South Eastern Gazette, 14 August, 1860.

Suspicious Death at Brompton.

On Tuesday evening last an inquest was held at the Workhouse, Luton, before T. Hills, Esq., the coroner, on the body of a man, name unknown, who came by his death under very suspicious circumstances. The inquiry had been commenced by the coroner on a previous day, but had been adjourned in order to enable the police to get additional evidence.

Harriet Chaplin, a married woman, said she was passing the "Fortune of War" public-house, Wood-street, Brompton, at about half-past ten on the night of the 28th ult., when she heard a loud voice inside the house call out "Throw him out." The door was immediately opened, and a man was thrown out and fell with great violence into the street, falling on the back of his head. The door was then closed directly. The man thrown out was lying without speaking or moving, and witness asked two sappers who were passing to go to him, and they with the assistance of another man lifted him up and took him to Dr. Burton’s.

Mr. J. J. Ely, surgeon, said deceased was brought to the workhouse late on Saturday night, the 28th ult., and witness was sent for between one and two on Sunday morning. He found the deceased drunk and insensible, and suffering from a wound in the skull, which had been dressed, but deceased kept tearing off the bandages. On Sunday afternoon deceased recovered from his drunkenness, but refused to say who he was, or give his name, although he was conscious. Owing to the injuries he had received he died between eleven and twelve that night. Witness had made a post mortem examination of the body, and found a severe fracture of the skull, extending from the left temple to the top of the skull; it was of the kind that would have been caused by a fall, and was the cause of death.

Eliza Banner, landlady of the "Fortune of War" public-house, stated that a man came into the tap-room at about ten on the night of the 28th ult., and asked for some beer. Her daughter took him some, but he refused to pay for it. Witness then went to him to request him to pay, but he was then asleep, and she brought the beer away. On awaking he became very abusive and asked for the beer, but witness told him he should not have it until he paid for it. The man said he would not, and she then asked him to go out of the house, at the same time pushing him along the passage. The man went hastily along the passage info the street, and witness shut the door. She did not see him fall.

Thomas Batt, Royal Engineers, said that he and two other men picked up the deceased and took him to a surgeon. He was insensible, did not speak, and breathed heavily.

John Charles Saxton, High-street, Brompton, broker, stated that at about eleven o’clock on the night of the 28th ult., on passing the door of the "Fortune of War" public-house he heard a noise as if some persons were quarrelling. On looking in at the door he saw one man ejecting another, who appeared to be helplessly drunk. The person who had hold of the man had him by the collar with one hand, and with the other he pushed him into the street. At the time he did so he took the drunken man up, and, using a dreadful expression, threw him right out. The drunken man fell down on the back of his head on the stones. Immediately the man was thrown out the door was shut. Witness mentioned what he had seen to a person named Rouse, and as he was talking to him two sappers came by, picked the deceased up, and took him across to Dr. Burton’s. Witness heard a female scream at the time.

Samuel Coveny, High-street, Brompton, beer-house keeper, said he was at the "Fortune of War" on Saturday night, and heard the landlady, Mrs. Banner, ask some person in the tap-room to leave the house, as he was using very bad language. The man went out and the door was shut after him. Witness could tell nothing else about it.

Thomas Chaplin, a boy, said he was with his mother on Saturday night, and saw a man pushed out of the "Fortune of War" public-house, but he did not see who did it. Before the man was pushed out he heard the door open and some one say "Throw him ont." The door was then quickly opened, the man put out, and the door closed immediately.

The witness Mrs. Chaplin was called, and in answer to the Coroner said she was quite positive the door was closed before the man was thrown out.

Sergeant Fisher and Police-constable 60 said they had used the utmost endeavours to ascertain who the deceased was, and how he came by his death, but without effect.

The Coroner said the jury might return a verdict that he died from a fracture of the skull, but how it occurred there was no evidence to show. It did not appear on the face of the evidence that there was any blame to any one, because if a person were misconducting himself the parties in the house had a right to eject him. It appeared to him they could only arrive at an open verdict, leaving the police to follow up the investigation, and if they returned a verdict to the effect, that deceased died from a fracture of the skull, but whether caused by undue violence or an accidental fall there was no evidence to show, and any additional particulars were elicited by the police, the inquiry could be resumed by the magistrates.

The jury immediately returned an open verdict, in accordance with the suggestion of the coroner, and the proceedings then terminated. The deceased appears to be about 50 years of age, and from his garb would pass for a man accustomed to agricultural labour.