case they fined Biggs, through his horse and waggon, the sum of ten-pounds.
Martin, Harriet – Whiteparish
Yeats, Robert – Maddington
Dixon, Robert – Salisbury
Blake, Mary – South Newton
Fox, Samuel – Salisbury
Mills, Maria – West Knoyle
Russell, Amy – Harnham
Pigot, James – Netheravon
Parsons, James – Farley
Blake, John – Redlynch
Flemming, Ann – Colerne
Clark, James – Collingborne Kingston
Yeates, Charles – Newton Toney
Miller, Isaac – Winterborne Bassett
Coombs, Stephen – Ansty
Kelly, Frederick – Berwick St John
Sims, John – Salisbury
Martin, Harriet 1831 January 3rd Whiteparish
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Monday last, at Whiteparish, on the body of Harriet Martin. The deceased was about six years of age, and in the absence of her mother, on the preceding Friday, was found with her clothes on fire. The deceased lingered a few hours, and expired. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Yeats, Robert 1831 January 3rd Maddington
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Tuesday, at Maddington, on the body of Robert Yeats. The deceased was an aged man, and had lived alone in a parish-house of that village, wherein he was found dead, on the 25th ult. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”
Dixon, Robert 1831 February 14th Salisbury
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Monday, the 31st January, at Fisherton Anger, on the body of Robert Dixon. The deceased, on the preceding Saturday evening, about 9 o’clock, was discovered leaning against a post, near the Bull Inn, and as soon as he was taken to the Infirmary, he died. It appeared in evidence, that a vessel had ruptured in the lungs, which caused his death. Verdict, “Visitation of God.”
The Bull Inn was immediately adjacent to the Infirmary.
Blake, Mary 1831 February 14th South Newton
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Friday, the 12th instant, at South Newton, on the body of Mary Ann Dawn Blake. The deceased was about five years old, and had been found in a water-carriage, near Wishford. Verdict, “Accidentally drowned.”
Fox, Samuel 1831 February 28th Salisbury
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on the 11th inst., at Fisherton Anger, on the body of Samuel Fox. The deceased was coachman to Sir Charles Hulse, of Breamore House, near Downton, and on the previous Tuesday morning, as he was driving Lady Hulse and family, the carriage came in contact with a cart, about three miles from this city, on the Andover road, when he fell amongst the horses. The deceased was taken to the Salisbury Infirmary insensible, and died the following day. Verdict, “Accidentally killed.”
Mills, Maria 1831 February 28th West Knoyle
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on the 21st., at West Knoyle, on the body of Maria Mills. The clothes of the deceased had caught fire in the absence of the mother, which burnt her so seriously, as to cause her death in a few hours afterwards. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Russell, Amy 1831 April 18th Harnham
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on Friday, the 8th inst., at West Harnham, on the body of Mrs Amy Russell, aged 47, formerly landlady of the Three Crowns, in that village. She was seized with apoplexy, on the preceding Wednesday, in this city, and never spoke afterwards. The jury, after a minute investigation, returned a verdict, that she died by the “Visitation of God.”
Pigot, James 1831 April 30th Netheravon
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on the 17th inst., at Netheravon, on the body of James Pigot, an infant. The deceased had been dipped in a river by his nurse, when he died immediately on being taken home. Verdict, “Natural Death.”
Parsons, James 1831 April 30th Farley
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, on the 27th, at Farley, on the body of James Parsons. The deceased was driving a cart loaded with bark near the village, when, by some accident, one of the wheels went over him, which caused his death in a few hours afterwards. Verdict, “Accidental Death,” with a deodand of 1s on the horse and cart.
Blake, John 1831 July 18th Redlynch
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh on Friday last, at Warminster Green, Redlynch, on the body of John Blake. The deceased on the previous Tuesday fell from his cart in the Forest, in consequence of the breaking of a rope with which he was fastening a load of chips. This accident occasioned such internal injury as to cause the poor man’s death. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Flemming, Ann 1831 August 1st Colerne
On Sunday, the 17th inst., an inquest was held by Mr Ady, one of the Coroners for Wilts., at Colerne, on the body of Ann Flemming, a married woman, aged 55, who on the previous Friday had hung herself. It appeared, by the evidence of her daughter and others, that the deceased had for some time past been in a desponding state, and had often complained of violent pains in her head. She was found hanging in an outhouse adjoining her dwelling-house, and had the appearance of having struggled violently ere life became extinct. Verdict, “Temporary Insanity.”
Clark, James 1831 August 1st Collingborne Kingston
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh at Collingborne Kingston, on the 18th ult., (which was adjourned to the 25th), on the body of James Clark, an American sailor. It appeared from the evidence, that he was travelling as a mendicant, in company with another individual, who was also a native of America. The deceased entered the above village on the 14th ult., in a very weak state of health. On receiving assistance from a medical gentleman, he informed him, that, on the previous Thursday, while at a public-house (being a stranger, he could not describe where the house was situated) he received a severe injury in his left side, caused by a kick from a man whom he did not know. Every attention was paid to him by the parish officers until the following Friday, when he died. The deceased wore a Trafalgar medal, and on his person was found a certificate showing that he had acted as quarter-master on board HMS Swiftsure, from 1804-1811, and was afterwards drafted on board the Dictator, where he filled the station of gunner’s mate, and is described as having conducted himself during the whole of the time in a proper and sea-manlike manner.
The certificate was so much worn, that the name of the Captain of the Dictater could not be deciphered; it is dated July 7, 1815. There was also found on his person a certificate of John L’Orem, stating his general good conduct, and signed by the American and Danish Consuls at Falmouth, Aug 3, 1826.
The fellow-traveller of the deceased, who, being an American, is supposed to be the owner of the latter certificate, appeared to be nearly 70 years of age, and was about 5 feet 10 inches high. He wore a black hat, and blue jacket and trowsers. He had a thin, dark complexion, with black hair and long whiskers, with every appearance of a sailor. It is a remarkable fact, that, on the day after he entered the village with the deceased, and when the medical gentleman wanted to see him, he absconded, and has not since been heard of.
Previously to his disappearance, he was observed speaking to the deceased in an angry manner. The deceased was afterwards told, that his fellow-traveller said that he (deceased) could travel as well as himself; on which the deceased replied, that his fellow-traveller was a rogue, and that he would never travel with him again.
During the adjournment of the inquest, a strict inquiry was made to discover the public-house where the deceased said he had received the injury, but without effect. On a post-mortem examination of the body, the surgeon found three of the ribs fractured, which had so seriously lacerated the internal parts, as to cause his death.
The Jury consulted for some time, and returned a verdict, that the deceased was feloniously killed by some person or persons by the jurors unknown.
The person with whom the unhappy man had been travelling must, it should seem, have had some knowledge of the injury inflicted on the deceased; and from the circumstances of his treatment towards him, and his having absconded, and no clew having been found as to the spot where he had been ill-used, it is much to be feared that he is the guilty person. Should any person, therefore, be found begging, answering the above description, it is requested that he may be detained. A reward will be given for his apprehension by the parish officers, if he shall be properly identified.
The deceased could not be prevailed on to think that he should die; it is therefore supposed, that he was fearful of impeaching his fellow-traveller; and that this circumstance induced him to tell a falsehood, in denying that his comrade had done any injury.
Yeates, Charles 1831 August 1st Newton Toney
An inquest was held before Mr Whitmarsh, at Newtontoney, on Friday, on the body of Charles Yeates, who was accidentally shot. Verdict accordingly.
Miller, Isaac 1831 August 8th Winterborne Bassett
An inquest was held on Monday last before W. Adye, Esq., on the body of a lad named Isaac Miller, about 17 years of age. It appeared, that the deceased went, with two of his companions, to a pond at Winterborne Bassett, for the purpose of bathing; and, plunging into the water in a place beyond his depth, and being unable to swim, immediately sank. One of his companions narrowly escaped death in his efforts to save him. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Coombs, Stephen 1831 August 15th Ansty
On Saturday, the 6th inst., Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest, at Ansty, on the body of Stephen Coombs. The deceased, who was an elderly man, on the previous morning, whilst at work in the farm-yard of Mr King, fell down and instantly expired. Verdict, “Died by the Visitation of God.”
Kelly, Frederick 1831 August 22nd Berwick St John
Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest, on the 13th inst., at Berwick St John, on the body of Frederick King. The deceased was a little boy, who, whilst climbing a tree in that parish, fell on the ground, and suffered such injury as to cause his death in a few days. Verdict, “Accidental Death.”
Sims, John 1831 September 26th Salisbury
Mr Whitmarsh held an inquest on Saturday, the 17th ult., and by adjournment on the ensuing Thursday, at Fisherton Anger, on the body of John Sims, who appears from the following evidence to have fallen from a waggon whilst returning from Devizes to the Bustard Inn.
William Harroway, post-boy to Mr Biggs, of the Bustard Inn, sworn – On Thursday last I was returning home with the deceased John Sims, from Devizes market. The deceased left Devizes about seven o’clock in the evening with his waggon, loaded with twenty sacks of beans, and four sacks of wheat, and which was drawn by two horses, I left soon after with a pair of post-horses, and overtook the deceased before I arrived at Redhone Hill, when I helped the waggon up the same with my horses, and we went on together. About eleven o’clock at night we were within four miles of the Bustard Inn. At this moment the deceased was standing on the shafts of the waggon, and had been there for three quarters of an hour. I was walking by the side of the horses. I heard something behind, when I saw the deceased falling off the shafts. I did not see the wheels go over him. It was a dark night. I went and endeavoured to assist the deceased; but he exclaimed, “Let me alone.” The horses then ran away at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour. I followed them, and reached the Bustard Inn about a quarter before twelve o’clock. My master was immediately informed of the accident.
Charles Plank, of Devizes Green, builder, sworn – On Friday last, about eight o’clock in the morning, I observed the deceased lying by the side of the road. He wished me to inform his master of his situation, and said that he had sent to him twice before. The leg of the deceased appeared dreadfully injured, and much blood was flowing from the same. I then strove on to the Bustard Inn. William Harroway took my horse; he appeared as if he had been drunk over-night. There were several servants in the yard, and I asked the reason why the deceased was not fetched! when William Harroway replied, “Master won’t let me.” Harroway also said, that he thought the waggon had gone over the head of the deceased. Mr Biggs came out, and on my asking why he had not sent for his servant, he answered, that they were both intoxicated, and he would not send for him. I told him the waggon had passed over his leg, and that he could not live. I asked what he thought the world would say of him! and he replied, that he did not care for the world, and was independent of it.
William Payne, of Salisbury, teacher of dancing, sworn – On Friday morning last, whilst driving beyond the Bustard Inn, I met Mr Plank, who informed me that the deceased was lying on the road. On coming to the spot, I found him alone, and he told me that he had been there all night. The deceased said he was lying on the top of the waggon, and whilst turning round he slipped off; that he missed the fore-wheel, and the hind one went over his leg. He said he thought he should die; that he was not drunk, and had only taken two cups of beer; and that the accident occurred soon after ten o’clock.
John Toon, of Salisbury, surgeon, sworn – On Friday morning last, about nine o’clock, whilst travelling on the road beyond the Bustard Inn, I observed the deceased lying on the ground, in the company of Messrs. Payne, Trinder, and others. The deceased was suffering much from a severe fracture of the leg. Mr Biggs arrived soon after, and began to abuse the deceased for drunkenness. He said that, “Bill Way had knocked at his window between three and four o’clock in the morning, saying, that Sims was behind, and had fallen from the waggon and had hurt his head,”
Charles Nathaniel Smart, house surgeon of the Salisbury Infirmary, sworn – The deceased was brought to the Infirmary on Friday afternoon last, and, upon examination, he found a compound fracture of both bones of the right leg, also an extensive laceration of the skin and muscles from the instep to the knee. Amputation took place in the evening, and on the following morning he died.
After an attentive investigation, the following verdict was returned – “Accidental death; but the jury are of opinion that considerable blame is to be attached to his master Mr Biggs, for having allowed the deceased to remain exposed during the night on the Salisbury Plain till ten o’clock in the morning, without affording him any assistance.” The Jury awarded a deodand of 10l on the waggon and horses.
The Coroner and Jury expressed their thanks to Messrs. Plank, Payne, and Toone, for the prompt assistance which they afforded the deceased on the spot, and for their readiness in furthering the investigation.
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Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 