From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury,
3 November, 1900. 1d.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A NIGHT WATCHMAN
Dr. Hardman held an inquest at the "New Plough Inn," Middle Deal, on
Thursday afternoon, into the causes of the death of William Batt Annall,
employed as a night watchman on the drainage works, who suddenly expired
at six o'clock the same morning, after extinguishing the lamps, previous
to going off duty. The following composed the Jury:- Messrs. J. Taylor
(foreman), C. Gray, W. Redsull, D. Rogers, S. Simmonds, P. Curling, J.
Pellett, J. Dawes, T. Lincoln, A. Finnis, E. Ramell, and T. Randall.
The jury having viewed the body, Dr. Hulks said that he was called to
St. George's Road about six o'clock that morning, and found deceased
lying on his side on a heap of stones. he had apparently recently died.
There was a little streak of blood from his nose, which, he thought,
might have been caused by him falling on his face. he did not see any
other signs of injury, and there was nothing in the appearance of the
body to give any indication of the cause of death, which was probably
syncope. (Loss of consciousness). He was an elderly man, and had
been exposed all night, and it would not be surprising if an attack of
syncope came on, which he judged to be the case from what the man who
was talking to him at the time of his death told him.
By the Coroner: If death had been caused by pneumonia, deceased would
have shown very marked signs of illness before. He had lost an arm,
which was injured, he believed, in a winch on the beach many years ago.
John Batt Annal said that the body the jury had viewed was that of
his brother, who would have been 64 years of age on his next birthday.
He had been employed as night watchman on the drainage works since they
had been in operation. Lately he had a nasty violent cold, and had
complained to him frequently of pains in his chest, and he had coughed a
good deal. He went to Canterbury Hospital some years ago in consequence
of his chest, and on leaving he was told that they could do nothing for
him there. He believed he had seen Dr. Lyddon once or twice this year on
account of his health. His occupation would make him liable to colds,
having so much night work and exposure.
William Harris, ganger on the drainage works, stated that he went to
the works in St. George's Road about five minutes to six that morning.
About two minutes afterwards deceased came to the side of the trench to
put out the lights, and he seemed as usual. Witness wished him good
morning, and he replied. He could not say whether deceased had had
anything to eat or drink. After some further remarks had passed between
them, the bugle sounded at the barracks, and deceased said that it was
six o'clock. Witness replied that it was a little fast, and turned
between the trenches and shouted "blow up" to the men. Just then
deceased fell forward on to his face on the footpath by the letter-box,
where he was standing. Witness went to pick him up, and he gave one
gurgle, but there was no other sign of life, and he died within five
minutes. He had only been on the works since Monday, and did not know
much about deceased, but he had never complained to him about being
unfit for work.
Dr. Hardman said it was tolerably clear, when the matter was reported
to him, that this was a case of death from natural causes, but the Act
required, when a sudden death took place and there was no known illness
previously existing, that an inquest should be held. The jury had heard
the evidence, and would probably be of opinion, with him, that the
deceased died from failure of the heart - syncope. Probably the strain
on the heart might have increased by the coughing - nothing was so
likely as a fit of coughing to bring on a heart attack - but at all
events, as they knew, heart disease might go on for years and its
existence not known to the person suffering from it, and certainly not
to other people. It was quite clearly a case of death from natural
causes, and if they agreed with him they would return a verdict to that
effect.
The jury returned a verdict accordingly.
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