Carlisle Journal, 23 Mar 1844 - Inquests
Petra Mitchinson
Saturday 23 Mar 1844 (p. 3, col. 4)
CORONERS' INQUESTS.
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An inquest was held before Mr. CARRICK, coroner, on Wednesday evening, on the body of Mr. Thos. MILLAR, relieving officer, aged 37 years, who was found dead in a ditch by the side of the road leading between Spittal and Mains, near Wigton—his face under the water. He had been to Carlisle on Saturday, and returned as far as Thursby in a market cart. From this village he walked to Micklethwaite, where he called at the public house, drank a glass of ale, and left in about ten minutes. He was then under the influence of strong drink, but was able to walk. He was not again seen alive. It supposed that he had gone off the turnpike road with the intention of proceeding to the workhouse, and that in passing through a stream across the road, he had fallen and been carried into the ditch where a great depth of water was running at the time, and not being able to extricate himself, was accidentally drowned. His hat was found in the Wampool, on Monday, which, for a time, misled those in search of him, and his body was in consequence not discovered till Tuesday evening. His pocket was undisturbed, and contained upwards of £12 in cash. His hat had been carried into the rivulet Wisa, which empties itself into the Wampool. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death from drowning.
Before the same coroner, on the body of a new born child, which was found in a field called Stoney Banks, near Wigton. The medical gentleman who examined it could not state positively whether it had been born with life, and the jury therefore found an open verdict.
An inquest was held before Mr. LEE, deputy coroner, on the 18th instant, on the body of John RELPH, of Seaville, Abbey Holme, blacksmith, aged 45 years, who was found on the morning of the 18th instant lying on the side of the road leading from Abbey to Seaville, with his feet in a ditch. When found he was in a state of stupor, and lingered until six o'clock the same evening, when he died. It appeared he had been at the Abbey the previous day, where he had drank very freely. When about to return home he was asked by a neighbour to ride home with him, but refused. Shortly afterwards, and within a quarter of a mile of where he was found dead, a young man came up to him, and he was then lying on the road side. Deceased was roused but again refused assistance, and he proceeded towards home shouting as if engaged in hunting. He appeared tipsy, but able to walk. There were no marks of violence upon his body. The night was intensely cold. The jury returned a verdict "that deceased died from excessive drinking and starvation by exposure to cold."
On Monday last an inquisition was taken before G. THOMPSON, Esq., Coroner, at the Temperance Hotel, Kirkby Stephen, on view of the body of Robert MOORHOUSE, of that place, aged 28 years. Deceased, on Friday, the 15th inst., was returning home from Sedbergh, where he had been with two cart loads of coals, and had got to a place called Ashfell, about three miles from Kirkby Stephen, when in consequence, it is supposed, of the severity of the snow storm, he had wandered from the road on to the common, and not being able to find it again, had unyoked the horses. He had then, it appears, attempted to proceed on foot, but had not got far till he had fallen into a hole in the ground, from which, through weakness, he was unable to rise, and so perished. The horses and carts were found on the Saturday evening by Thomas SHAW, of Tarnmire, who immediately informed deceased's father. Search being made, deceased was found on Sunday morning quite dead, and entirely overblown with snow, with the exception of a small portion of his coat. He was a person of sober and steady habits, much respected; and has left a wife and two children to lament his fate. A verdict that "deceased perished in a snow storm through the inclemency of the weather," was returned.
On Monday week, an inquest was held at Bootle, before C. HOBSON, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of William, second son of Mr. John HUDDLESTON, Hall Foss, in Whitbeck. On the Sunday morning the deceased, who was in the service of Mrs. SMITH, of Mill Stone, had risen in his usual state of good health and spirits, and after breakfast he set out with the intention of visiting some friends in Millom; on calling, however, on a young man in Bootle, who was to accompany him, he sat down for a short while till the young man was ready, and was conversing with him in his usual manner, when he sunk back in the chair and instantly expired. Mr. M'KNIGHT, surgeon, was immediately called in, but the vital spark had fled. The jury returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God."
An inquest was held in the Sun inn, Cockermouth, on Thursday week before W. BRAGG, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of Henry VICKERS, mason, aged 58 years, who lost his life in the following manner. The deceased had ascended the roof of his house for the purpose of extinguishing a fire in the chimney, and reaching down for a pitcher of water from a person below, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, by which he literally dashed his brains out, and was consequently killed on the spot.—Verdict: "Accidental Death."
On Sunday week the body of a man dressed in the garb of a sailor, was found washed on shore opposite Town End Banks, in Whitbeck. The body had been a considerable time in the water, and was in an advanced state of decomposition. An inquest was held on the following day, on view of the remains of the deceased, before C. HOBSON, Esq., coroner, and a verdict of "Found Drowned" was recorded.