From the Kentish Gazette, 22 August 1865.

Sudden Death: Coroner's Inquest.

On Thursday afternoon, J. N. Dudlow, Esq., the coroner, held an inquest at the "Priory Arms," on the body of Harriet Sarah Wakefield, whose death took place under circumstances detailed in the following evidence. It had been rumoured that the deceased died from the effects of poison, and it was in consequence of this rumour that the inquest was held. The jury having viewed the body, the first witness called was a girl of 14, named Clara Budgen, who said:- I have only known the deceased about three weeks. She came to lodge at Mrs. Maynard’s about that time, and I did not know her before. I am helping Mrs. Maynard in the laundry work, and the deceased came to assist. She would have been 20 years of age next October. She was quite well when she came, but a week last Wednesday she had a fit, and was not able to work except a little in the evening. After that she continued to work till Monday morning, when she went up to her aunt’s to work. She seemed very well then, and also on her return, about nine o’clock at night, she seemed to be in good spirits, and not to have anything the matter with her. She had some supper and went to bed about 12 o’clock with me. She lay talking some time, and in about half an hour she caught hold of my hand, and then let it go again. I called her by name, but she made no reply.

I then heard a curious noise in her throat, and being frightened I went into the next room for a candle, and called my sister. We then went in and looked at her, and found her lying very nearly on her face. She seemed to be in a fit. We then called Mrs. Maynard, who lifted up the deceased's head, and called us in. We then saw that the side of her face was quite black. We went in the next room, and stayed till the morning. Mrs. Maynard also left the room of the deceased, and did not go in again till halfpast five the next morning, when she called to us to come, and we found the deceased dead and quite cold. Mrs. Maynard then sent someone to the father of the deceased, who came about seven o’clock. The doctor had been sent for in the meantime, and was there when the father came. The deceased had eaten plum pie for supper, but not much. She did not drink anything. The deceased had complained that her father had struck her about two days before she came to Mrs. Maynard’s. She had had a quarrel with him and he had turned her out of doors, and would not let her come in. The deceased had her meals in the house and had plenty to eat. When she went out she always came home early and went to bed. She was not out all night at all. The deceased told Mrs. Maynard and myself, when she had a fit, not to move her, but to lay her head on a pillow and loosen anything that might be round her throat. Mrs. Maynard was very tired and poorly, and said she did not mean to leave the deceased long, but intended to go in again, only that, she fell off to sleep.

By the Jury:- When I left the deceased I thought she was in a fit, and would be all right in the morning. I never heard her threaten to commit suicide. The child was a great trouble to her.

Mrs. Mary Maynard, a widow and laundress, said:- The deceased was the daughter of Cornelius Wakefield, a gardener. She came to lodge with me about three weeks ago, as I was ill and wanted assistance. She was to work for her lodgings and maintenance, and while with me she behaved very well. She had a fit while with me. On several occasions she told me when she had a fit to lay her head on a pillow, and leave her to come to. Her father told me the same thing. The first time she had a fit it lasted more than an hour. The night she returned from her aunt’s she left her child there, and told me her uncle had been ill, and they could not get the bed ready for her. About half-past 12 my daughter came and told me she was in a fit. I went up and placed her head on the pillow, and went back to my room and fell asleep. The deceased’s face was dark then as it was on the occasion of her first fit. When I woke next morning I went to the deceased’s bedroom and found she was dead. She was laying in the same position as she was when I saw her the night before. I sent for Mr. Dance and the doctor, and the deceased’s father. I have heard deceased complain of her father, and she has said she had struck him. I saw her father on Saturday morning, and told him I was not able to support her and her child, he promised to help her and gave her 2s.

Mr. Cleveland Smith, assistant to Mr. Bishop, said:— On Tuesday morning I was called in to the deceased, and found her dead. I have since made a post mortem examination in company with Mr. Bishop, and from the appearance I have no doubt she died in a fit, probably from epilepsy. The brain and lungs were congested, and the heart was full of blood. There was no appearance whatever of any poisonous substance. There was no sign of pregnancy.

The coroner told Mrs. Maynard that the inquest had been held principally on her account in order that the reports which had been circulated might be contradicted, and that she might be put straight with her neighbours. He believed the jury were all of opinion that she had behaved with great kindness to the girl.

The father of the girl was also called in, and the jury expressed their belief that no blame was attached to him.

A verdict was at once returned of "Died from congestion of the brain, caused by a fit."