The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-10-12 00:00:00

301711XMIX017TIL.

SAD CASK OF SUDDEN DEATH AT BOS-

COMBE.

Saturday week the coroner (Mr. J. Drnitt, sen.), held
an inquest at the Palmerston Arms Inn, at Boacombe,
touching the death of Mrs. Sarah Askham, the wife of
an exciseman, residing at Ilsocombe.—George Elan
Askbam said the deceased, who WM his wile, wee 38
year. of age. For the last seven or eight years she
had been subject to fits, and for the last ten or eleven
months had kept to her bed, only coming down stairs
occasionally. She could not walk without assistance,
but her appetite had been exceptionally good the last
three or four weeks. On Wednesday, the 29th Sept.,
he went home about tali-day, and found his wife sit-
ting at the table in the kitchen, and she then seemed
much better. He went out immediately afterwards,
I and did not return till about list night, when he went
Into her bedroom as usual, and found her sound asleep
'with their daughter in bed with her. His wife was
snoring, so that he knew she was alive then. On going
Into her bedroom the next morning at five minutes
past seven o'clock he found her dead and cold, but his
daughter was sleeping on by her site. His wife had
Lid Main the night many times. For the last ten or
I eleven months she had had fits nearly aa often as twice
a day. She waa well supplied with all she wanted.
The last four or five months she used to wail and
moan in a loud voice a great part of the night. Dr.
Stedman had attended her, but had not been to see
her the last two months. His daughters—one fourteen
and the other fifteen verso( age—waited on his wife.
—Eliza Annie Aakham, twelve years of age, and a
daughter of the last witness, and Mary Emma Ask.
hamjeister of limit witness, gave corroborative evidence,
and added that her father did not speak affectionately
to her mother; neither did she speak "otherwise,"
that she knew of.—delina Cola, wife of Tom Cols, of
Bosoombe, coal merchant, said oh* had known the
deosased for some time past—ever since she had lived
at /3 wombs, The deceased often looked dis
and had been ill for the last eight months. thrrta fi
sometimes to see deoeased.w Ito told berth, was weak and
had no one to look after her, but did not ever complain
to her of want of food until the previous Wednesday.
Deceased was very dirty; and was confined about
eight months ago, but the baby died about two months
ago.—Dr. Stedman, of Boscombe, said he had attended
Lb. deceased for several weeks early in the Spring, and
occasionally sinos. He also attended her shortly alter
her confinement, at which time she was subjected to
violent pains In the head, and epileptic fits. He had
no lemon to think she was sufferini from want of food
or want of attendance. There was also • person with
her to attend to her. He attributed death to epilepsy
and softemin4 of the brain, resulting in • fit as the
immoiiate cause.—Emma Gerrard, wife of Doi=
Gerrard, of Boecombe. carpenter, said she had lived
next door to the deceased fur about nine months, and
lon three occasions had taken food to deceased,
, because she oomplained of not having enough to eat.—
' The jury returned verdict to the effect that death
was the result of natural causes, but expressed an opinion
that the decreased did not receive from her hosdand the
care and attention which he was morally bound to
bestow upon her.
On Tuesday afternoon, when the funeral took place
the man Askham was mobbed by a large number oi
people, who had erected • gibbet on the road to the
ceibetery, so that the funeral corlaige was compelled to
pa as under it. In the evening the windows of his
house were smashed, until they became • perfect
wreck, and " skimington riding" was indulied in.
Asitham is an excise offioer, and it is said has been
keeping company with two young women, whose
dillies were burnt in company with his own.