Kentish Gazette, 8 January 1850.

Inquest.

On Thursday se’nnight an inquest was holden at the "Bell Inn," Week-street, before F. F. Dally, Esq., coroner, on the body of Joseph Clagg, aged 53 years, whose death took place on Tuesday morning, under the following circumstances:-

Deceased was a barge builder, and had for the past six months lodged at the "Balloon" beer shop, Week-street, kept by John Drowley. He had for some time past been an out-patient of the West Kent Infirmary, having erysipelas in his arm, which he had been obliged to carry in a sling. On the 24th of December he retired about twelve o'clock with a person named Clifford, with whom he was to share his bed. In about ten minutes after, Mrs. Drowley, who was in the bar, heard some one coming down stairs, and shortly afterwards heard a fall. She immediately went to the foot of the stairs, when she saw deceased lying on the floor quite insensible. With the assistance of two young men, who were lodging in the house that night, she carried deceased up stairs and laid him on his bed, when she undid his shirt collar and took off his neckerchief; he then appeared to revive a little, but still remained insensible and did not speak. Deceased appearing more comfortable, Mrs. Drowley left him, supposing him to be merely stunned from the fall. At about half-past seven o’clock the following morning, on Mr. Drowley’s going into the deceased’s room to call Clifford, he found deceased lying outside the bed across Clifford’s legs. Mr. Drowley then lifted deceased’s head, when he opened his eyes and mouth, and tried to speak, but could not; Drowley then woke Clifford, who got up, and they put deceased in bed. Drowley went for Mr. Saunders, the surgeon, who shortly after arrived, and found deceased dead, but the body still warm. Mr. Saunders not finding any mark or wound which could occasion death, made a post mortem examination, and then discovered a considerable swelling just above the right ear, an extravagation of blood where the swelling was, and a fracture extending about four inches, which of itself was sufficient to cause death. Mr. Saunders said that the insensible state in which deceased had been was the natural consequence of the fracture, and that had medical aid been called in directly after the accident had happened, it would have been of no avail. The jury having heard the evidence, returned a verdict of "Accidental death, caused by the fracture of the skull."