There are 37 short reports for 1869.
I imagine there is a well-known condition behind the pains suffered by Samuel Saunders, who finally took himself off in the presence of his girlfriend, in a most sad case. Frederick Lenton‘s is also a sad case, involving time in the Asylum, drink, mood swings, and falling from a trade as shoemaker to wearing an election board in the streets and being so weak he could hardly bring a cup to his lips.
Esau Welstead was clearly drunk when he fell in Middlebridge stream in Romsey – one of apparently numerous drownings at that spot – and we hear evidence from a number of fellow topers, though not seemingly from Elizabeth Tiller, who is labelled an “unfortunate” by the Times, and the Coroner refuses to hear her evidence.
Henry Chislett, supposedly bird-scaring, tried to blow up some gunpowder, with predictable results. Also predictable was the result to Charles Harris when a man named Sheppard struck his horse with a stick.
Two most predictable accidents were those to John Sprignell and William Pearce, the former carrying bark down Whaddon Hill when the horses bolted, and the latter – more unbelievably – responsible for not putting a drag on a van carrying a racehorse down Harnham Hill.
A case of infant death, with the remains of the baby being dumped on an innocent ash-heap, caused controversy in New Swindon. Rumour very swiftly arose seeking out the potential mother of the child, and seemed to fix on a young widow, Mrs E Wilhams. Shockingly to us, her father immediately carted her off to the doctor for a personal examination, and he certified that she had not recently been confined. All because of rumour!
Saunders, Henry West Grimstead
Harris, Charles Winterbourne Earls
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Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 