The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-08 00:00:00

SUSPICIOUS DEATH.

On Monday, an inquest was held at the King's Arms
Hotel, before Mr. W. H. Atkinson, on the body of Maria
Rudd Buckingham, who died on the nrevious waning.
Her husband, who is chief clerk at the Probate Mee, was
present, but, acting on the Coroner's advice, resorted what
he had to say till the whole of the evidence had been
given.
Florence Mary Buckinshnni, 11, daughter of the
deceased, said: I last saw my mother alive on Sunday
morning at ten minutes to nine. She WU then in bed. I
went up just before and she was asleep, and was so when
I left her. She had been in bed ill for about three weeks,
sad I had been attending her during the whole of that
time with my father and brothers. No doctor sew her.
She objected to ea one, as she said she was rotting better.
Ido not know what she hal been suffering from. I nisi
to take up her food. At first she was able to get out of
bed, but afterwards she was not. She did net get out of
bed for about ten clays before she died. Only the night
before she died Saturday, she said she Wag getting better.
Everything that woe done to help her was dace by in.
and my My mother hae frequently been ill before
in the same way. She suffered from diarrhoea before she
died. My father suggested that she should have some
woman ta attend upon her, but she objected.
Harriet Meaden, single woman, residing in Blandford.
stated: On Sunday morning, about nine o'clock, Thome'
Burden came for me to assist his wife
.to lay out the
damaged. She was lying on the bed with • quilt over her,
and her head resting on • pillow placed on • little table by
the bedside, quite deed. Wittier ascribed the state in
which she found the body and added: I have had great
' ezwience in hiring out dead PeoPler.but I Duvet saw an.. -
th like the case before. I Paw tares braises on tas
bod Y—wee on the right arm above the elbow on the inside
of the arm, and not quite so large ss the paha of my hand.
There was another on the right thigh la bad bruise) *boil
the same sins the skin was not broken. The other blow
was more on the seat on the other side of the body, and
not quite so large.
Rochel Burden, wife of Thomas Burden, county court
bailiff, corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and
said the bed and bedding were in a very dirty lasts. She
did not think the stets the bedding and clothes were in
could be caused in • dey or two. The body appeared to be
very well nourished. Her husband was gent for by Mr.
Book:bighorn before she went with Mrs. Ileadan. The
first ;orlon she saw on entering the house was Mr.
Bocidngliam. Hs told her his wife was dead, but did not
say bow long she bad been dead. When ',Unites first raw
her she was quite warm; the bedslothes won also warm.
At this stage the further hearing of the ogee was
adjourned for • post wertmes. of the body to be
made.
The isquest was resumed at the Miass Ara Lea as
wegaseeme mob&

ed
Yr. B. 11. Spooner, 1LR.0.5., said that, soroniPeal iii
by Yr. W. Daniell, surgeon, he made a post moils
examination ef the body, and found the riper 100114 welt
marked. The body was well nourished. but marked with
bruises. On the right upper arts there were numerous
bruises, and an sbession of the skin above the elbow.
There were four distinct bruises on the let t arm, and on
the upper part of the ram them bruises about the sise of a
Amin. There were also two Wuisell about the rise of •
shilling on the left fore ann, and two other bruises about
the else of • shilling. There was as abrasion about three
Inches long and oo• broad on the right hip, and close to
this was • bruise about the sine of • dodo. On removing
the arid tha membranes of the brain were found to be
and the train presented • congested appearance.
Both lungs were acutely congested, and the right aide of
the heart was gorged with blood. The liver was marked
and hardened; but the immediate mane of death was con-
gestion of the longs. Prom the condition of the brain it
was very likely that deceased, daring life, suffered from
delirium, and, it was quite possible, caused the bruises, of
which he had spoksm., when in that state. The disease of
the brain was of loner standing than that of the lungs.
Mr. Daniell, ILK. .8.. corroborated the above evidence,
and, replying to • juror, said deceased's " screeching,"
which had been &Boded to, might have been the result of
delirium.
Deceased's husband. Joseph Buckingham, said he had
repeatedly expressed • wish to have • doetor and a nurse
for his wife, but she was obstinate, and refused. as she
had done on previous occasions when similarly attacked,
saying that doctors would do her no good, and that she
should soon be better. She had a gir-st objection to
strangers being in the house, unless she could be about
with them With the aid of his daughter he removed the
dirty clothing from under the deceased and put clean ones
in their place, only so recently as the Thursday previous
to her death. On Sunday he had decided to go for Dr.
, Bacot, but his wife died before he could start to fetch that
gentleman.
The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural
causes," but sdded • rider to the effect that they were of
' °pintos that gross neglect had been shown by the husband
I of the deceased in not having called in medical and other
' sasistancs, even although the deceased might have
expressed her objection to such • coulee : and, further, in
glowing the deceased I. be in such • fUthy condition.