Bell, William

Bell, William         1911 January 6^th

 

The City Coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith), conducted an inquiry at the Council Chamber last (Thursday) evening into the pathetic circumstances attending the sudden death of William Bell, an insurance agent, who lived at 16, George Street, and was formerly in the 2^nd Munster Fusiliers.

 

Agnes Gladys Bell, the widow, said that her husband was 39 years of age. On Wednesday night at 9.45 she went to bed. Her husband went out to get her a neuralgia powder, and brought it to her with a glass of water. He got into bed and seemed quite well. He spoke about his business, and then, saying he felt a little cold, put his mouth under the clothes and wished her “good night.” She knew no more till about twenty minutes to eleven, when she felt him touch her hand. He opened his eyes and tried to speak, but could not do so. She at once went for one neighbour to go for a doctor, and called another (Mrs Rawlings) to go back with her. When they arrived her husband was still alive but he just gave a gasp and she thought that was the end. He was formerly a Colour-Sergeant in the 2^nd Munster Fusiliers, but was invalided out two years ago last October. He had since been an agent for the Pearl Life Assurance Company. He had not been attended by a doctor since his discharge, and never seemed better than on the day he died.

 

In reply to a question, Mrs Bell said that her husband seemed to have a pain in his chest sometimes, but thought it was only wind and indigestion.

 

Dr Row said he was acting on behalf of Dr Thornton, and arrived at the house at about 11 o’clock, when he found that the deceased had apparently just died. By the order of the Coroner, he had since made a post mortem examination, and found that he suffered from very old and long-standing heart disease, and the liver and kidneys were more or less diseased in consequence. There were no external injuries of any kind. He died from syncope, due to the enlarged and diseased heart.

 

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes”.