South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 06 May 1845.

Shocking suicide.

On Saturday last an inquest was held at the "Fortune of War," Chatham, before J. Hinde, Esquire., coroner, on Elizabeth, wife of Richard Morling, a plumber in the dockyard.

Richard Day deposed:- I am a butcher and reside at Ordnance place, Chatham. I know Elizabeth Morling, the deceased. She is my aunt, and has been unwell for some time. Have been in constant attendance on her. She has in past been in a low, deranged state some time past. Yesterday week I induced the deceased to get up to take her tea. On the following day she said to me, "I have heard a voice from the wall, saying it must be done, and you must do it." I understood the deceased to mean that she must make off with herself. She refused all food throughout the day. I and my uncle remained with the deceased until a late hour at night. She continued in the same low state until Monday, refusing all food. She attempted to strangle herself on that day; about 4:30 I left the room to get a cup of tea; on going up again she said "Don't come near me." I then saw the bed was deluged with blood. I found there was a large wound on the stomach; a table knife was lying under her. Dr. Martin was immediately sent for. She was 47 years of age.

Dr. Martin deposed:- I was sent for last Monday afternoon. I found the deceased in bed, with a large wound extending down the front of the abdomen, through the skin and muscles and exposing to view many of the intestines, stomach, and liver, the latter being wounded. The deceased told me she had used great force, begged I would let her die, and asked for poison to caused her death sooner. I dressed the wound, use my best exertions to save the deceased, and continue to attend her up to her death, which took place yesterday afternoon. The deceased was in a deranged state of mind.

The jury returned a verdict. "That deceased destroyed herself, being insane."

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 13 May 1845.

Lamentable case of self destruction.

On Saturday afternoon, the third instance, and inquest was held at the "Fortune of War" public house, Chatham, by J. Hinde, Esq., one of the coroner's for East Kent, on the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Morling, age 48 years, and whose husband is a plumber in her Majesty's Dockyard. It appeared that the deceased had for some time being in a deranged state, and was under the care of a nurse, and latterly had kept her bed; that on Monday afternoon last, about 4 o'clock, whilst the nurse was preparing for tea, leaving the deceased's nephew in the room, the deceased's desired her nephew to go down stairs and fetch her up a cup of tea. The boy did so, and on his return the deceased said "I have done it;" her hands were covered with blood, as also the bed.

Dr. R. Martin, of Chatham, was prompt in attendance, and on examination of the poor woman, she had ripped open the left side of the stomach with a case-knife; there was a wound above nine inches in length, causing the entrails to protrude. There was also a wound of one inch and a half long in the liver. The medical gentleman replaced the intestines, and sewed up the wound. The poor creature, after lingering four days, died on Friday evening.

It is suppose that the deceased secreted the knife during supper time overnight. It was but a short time before this that she had secreted on her person a pen knife. The verdict was, that deceased died from a wound inflicted by herself, being at the time in a deranged state.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 24 October 1848.

To be disposed of, situate in one of the principal thoroughfares in Chatham, a good ale and beer house.

The house contains every accommodation, with good skittle ground. Rent only £15; valuation under £80. The only reason for the present proprietor leaving is his having taken a licensed house.

For further particulars, or to view the same, apply to Mr. Thomas Garrett, "Fortune of War," Chatham.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 13 June 1854.

Public house and beer house information.

The following publicans and beer sellers, at Chatham, were charged, at the instances of Superintendent Everist, with keeping their houses open for the sale of beer after the legal hour of 11 o'clock at night.

.....

George Whale, of the "Brewer's Arms," and George Parnell, of the "Fortune of War," each 40s. and 12s. costs.