The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-08-15 00:00:00

SHOCKING CASE OF DRUNKENNESS.

Mr. A. Braxton Hicks held an inquiry at West-
minster Sessions House concerning the death of
James Ewart, a watchman, lately residing at 4, Flask-
lane, Pimlico. Frances Ewart, the widow, who came
into court so dreadfully intoxicated that she had to
be supported in the witness-box, prefaced her evidence
with the remark, "I found him dead in bed by the
side of me at three o'clock in the morning." Being
told by the coroner that she had better pull herself
together, she exclaimed, "Thank you !" adding that
her husband's death had very much upset her. The
Coroner: How old was lie? Witness: I don't know;
be was a Scotchman, and all his relations are Scotch.
The Coroner: But don't yon know his age? Witness
(holding out a marriage certificate to the jury) : Look
here; just pass this, juryman. It transpired that the
deceased was married in 1846, but his age was given
in the certificate as " f ull." The Coroner: How old
was your husband when be was married? Witness:
Oh, I was only 17. The witness eventually said he
was about 76 years old when he died. The Coroner:
Do you remember Mr. Cramp speaking to you on
Tuesday? Witness: He grossly insulted my hus-
band! The Coroner: Did he speak to you? Wit-
ness: Oh, insulting—grossly insulting—shocking!
That is the fellow! (Pointing to the man who was
supporting her.) The Coroner: Did he tell you to
get a doctor? Witness: No! (Looking round.)
Oh, there is Mrs. Cramp! Grossly insulting! The
Coroner: When did your husband go to bed?
Witness : I went for the clergyman. The
Coroner: Just be careful. Witness: It is shocking!
That's enough! The Coroner: You have had quite
enough, and will find yourself at Rochester-row. You
knew you were coming to give evidence at the
coroner's court, and you ought to have kept yourself
in a fit condition. Witness: Mr, Knight is the land-
lord. The witness was here ordered to stand down.
Mr. Goodman (the coroner's officer) said when he
went to the house to make inquiries, Mrs. Ewart was
beastly intoxicated, and the place was in such a con-
dition that he was obliged to send for the sanitary
inspector. The coroner here directed bergeant
Ellis, 9 B, to take the woman into custody on the
charge of being drunk in a coroner's court, and the
witness was removed to Rochester-row. George
Cramp, a lodger in the house, deposed that on Tuesday
night Mrs. Ewart called him, saying, "My husband
is dying ! " The woman was very drunk. Witness
told her she ought to send for a doctor, whereupon
she said, in a loud voice, "Now, that will do with
you." At the time the deceased was moving to and
fro on a pillow and breathing very hard. He was a
steady, sober old man, but his wife had been drunk
ever since witness had lived there namely, six
months. On one occasion she locked him out of doors
all night. She kept spirits in the house, and wa3
always "going on" at the deceased. Dr. Thomas
Neville, of 85, Pnnlicosroad, stated that the cause of
death was congestion of the lungs. Witness had
attended him on and off for twelve months, and he
never recollected seeing the wife sober. Witness saw
him after death. He was lying half off the bed and
(pito naked; In fact, witness had to lift him into
position. The Coroner commented on the disgraceful
nature of the widow's conduct, and the jury returned
a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.