The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-01 00:00:00

THE SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT CR \ DLEY

HICATH.

On Wednesday, the adjourned inquest on the bodiea
of Edward Whitehouse (29), Phmbe Whttehouse (27),
Joseph Edmunds (29), and George Edward Edmunds (1),
was held before Hr. Hooper, at the Bell Inn, Cradley
Heath.

Mr. Thomas Standish, burgeon, said that he had made
polt-mortent examination of the body of Edward White
house. It was a well-nourished and healthy body. Upon
it there were no external marks of violence. Up in open.
ing the chest ho found that the lungs were perfectly
gorged with blood, otherwise they were in a healthy con-
dition. The left side of the heart was filled with black
blood. The stomach was healthy, and quite empty. The
coats of the stomach were not inflamed, and there was
not the slightest sign of poison. The lining membrance
of the stomach was as healthly as it was possible to be.
The brain was congested. The cause of death was
suffocation. the whole of the post•mortem appearances
tending to show that result and nothing else. Taking
into consideration the evidence given before, and what
he knew as to the bucket of coke being found in the
room, he held the same opinion, given at the opening of
the inquiry, that the fumes which arose from the coke
were the cause of death in this and the rest of the cases.

A Juryman having stated that he, nevertheless, con-
sidered there was some cause for suspicion, the Coroner
observed that supposing that were possible, he would
again adjourn thli inquest, but he would first call the
police-officer.
Inspector Price said he had had the case in hand.
The Coroner : Previous to the opening of the inquest,
and between the opening and the adjournment, have you
made every inquiry respecting the deaths of these un-
fortunate people
Inspector Price: None whatever.
. .

The Coroner: Are you satisfied that • farther adjourn.
ment would or would not throw any more light on this
matter

Inspector Price: I do not think it could throw any
further light on the matter. I have made every inquiry,
too, into the various rumours which have been spread,
but find that they have not the slightest foundation.
The Coroner then appealed to the jury as to whether
they were still unprepared to give a vi rdict, and some of
them declining, Mr. Hooper said, "Well, I mut lock
you up, and, u I have to attend several ether inquests
to-day, I cannot get back till nine o'clock. If you are
not then ready to give a verdict, I shall keep you till
twelve, and afterwards discharge you."

Some of the jurymen intimated that they were satisfied
as to suffocation being the cause of death, but their
minds wore not made up as to whether it wee a wilful
act. They considered that there was • larking sus.
picion " about the case.
The Coroner : I consider the medical evidence would
satisfy 99 juries out of 100; but, as it has not satisfied
you, 1 ino.t carry oat the low, and lock You up.
•

, ,
A Juryman : I hope, then, you will allow us something
to eat and drink

TheC moue, I cannot allow you either one or the
other ; nor, indeed. does the law permit either fire or
candle. I am quite unwilling to take this coarse, but I
have no alteruative, unless you agree. I will, liowover,
give live minutes more.

- At the expiration of this time, the jury returned the
verdict " That the deceased were accidentally suffocated
by the fumes arising from a quantity of coke, from the
effect of which suffocation they died., '