The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-10-20 00:00:00

THE LATE MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT YEOVIL

The adjourned inquest on the body of Elizabeth Fox.
whose parents reside at Broad may ne, near Dorekesteromd
who died under peculiar circumstances was held at the
Castle Inn on Tuesday, the 13th inst., before Dr.
Wybranta.
Mrs. Colmer, who had been ill since the previous
bearing of the case, wished that tome one might attend
at her residence and take her evidence, but the jury
were of opinion that she ought if possible to be present.
In the interim,
The Coroner said the intestines of the deceased bad
been sent to Dr. Herapath without his unction. He
had received • statement from Dr. Garland, and from
his testimony there was no doubt tbat she died from
the effects of • wound. Under the circumstances he
thought there was no necessity of an analysis being
made, and be did not see why they should go to the ez.
pense of baring Dr. Herapath present.
All witnesses, except those of the medical profession,
were then requested to leave the room.
Mr. S. Watts asked whether, as Mr. Colmer' j
mei present at the post-swriem examination, hew 071.3
not be allowed to remain'
The Coroner ruled that be might be in attendance.
The foreman protested against any cross-examination
by solicitors.
The Coroner said he should exercise his discretion on
that point, and if Mr. Watts had any question to ask he
should be most glad for him to do No.
The Coroner then read the following portion of Mrs.
Colmer'a evidence, adduced on the previous Tuesday
On Saturday, about 12 o'clock, deceased called on me.
I went to her andfound her very ill. She still complained
of • pain in her aide. I was with her about five minutes.
She asked me for • warm meal poultice to place on her
side, and I told her I would get her a cup of tea. She
drank about half of that whilst I was making the poultice.
She complained of her left leg feeling very cold and
dead. I gave her a spoonful of the best French brandy.
When she but taken the brandy she said she had a
bottle of wine in the earner of the room, and asked
me to give her some. I subsequently heard her call.
I sent Amanda to lee her, and she said the wanted some
hot tea. . .

---
Mrs. Colmar examined I then sent bet • cup and
Amanda shortly alter returned for another. She came
again for • third crop. [The Coroner here said he had no
objection to Mr. Colmer being present.] Deceased was
then sitting beside the bed. The cover of the bed was
down, and she was sitting on it. My daughter was then
in the room. I saw some blood on the blanket, and in
consequence of that I requested her to leave. I per.
oeived something, and on mentioning it to her, she said
if I would go to the other side of the room I should
find what it WY in the washing basin. I then went
there, and I found it was a little child, but I did not
take any particular notice of it; I was very angry. I
then got her on the bed, and gave her a another cup of
tea. I asked her then what the would like to eat. She
again asked for some tea, and "Stewards asked if I
could give her anything to relieve the pain. I went
down and told my son what had oocurred, and he said
It would be a warning to me not to have any one in the
house in future. He said I might give her a table-
spoonful of brandy. I said I had given her one already,
and he replied that *second would do her no injury. I
gave it to her. [tt this stage of the proceedings one of
the jury thought that Mr. Colmer, kiln, ought to
retire. Another juryman thought if Mr. Colmer retired
the other medical witnesses should leave. The whole of
the witneeses then left.] As I was feeding her she sail,
"Mrs. Colmer, I have deceived you. I asked her why
she had done so, and she gave no answer. She still
complained of being cold, snd I puts great *oat on the
bed. She afterwards felt warmer. This was about five
o'clock, and I did not see her again until nine. I then
merely opened the door and asked her how she was, and
she told use she was easier. I arm her again about ten
or fifteen minutes pest 12 when I took up the bread.
and-milk, she had left in the afternoon. About one
o'clock, as I was in bed, I heard a knock against the
partition. I called to know what she wanted, and she
asked if it was too much trouble for mete get her • cup
of warm tea. I took her some and the drank part of it.
I returned to bed, and had not left her more than ten
minutes, before she milled • seoond time for tea. She
said " I could drink • basin full now." I was about
to call my husband, who was sitting up for my son,
and she asked me to tell bins to come up, as she wanted
to Ka him. He came up and asked me what I wanted,
and I told him a young lady wanted to speak to
him. He went into the room and I went back to
bed. She complained of being very cold in the right
side, and looked extremely ill. At • quarter-past
twelve, when I gave her bread-and-milk or the last
time, she appeared to be sinking, and I called to my
husband to asisi.4 me to bolster her up. He came up,
and when I again covered her over he left About
twenty minutes to two o'clock my husband came into
my room and said, "For God's sake, Miami; get op and
run for the doctor, meaning my son, I do believe the
young woman is dying," I merely replied, "Nonsense
don't frighten me," for I didn't believe him. I did not
go for my son, for I didn't know where to find him. I
however, subsequently got up, and as I was dressing I
beard my son come in at the front door. I went down.
stairs as he came up. He called for two bottles of warm
water to put her legs in, which I procured. About a
quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after that he
coma and told me she was dead. She came to our
house about a quarter.psst eleven on the Monday pre-
ceding her death. Some time in the afternoon she told
sue that she had sent to the station for a hamper. I
never saw the deceased till Monday afternoon. She
never spoke to me about medicine while she was in the
house; she never said she had consulted any husband
before. I never said she had given him 4s. for a bottle
of imedicine before she came. I didn't think she was
dying the last time I saw her.
By the Jury : It did not strike me that the wreath
ought to have medical attendance. I believe the black
bottle contained wine. Mr. Canter stayed alone with
deceased, till bi called use to soy she was dying. I
have not beard at a" that the child was burnt, and know
nothing about it. It was about quarter-past two whom
I found deceased was confined. I do not know whether
she was left during my absence by herself. No one saw
her from five o'clock till nine. The deemed did DS
tell me who recommended her to emus to my house..
Amanda Colmar re-eslled, said : I remember
the deceased about 'meth previously tb• ha=
joining the shop. My father ear bee also oti that aces-
idea. but I do not know whether he gave her say

mediesee. She only remalned shoat ten minutes with
him, as he was going off to itherberne. I saw her in the
house on the blnnday, and on Wednesday the we,
out with me. We went to Mr. Swatridge's, to ha,,
her likeness taken. That was the only time I went
ya,t bhuotmle saw
attnhoe
out with her, I was in the room when she Wu con.
fined, and I put the child into the basin. I
do not know what became of the child; left it in the
basin. It nen she ftmt came to our home she inertly
•:thed to see noT father. It was by chance that I
happened to be in the room at her confinement, but
there was no one present beside myself. There waa a
black bottle in the room containing some lime. 1 did
not see the deceased take any medicine. I saw he,
alterationab
Buytayte.wrie,artuipavet
time she was confined, lig :ng gone to Dorchester.
Ptolemy Samuel Henry Colmar deposed: I am a
duly qua"fied nied,eal man. I remember the
demised coming to my father's home on the Moe•
binfeyilhevefearntheornwasSltunknot
day before her death, but I do not remember
lig In seen her before. I saw her ie the room
behind the shop. I did not examine her. I taw her
about fore times dui:ng the week. Ste was not •
patient of mine. 1 was called in about four o'clock ce
Sunday morning. I went lute, the yard, and my father
come don to me, and said he tethered the yang woman
was dyiug. I said " Nonsense ; you don't inell2 to my
the woman is dying ?" He said "I an afraid As is."
I said " Dying frorn miecarriage?" He aid " Yes •do
' come up," and I went upstairs immediately.. WI.P,
went Igo the room I asked her if she we in POD. rid
she said "Yes." She was very pale, and °odd nelt
speak plain. She was at that time lying on her left
aide, and her feet were very cold. I then ordered het.
water to be applied to her feet, and gave her some
brandy, and considered her dying from internal
hemorrhage, and told my father that she was in • dying
state. I applied the cold water and used galvanism
with great pressure over the lower part of her bowels.
I laid her on her back, and she expired almost im-
mediately. On the same morning I went to Superin-
tendent Smith, and informed him of the emumgance.
He asked me if I could not give • certificate, but I raid
that I prefeired haling the case investigated. I was
present at the post mercer* examination of the body,
and death was canoed, in my opinion, by a i apthre.
By the Jury : I have been told that she had taken
medicine. I had it from my sister Amanda that deomeed
bed told her that the took a particular medicine in
water three times a day. 1 did not attend to her till
jest before her death. I never interfere with my lathe. s
patients at all as • role.
Tbe Coroner then called on Mr. Colroer, and
informed him that he need not criminate himself in any
ei:dence which he might give, but whatever facts he
might adduce would appear in evidence against him.
Air. Robert Slade Colmer deposed: lam a chemist
and druggist. I bad seen the deceased about live weeks
previous to last Monday fortnight. She then corn-
pleased of • weakness and a pain in her light side, and
wearieess of elm legs. She asked if I could prescribe.
I prescribed ton.ie mixture for her, and made it on
myoeir. It was wade of lOrm of tincture of iron, and
15 groins of oistaphout of quinine,d,lnted sAh water to
Boz. I &meted Oro tempoonsful to be taken three times
a day in water. I 'leo her one box of pills, corn•
posed of alum, rhubard, aDd ginger, and two deeps of
oil of carraway, and she "aid me 4a. flit. I had told her
I thought the inediebte would do her good,
but I did not wee for her to come And etop
at my house. I saw her agrin as I paned through
the house yesterday f ortnight ; but I did aset
.Iq,erik
to her. I spoke to her on Tuesday about medal
She said she wanted to speak to me, se she imbed sp.,l
to give her some medicine, for she feared she was in Sr
family-way. She said she had had leave to go home ta
visit her friends, but she was too ill to promed. I told
her I could not give her any medicine for such • thing,
and I adi hied her g once to go to her friends or to es
titnation, which she promised me she 'would de next
morning ; but she did not go. I did not see her apia
VI Wednesday evenidg, when I returned from Bridle-
' water. I raid." Not gone, Missy r She said, "No,
1 didn't feel well enough, I shall go to-morrow." On
the Thursday morning I went to Exeter, and returned
the same night, but I do not remember whether I saw
her then or not. I do not remember seeing her
on Friday. I saw her on Saturday about eleven &Cloak in
the mornimeas shemidshe particelarly wished to seem.
' She complained of great rain and said she wanted some
I medicine to ease it. I told her I could not giye
her an• medicine under the circumstance,. but advised
' her to have aomethinglwarm. I then took the train for
Dorchester, from which place I retrmed in the evening.
I, I went out during the evening, and returned home
shortly before eleven. When I got into the home my
daughter (Amanda) called ins, and said that deceased
wished to see me. as she was very ill. I then went into
' the bedroom and saw her. She complained of great
' pain and coldness of her legs, and asked me to give her
something. I then went and prepared 30 drops of
I tincture of opium, and 15 drops of chlorie of ether, and
I oz. of French brandy. I learnt also from her that she
had miecirried. I told her I dare say she would be
' better by-and-by if that was the age. I then called
Mrs. Cohner to get something warm, and she
obtained for her some IA& and broth. I left her to
, get • little more brandy. She gave me no money for it.
' Between one and two I heard her call, and I went up.
stairs. She appeared to be in great pain. I felt her
pulse, and found it very feeble, and I felt alarmed. I
wanted to see my sou, or morns medical man, but I mg
, unable to b so. My sou was gone out to see • patient
I and he returned about two o'clock. I mid. "
juet come up and see this young wo111•11; I think she's
dying." He then went up, and I laid the whole case
before him. She expired a qua' ter of an hoar after he
came into the house. lam cet Cain I only Aare her one
bottle of medicine and one box of Oa I ga,Ve her •
draught a little before her death.
By the Jury: Idid not know how/ benne segos% attl
with her ; she came into my shop, and I did not seek."
any inquiries as to who she was. Ido net know that/
the symptoms were indicative of her being in the
family-
way. I did not discover she IVY eameate until the
Tuesday. I know nothing shout • bottle of wine de-
ceased brought into my house. I merely saw the bottle.
I took the child and put it into the fire. I cannot tell
what the a7,e of the child was. I think it was before the
death of the woman that I burned the child, but I am
not certain. Deceased would not tell where she came
from until I told her the was dying, when she said she
had been living at the rectory at Itimpton. I was not
in the habit of taking females into the house. I did not
make any arrangements for her being in the house. I
did not have any part of the £6 which the deceased had.
After her decease I found in her pocket four sovereign,,
two half-sovereigns, and four half-crowns, which I
returned to her father.

Amos Cleal said : I work for Mr. Coiner, and look
after the horses. I saw the deceased on Monday fort-
night, about twelve o'clock. She was then sitting in
the ha" with the children. I saw her again about three
o'clock, and the came down to the stables to me. She
asked me if I would go to the station to fetch a hamper,
ma she was unable to do so. I fetched it and placed it
on the well-cover in the yard. Neither Mr. or Mn.
Coiner were present when I brought the hamper beak.
She gave me 10., and told me that she intended to have
left it there, as she meant to go back that evening. I
saw her again on Thursday; she looked pale and was
holding her aides, exclaiming " 0, dear." She then sank
down into a chair, _

By the Jury : I have not seen deceased at Br.
Collier's before. I did not consider her in good health;
she looked very pale.
James Francis deposed: I am • photormplier at Mr.
Swatridge's establishment. I remember deceased
coming there last Wednesday week evening, between
four and five, with Miss Colnier. She did not
have her "keness taken, but said she would decide
upon it next day. I thought she seemed in patty
good health, and she apparently walked well. I new
her on the Thursday at Mr. Colmer's. I was Brew
about • quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. She
appeared to be in tolerably good health. She promised
to come into the establishment and have her portrait
taken next day., but I saw no more of her.

Edvrard Gaiiand said: I am a surgeon Ih:rig at
Yeo‘l. On the 6th instant I made • pod swine ex-
amination of the body of Elizabeth Fox, in the
presence of Mr. Colmer, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Toinkyns,
and Mr. Coles, a" of the meeical profession. De-
composition had advanexi in every part of the
body, except the knees. The brain we. in a healthy
state, as was also the lungs. The other organs were also
in • healthy state.
Arnold (Ides, )j.R.C.8., deposed: I was present al
the pos•escriess examination on the 6th inat. Tbe body
wa, in a frightful state of decomposition. The internal
organs were genera—y healthy. I believe the injnly
moat have been awned by mechanical means. I have no
doubt that the rupttro vu the immediate ohne of her
death.

Fancourt Toinkyns, M.R.C.8., and L.S.A.,
d: All the organs were in • healthy state. I believe
the rapture to have been the muse of death. The rupture
could not have taken place from natural causes,
nor could it hays been produced by medicine.
All the organs bad suffered more or less from domes.
position. The external preemie could not have caused
the rupture, and external violence would not have done
it. Internal violence would have done it. I had
never before seen a body so much decomposed in the
time.

Ruth Hodges, • schoolmistress, of Marston, said
she had knob a the deceased, who had oocasionally sk.o
with her, but she h..a not done no lately. On the
Saturday before she left she found that she was
emanate. She then appeared to be quite well. She
said be was going home. She had been keeping
company a 'th • young man named Robei.St; `, as she
(wittiest) always wrote demand's letters for her.
-

- --•
Russell Aldridge said :I sun a doctor of medicine
siding in Yeovil, and assisted in the post-stork= ex-
amination. The body was quite healthy. The rupture
would not hare ensued from natural CUMIN.

-- --
The Coroner then ran Through the facts of the oar re
adduced, and said it would be for the jury to decide s
to what caused the rupture. The law stated, that it
a medical man, whether be be a quack or a qualified
man, attempted to deal in midwifery he must bring to
bear competent skill. If he did not do so, and the cause
thereof was death, that man, whoever he might be,
would be guilty of manslaughter ; and if cm the other
hand he was not a cpudified man. and death resulted
from violence, he would be guilty of wilful murder. HA
also expressed his concurrence and gime& approbaldea
of the manner in which Mr. Calmer, jun., acted to the
deceased in her last moments.

The room wu thou Moored, sod the jar,. dim Mtn*
quarters of em hoor's doliberoMoo, brought In a eardyi
of MANSLAUGHTER oirMosi Robert Mode Colmar.

Mr. Watts asked for bail for the aroused, and the
coroner maid he would admit him in his own and two
sureties In £503 'soh. The coroner was then asked to
mitigate the sum, but he replied that the ease Ira/ of
too serious • native to admit of any mitigation.
Mr. Watts represented that the security could, be
obtained, but Mr. Smith said that, notwithstanding it,
be should not be doing his duty if he did not take the
accused into custody.
It wag reported that Oolmer would to examined before
the sughtratea, but if ever such was at first the lutes.
tiON it has been abandoned, as on Thursday last the
necessary bail having been procured be was liberated
from custody.

Printed and published for the'Proprielor, byCi AII2
Warraaaan Mittman, of Dorchester, Printer, at the
Ofiles of The Dared Comfy Express, Chu/eh-West,
Dorchester, Tuesday, October 93, 1863.

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