The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-24 00:00:00

SUSPICIOUS DEATH oF A FEMALE OF

MA ItTol•K.

t baa ken folt in tlii town
d iieiglibuurliud
alj
eriaiesri the result of aft enquiry iiib'
the cause of deathre
tiihfeLa.uryomeeurn:go.wA.osehhatnurd:ial.liel.d.
aaeit'VlS:aliailiCilili:llieguleut4:eia:skit:liiiLlicTbia,aflLWl. •i• le of Robert Didsdall, black-
snsith, sworn : Li eased was my daughter and lived
with us. She was 25 years of age. On 31ontlay
last, the 2nd July, she left hope to go to Somertou.
I keep a school at Stokesub-Hasubdou. I saw her
eating her breakfast a little past nine on that Mon.
dAy morning, and she seemed in health and spirits.
she had told toe she pniposed to Ise to Somerton with
Lui:l:Luay re'tthiro nhas been keepingfroinbeselail,u
Just
past twelve o'clock. I foiled deceit-5.A1 had left.
.Ibout half-past lour Bevis Caine in and said he
wanted to speak to Übe. HU bald I was to make
hate, for deceased was very ill, and he had left her
at bmid turnpike. I went as fast as I could, Allti
when I got there I found her on the fluor below the
stairs, dead. She had tohl me she was six months
gone. She bad not taken any medicine for three
tbs. She had wen in a low slespoicairtilyiii..ing
state (or
settle twin, amid I have
wotitli r oftenin herii,
deceased
was walking up 115ui.bihl she wits taken very sick.
Mr. George Stuekey, surgeon : On NlotuLly last,
between two and three ...chick, I was called to see
deceased, whom I found alarmingly ill. I told the
nystanders I believed her to be in a dying state.
her lips were livid. and these was great culdiitss on
the surface of the body. TIN pulse was exceedingly
quick, and there wits every symptom of approaching
dissolution. She %MI coned:wily sick, throwing up
a frailly ruladanee mixed with blood. I hail been
told she was in the family way by the wan Beviss.
I asked her if she hail taken anything, and she re•
plied emphatically, " Ohm, no, sir." I asked if any
thing had been given her, and she replied energeti.
"Oh, no." I cannot give an opin.on as to
the GUM of death without spoid-morteio examina.
Lion.

The inquest was adjourned to Wednesday the
11th. When Mr. Stuckey, having been again sworn,
said : 1 have with my partner, Mr. Adams, wade a
I.o4.mortem examinatiun of the body of deceased.
On opt: g the chest I found the lungs healthy,
with the exception of slight adhesions to the ribs.
The heart and valve were quite healthy, but there
was rather a larger proportion of fat than usual, on
the upper surface of the stomach. There was a
slight trace of inflammation ; the large and small
intestines were quite healthy. On opening the
stomach we found a slight abrasion corresponding
ith the external blush. We then Wilted a portion
of the vomited matter, first for arsenic and then for
corrosive sublimate, without success. We next
tested for oxalic acid, and .me of the tests indicated
its presence, but all the rests of the teats were un-
successful. The frothy substance mixed with blood
iiroceeded from the stomach. We did not open
the bead, because there were no symptoms indicat-
ing mischief within the skull. 1 cahoot swear as to
the cause of death.

me inquest was then adjourned to Wednesday
last. the stomach, /cc., of Cm having hemt
in the ink-rim sent fur aualuatiun to Mr. licrapath,
of Bristol.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The former evidence having been real over, Mr.
Iferanath's letter (that gentleman being unable to
attend), was next read, which was as follows:
.. .

have made great endeavours to discover
any poison that might be in the stomach and v
of Jane lhbsdall, but without enemas. The stomach
hail not the parched iiritated surface which is
onemlly found after an irritant, but of a pale pink
tint over its whole surface (this is not like oxalic
acid) ; there is certainly no metallic or mineral
poison there. The vomit was strongly alkaline
ammoniacal from putrefaction, consequently if
oxalic acid had been present it must have Leen as
ocabite of ammonia. There was none. I tried also
for vegetable alkalies, but got no evidence of one.
I regret that the whole intestinal viscera had not
been sent, as acids and some other poisons, if not
ejected, pass into the circulation, where they may
be found after all traces have left the stomach.
_ .

Joseph Gover, of Stoke under-Ham, was then
called and said : I was particularly acquainted with
the deceased. Friday. previous to the 2nd of July,
intimated to the doceased that 1 was going to
Sonserbin on Monday. She wished to go with me.
I was to take her up on the road. 1 left about 12
o'clock. 1 came as far as North-street, Mar.
Lock, and not overtaking her I returned. I found
her in a cart with two men, strangers. She got out
of the cart, and got into mine. She looked strange
in the face, and she said she had been hurrying.
When I got past Load Gate 1 found that she had her
head over the cart, and I said " Are you sick V' I
saw her wipe her th. and the handkerchief was
stained with blood. She would not consent to be
driven h ))))) e, awl 1 then drove her to the turnpike.
sate at Load. I went on my journey, and on my
return I found her ill. 1 got out of my cart, and I
spoke to her, and 1 drove to Mr. Stuckey, and on
my return I found her d. ad.

°The Coronei, in g up, said he was not
aware that any blame ass attached to any one, and
the jury returned an open verdict. at the saute time
expressing a regret that the head had been opened.