Kentish Gazette, 7 August 1849.

MARRIAGES.

Alland - Jury. July 30, at trinity church, Maidstone, Mr. Charles Alland, of Brighton, to Ann, daughter of Mr. E. Jury, landlord of the "Lord Nelson," St Faith's Street.

Kentish Gazette, 28 May 1850.

Coroner’s Inquest.

An Inquest was held on Saturday evening week, before F. F. Dally, Esq., at the "Lord Nelson," St. Faith-street, on the body of Elizabeth Jury, aged 47.

"Verdict," found drowned.

Kentish Gazette, 13 August 1850.

Inquest.

An inquest was held on Monday evening week, at the "Lord Nelson" public-house, St. Faith’s-street, before F. F. Dally, Esq., coroner, on the body of Jas. Isaac Farrant, who died on the Saturday previous while bathing in the Medway. It appeared that deceased was bathing near the Barracks, when he got into a hole near there and was drowned. He was taken out about an hour afterwards, but life was then extinct.

Verdict.— Accidentally drowned whilst bathing in the river Medway.

Kentish Gazette, 22 March 1853.

Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held on Tuesday evening at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith's-street, before T. Kipping, Esq., coroner for the borough, and a highly respectable and intelligent jury, of whom Mr. John Jewell was foreman, to enquire touching the death of Thomas Paris, aged 57, whose body was found in the river Medway, on Monday, the 14th inst, he having, as was supposed, committed suicide.

The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned an open verdict of "Found drowned."

Southeastern Gazette, 5 July 1853.

The license of the "Lord Nelson" public-house, St. Faith-street, was transferred from Edward Jury, deceased, to Elizabeth Jury, his widow.

Southeastern Gazette, 19 July 1853.

Coroner’s Inquest.

An inquest was holden at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith-street, on Tuesday last, before T. Kipping', Esq., coroner, on the body of Charles Moody, aged 20, whose death resulted through the upsetting of a boat in the river Medway on the previous day, as recorded in our last.

William Cleaver, tailor, of Union-street, deposed that on Monday afternoon himself, the deceased, and a young man named Barnes, went in a pleasure boat down the river as far as the "Malta" beer-house, where they had a quart of ale, and afterwards started on their way home. When they arrived near the field adjoining the barracks the deceased wished to row, and while in the act of changing seats for that purpose, the boat upset, and they were all three thrown into the water. Deceased took hold of witness, and attempted to grasp the boat, but failed in doing so, and went down in the water. Barnes got hold of one of the sculls and managed to save himself. Witness swam to land, and immediately procured assistance from the barracks. Nearly a quarter of an hour elapsed before the body was recovered, and every means was resorted to restore him, but without effect. There was not the slightest appearance of life when the body was taken out of the water. A stretcher was brought, and deceased was removed to the "Lord Nelson" public-house, where medical assistance was promptly rendered by Messrs. Joy and Fry, but to no avail. The boat they were in was a safe pleasure boat, and would hold four or five persons. They had only one pair of sculls. Neither the deceased nor Barnes could swim.

James Barnes corroborated his statement.

John Clapson deposed to taking the body out of the water.

Verdict "Accidentally drowned."

Southeastern Gazette, 26 July 1853.

Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith-street, on Tuesday, before T. Kipping, Esq., borough coroner, to enquire touching the death of Charles Corke, a fine little boy, aged five years, who was accidentally drowned in the river Medway on the previous afternoon, as stated in our last. The evidence went to shew that the deceased child was playing with some other children on the banks of the river. The deceased went to the steps near St. Faith’s wharf with the intention of putting a lucifer match box into the river, when he overbalanced himself and fell into the water, and strange to say, although several persons were in the barges close at hand, none of them perceived the accident. A little boy who was playing with the deceased ran to his (deceased’s) parents, who lived nearly opposite, and gave the alarm. Assistance was promptly rendered, and Mr. Peake, barge master, guided by the air bubbles which rose on the surface of the water, succeeded in getting the child out by means of a boat hook, the water being nearly ten feet in depth. Ths deceased was in the water altogether about five minutes, but, although every effort was used to restore him, life was extinct. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."

Southeastern Gazette, 30 August 1853.

Fatal Accident.

On Thursday last an inquest was held at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith-street, to inquire into the death of William Farrance, aged 50, who met with his death under circumstances as follows.

It appeared that for some time he had been occasionally employed by Mr. John Stanger, fly proprietor. On Tuesday last he went out on a journey, and when he returned appeared to be intoxicated, in consequence of which Mr. Stanger advised him to go home directly. He, however, persisted in unharnessing the horses from a coach, and went up a ladder to put something into the loft. He had got to the top of the ladder and his foot upon the landing, when he fell backwards to the ground. He was very soon picked up, and Mr. Joy, surgeon, was sent for, who promptly attended, and he was removed to his home. He was then able to stand, and no serious apprehensions were felt, but he died on the following morning. Mr. Joy said the deceased’s death resulted from apoplexy, caused by the rupture of a vessel in the brain, which had been occasioned by the accident. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

South Eastern Gazette, 29 November 1853.

Supposed suicide by Drowning.

On Tuesday last an inquest was held at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith-street, Maidstone, before T. Kipping, Esq., coroner, on the body of a young woman named Ellen Kirby, age 18 years. The deceased, notwithstanding every exertion on the part of her mother, has for the last three years been living the life of an "unfortunate" and it will be remembered that in August last year she attempted to drown herself by throwing herself over the bridge, but was prevented while in the act by a man who was passing. She was then brought before the magistrates upon the charge, and after being remanded for a week was delivered over to the care of her mother, in the hope that she would be induced to alter her mode of life, which, however, was not the case, and on Tuesday morning last her body was found in the river Medway. The following evidence was adduced.

Eliza White, living in Jeffrey-street, stated that she had known deceased about 18 months, and was with her on the previous day. In the afternoon they went up Rocky Hill, and in the evening were together in the town. Witness left her shortly before 11 o'clock near the top of High Street. Before that they have been into the "Turks Head," and had some brandy; to the "Swan," where they had some port wine; also to the "Ship," where they had some stout, and some gin at the "Castle." When witness left her, she did not appear to be the worst for liquor. She had often told witness she would destroy herself, but did not say anything about it on Monday evening. She had often said that she should make off with herself by jumping into the river, the last time about two months ago. She had been away for three weeks and returned on Saturday. She was very lively on Monday evening till just before witness left her. She had alleged no other reason why she should make off with herself than matters in reference to a young man, she had said she liked very much. She was rather intemperate in her habits. Witness had often thought she was not quite right when she was sober; she said strange things, and appeared strange in her manner. When witness left her she was alone. She did not leave with her.

George Greenwood, musician, stated that he was returning to Maidstone on the previous night with a young man named Honey, from a party where they had been playing at Ayleford, and left there about half past nine or 10 o'clock. They went into the "Malta" beer house, and left there about the 11 o'clock. They then came along the towing-path towards Maidstone, and just after they had passed the swing bridge opposite Messes Halston's Mill, they found velvet cloak, a muff, a handkerchief, and a small scent box there lying close to the edge of the river. Witness suspected some person had committed suicide, and they afterwards took the articles to the station-house in company with the landlord of the "Globe," where he gave them up to policeman No 3 (Head), who at once recognised them belonging to deceased.

Phillip Beaney collaborated the evidence of the last witness.

Police Constable Head deposed that he at once identified the things as belonging to Kirby, and concluded that she had destroyed herself. Witness found the inspector, and afterwards found Smith the boatman, and asked him if he would get up and drag the river. Which, however he refused to do, as he was unwell. And another man who witness went to also declined on the same ground. Witness and police constables R. Sunnucks and Judges, then procured a boat and proceeded to drag the spot where the clothes had been found, and in less than five minutes the body of deceased was brought ashore. They then removed it to the "Nelson."

Police Constable Judges corroborated Head's evidence, and added that he took deceased to gaol on the 10th of August last year, when she was remanded by the magistrates, and she then declaimed that she would destroy herself some day, but did not give any reason. He had known her for several years. She was much in the habit of getting intoxicated, and he had several times taken her home because she could not walk. He saw her in High Street at about a quarter to 11 o'clock on Monday night, where she appeared to be quite sober, and notice nothing particular about her appearance.

John Kirby, the father of the deceased, stated that she was about 18 years of age. He had taken her away from where she was at work for the last three weeks, thinking she would start to amend her way of life, but in consequence of her living out of work he brought her home on Saturday. She was in his company for about an hour at the "Ship Inn" on Monday, and left him about nine o'clock when she said she was going home. He had given her a glass something cold. He did not see her anymore till she was a corpse. He did not know whether or not she was intemperate. He had not noticed anything strange from her manner.

The jury returned a verdict "Found Drowned."

Kentish Gazette, 4 April 1854.

Supposed Infanticide.

An inquest was held on Thursday evening, before T. Kipping, Esq., coroner, at the "Lord Nelson Inn," St. Faith-street, on the body of a child, found dead, on the preceding day, in the river.

A rather intelligent lad, aged 12, named Thomas Dove, living in Inflexible-row, deposed that on Wednesday, about three o'clock, he and a companion were passing Mr. Balston's paper-mill, when they saw a bundle of rags floating in the river, near where the water runs out from the mill. He went down the bank, and got hold of it. The water was low, and the bundle touched the bottom. His companion laid it on the bank. It was tied up in a black rag, and then there was a white bag. They untied the bag, when the body of a child dropped out. A woman came along in a few minutes, who covered the rags over it.

Mr. Leney and Mr. Bryant also passed at the time. Mr. Leney told the woman to take the body to his house, which she did. Dove went afterwards to look for the rags, when he found the black one floating down the river, and the other on the bank. He got the black one out with his foot, and took it with the bag to Mr. Leney's home.

Lucy Heythorne, the wife of a waterman, the woman already mentioned, stated that as she was passing Mr. Balston's mill, the boys said they had found a body, and then threw stones to show her the spot. She sent one of the boys for a policeman, and then when Mr. Leney passed, she wrapped the body in her apron, and took it to Mr. Leney's house. Mr. Leney, surgeon, of Brewer-street, gave similar evidence. He had kept charge of the body till that evening, and had given the rags to Mr. Blundell, the superintendent.

He had made a post mortem examination. He concluded, on his first examination, that it was a full-grown child, recently born. He then examined it externally, but found no marks of violence, except a slight compression of the nose and mouth, which might have been caused before or after death, or by lying on the ground. The pressure was sufficient to cause death.

From the experiments he subjected the heart and lungs to, he had no doubt the child must have breathed. He knew that the birth must have been very recent, and that from want of the usual precautions, the haemorrhage resulting would have caused death. He could not say positively that the child was born alive. It was a female child. He should think the body would not have floated, and that it was thrown in where it was found.

Superintendent Blundell produced the rag and the bag. The bag appeared to have been hastily made. This being the whole of the evidence at present, the inquiry was adjourned.

Kentish Gazette, 11 July 1854.

Body found in the river.

On Thursday morning, about 11 o'clock, Captain Rose, the master of a barge, in passing by Mr. Benstead's quarry, saw something floating in the water, which proved to be the body of a man, very respectively dressed, and which appeared to have been in the water for some time. It was taken to the "Nelson Inn," to await an inquest.

South Eastern Gazette, 29 May, 1860.

Suicide of another Female.

On Thursday morning last a man named Turner, employed at the wharf of Messrs. Sutton and Vaughan, Maidstone, observed something floating down the river, which on being taken out proved to be the body of a girl named Eliza Wise, aged 15, the daughter of a flyman living in St. Faith’s-street.

The body was very much decomposed, and was removed to the "Lord Nelson Inn." The deceased had been living in the service of Mr. Day, miller, of Boughton Monchelsea, who, however, brought her home on Sunday, the 13th inst., in consequence, it seems, of a letter which had fallen into the hands of her mistress. The deceased afterwards attempted to run away, but was prevented. On Monday, the 14th, she went out to tea with a neighbour, and in the evening went to the fair, where she stayed some hours with a young man, who says that she refused to return home, though he repeatedly pressed her to do so; and at about three o’clock he left her at the bottom of the High-street, after which she was not again seen alive.

An inquest was opened on Thursday evening, before T, Kipping, Esq., coroner, when evidence as to the identification of the body having been given, the enquiry was adjourned till this (Tuesday) morning.

South Eastern Gazette, 5 June, 1860.

Adjourned Coroner’s Inquest.

The inquest on the body of Eliza Wise, found in the river Medway on the 24th ult., was resumed on Tuesday last, before T. Kipping, Esq., coroner. In addition to the circumstances stated in our last, it transpired that on the 10th ult., three days before the deceased was brought home by Mr. Day, she had very much pressed a young man named Morris, living at Boughton Monchelsea, to purchase threepennyworth of laudanum for her, saying that she wanted it for the toothache. As he refused to do so, she attempted to purchase it herself, at the shop of Mrs. Beeching, Boughton, under pretence that she wanted it to take some stains out of a dress, but Mrs. Beeching declined to serve her with it. On the night of the 14th ult. she was at the fair in company with a young woman named Bradshaw, to whom she proposed that they should walk into the water together, and drown themselves; and she also offered her purse and bracelets to Bradshaw, but these the latter refused to take. About a week after Christmas the deceased told this witness that she had been to the river at the bottom of St. Faith’s-street, and had taken off her bonnet and shawl, and gone into the water, but it was so cold that she would not drown herself then. The young man Perrin, however, said that when he left her at the bottom of the High-street, about three o’clock on the morning she was last seen (the 15th ult.), she said nothing about destroying herself, but told him she should go to her aunt’s at Mereworth.

The jury returned an open verdict of "Found drowned."