Above photo date circa 1911.

Above photo, date unknown. Kindly supplied by John Hopperton.

Gravesend Reporter, North Kent and South Essex Advertiser, Saturday 3 September 1887.

Death through suffocation.

Mr. W. J. Harris (county coroner) held an inquest, at the "Royal Charlotte," Undershores, on Friday last, relative to the death of James Easterby, age 44, a travelling hairdresser, well known in Northfleet and the surrounding district, who was found quite dead in the Northfleet and Swanscombe Brickfields Company's field, situated near the "Royal Charlotte" public house, on Thursday. After the jury had viewed the body, Charles Fidge gave evidence to the effect that he found the body of the deceased lying on a brick clamp, at about 8:30, on Thursday morning. He appeared quite dead. Probably deceased had laid down to sleep, and, inhaling the fumes from the clamp, had been suffocated. The field belonged to the Northfleet and Swanscombe Brickfields Company. Deceased had no right there. The police were communicated with.

P. C. Bourne stated that deceased was quite dead when he saw him. He should say deceased had been suffocated. Witness found two-pence in one of deceased's pockets when searching clothing; nothing else. There were no marks of violence on the body.

The Coroner summed up in a few words, and the jury returned a verdict that death resulting from suffocation, caused through inhaling the fumes from a brick clamp.