biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-20

MYSTERIOUS DEATH IN A COMMON

LODGING-HOUSE.

Mr. Carter held an inquest, at the Crown Tavern,
Church-street, Lambeth, on the body of a man (name
unknown) who was discovered dead in the kitchen of
a lodging-house, under strange circumstances. The
wife of William Diamond, a registered lodging-house
keeper at 49, Wandsworth-road, deposed that the
deceased, who was a German by birth, had, on and
off, slept at their premises for the last two years, and
he had always passed in the name of Adoff Tietzen ;
but he was known also by the cognomen of "Long
Fred' and "Ted the German.' Of late the deceased
had worked as a labourer at the London Gas Works,
Nine Elms-lane, and last Tuesday night, having par-
taken of some meat and potatoes for his supper, he
went upstairs to the bedroom. Witness next saw
him early on Wednesday morning, when he was
lying on the floor of the kitchen, and quite dead. In
further reply to the coroner, the witness said that the
deceased occupied a bed to himself, but three other
lodgers slept in the same room. Witness did not
hear any disturbance or commotion during the night.
The deceased had never complained of any affection.
James Darbin, a carman, said he had known the
deceased for nine years, and for some time past had
occupied a bed in the same room. Last Wednesday
morning witness went downstairs to light the fire
shortly after four o'clock, as was his usual practice,
and on entering the kitchen—which is situated at the
back of the house—he was alarmed at finding the
deceased lying on the floor with his feet outside the
back door, which was open. On the arrival of Dr.
Milton life was pronounced extinct. In answer to a
juryman, witness said the deceased always appeared
in good health, and had not complained. There was
nothing found to lead to the supposition that he had
destroyed himself. No medical evidence wa:. called,
and jury, in reply to the coroner as to whether the
case should be adjourned for a post-mortem examina-
tion of the body to be made, replied in the negative,
and returned a verdict of "Death from the visitation
of God."