The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-24 00:00:00

THE DEATH IN A arpsrs TENT.

coßoNsErs INQUEST.
Lest evening Mr. John Humphreys, the coroner
foe Middlesex, held an inquest at the Greyhound Tavern,
Oid Ford.road, Victoria-perk, respecting the death of Bar-
ham Lee, aged 90 years, a celebrated member of the may
tribe, who died in • tent under the following cream-
stomas :

The jury haring been sworn proceeded with the coroner
same • meadow to a low tent which was protected
from the weather by a dwarf wall abuttiog on Sir
George Boobies Gaul, when Mr. Barrows, the summoning
odker, restored word wooden skewers from the dingy
woollen cousin. The body of deceased was lying on the
cold turf covered with • white sheet, and near the corpse
lay a rough or wild sheep dog. The body was in a good
state of preservation, and it was stated that the deceased
had formerly bun the Gipsy Queen.
The first witness called was

Kula Lee, • young gipsy, who said that she was a
" traveller " and had no settled residence. She lived in •
field near Mr. Bowen's, the Crown Hotel, Old Fad-road.
Witness was the wife of Benjamin Ls& • gips) who
attended races and fairs, and obtained a livelihood by 'keep.
log " Old dent Sally's " sod "Cockehies." The deceased
wee a widow, and witness was her daughter-in-law. She
lived with wiles= as she had no home nor
friends to assist her. Sometimes they had six
or seven in the same tent, but they never had any sickness,
the air was so pure, sad although the deceased was so aged
she walked or tramped from the encampment on Wands.
worth-oornmon. She was very weak and careworn, but was
not ailing or in bad health. She could could eat anything
when she could get it. On Saturday night the
deceased ate • hearty supper in the tent,
and there were several persons present who slept
there all night There was • fire burning until the
morns . About R o'clock witness awoke and heard the
daces making a gurgling noise in the throat. Witness
got op and ran for Dr. Davey, who immediately attended
and pronounced life extinct. The deceased was then upon
the hoe of the earth, but well wrapped up.
Coroner (to witness)—Your tribe live longer in inch
places, do they not!
Wittier (smiling)-011, yes, sir. Why, if she had gone to
the workhouse she would have been dead years ago.
Coroner—l believe that, for a " ipay's tent" is a palace
to some of the overcrowded and dwellings at this
part of the wrest metropolis.
Charlotte Lee, anothergipsy, with& brownand sharp noun.
Climate, said that she lived in White's briekfield, Old Ford-
toed. She called to see the "old lady," and stopped in the
tent all night. Deceased was then very poorly, and could
not get up. She could speak and knew witness, who had
travelled from Kingston to see her. The deceased com-
plained while witness was present, and she had what they
could &Sera° give her. A surgeon was not called, as de.
ceased had never had a day's Hiner.
Conner—Are you not related to the family of the Gipsy
Queen ?
Witnme—Yes, sir, but she is no more than oar own
humble tribe. Why, oar queen is your Queen, and we bow
to her as her loyal subject&
Dr. Davey, of Florenc&villa, Old Ford-sad, said that be
was called to the deceased, and found her in • tent lying
upon the ground. She was still warm, but had only been
dead about a quarter of an hour. He examined the body,
which was pretty well nourished, and believed as there
were no marks of violence that she had died from exhan&
tion opal old age.
The coroner then remarked on the cue, which, be ob.
served, was one of an mammal character, adding that he
should not have troubled the jury bat that the deceased had
died .in such a sudden sod strange manner. There was,
however, no doubt that the habit of living in each open-air
places was beneficial, and bad in this instance prolonged the
life of the dammed, who had almost reached 100 year,.
The jury returned the following verdict ' That the
demand was found dying and did die in • certain tent
erected in • field at Old Ford, Victoria-park, and the
jurors further my that the said death was from natural
canees.".

—The body wee afterwards buried by the gipsy tribe g
the Victona-park Cemetery, followed by a large crowd of
perms&