This is another in the occasional series, which examines inquests that have been held for members of my family who lost their lives suddenly and/or not from natural causes.
Thomas Love
Thomas LOVE was my 3 X great grandfather. He was born at Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, England, in 1822. He married Sarah PEARCE in Bradford on Avon in 1845. With their children, they Emigrated to Australia and settled in Heathcote, Victoria. Thomas died suddenly on 04 November 1878. An inquest was held into his death at Heathcote, on 8th November 1878.
Magisterial Inquiry 1
Proceedings of Inquiry held upon the body of Thomas Love at Heathcote, 8th November 1878.
At a magisterial inquiry held by me, this day at Heathcote, as to the cause of death of Mr. Thomas Love. From the medical evidence, I am of the opinion that death was caused from rupture of the bowels.
A.W. MILTON
Deposition of Witnesses
Henry Scobell, on oath, saith as follows:
I am a legally qualified medical practitioner, residing at Heathcote. Last (unreadable word) at a quarter to seven o’clock, I received a message to attend the deceased, Thomas Love. I found him in bed, complaining of great pain over the upper part of the abdomen. On examination, I found the abdomen greatly distended and purpling on the right side. On asking him about the cause, he informed me, on returning home, the night previous, from the Northumberland Hotel, he had fallen against a drain and did not remember anything, until he found himself in bed. I came to the conclusion that he was suffering from internal injury and accordingly prescribed suitable remedies. This morning, at half past nine, I received another message, asking me to go at once, which I did, and found the deceased dead. I have this day made a post mortem examination on the deceased. The body was well nourished, no bruises and external marks of violence were visible. On opening the abdomen, I found the (unreadable word) in a state of recent inflammation and the lower part of the bowels in a state of active congestion. The cavity of the abdomen contained between a pint and a pint and a half of dark coloured fluid, smelling strongly of spirits and faeces. On dissecting the intestines, I found an old (unreadable word) hernia on the right side above which the bowel was very thin and ruptured. The liver was hard, though of normal size. The other organs appeared healthy. In my opinion, death was due to collapse from the rupture of the bowel.
Henry Scobell (signed)
Mrs. Sarah Love, on oath saith as follows:
I am the wife of the deceased, Thomas Love. On Saturday last, my husband was engaged at work at the post office. He came to his tea about 8 o’clock that day. He left home about half past 9 pm to go to the Northumberland Hotel to get some beer for supper. He did not return as I expected. About 11 o’clock, I began to feel anxious and went to the door repeatedly, to hear if he was coming. On one occasion, I heard the little dog barking and thought he was coming. I went again, hearing the dog start barking, in the direction of the hotel, and found my husband, lying near a tree in Pohlman Street, about half way between my house and the hotel. The latter being about 200 yards from my place. He was lying on his face and quite insensible. I thought he was in a fit, froth and blood was coming from his mouth and nose. I sat him up and undid his shirt collar and rubbed his throat and tried to put him (unreadable word) to me, but he could not. I remained with him about three quarters of an hour, but finding I could not help him in any way, I left him and went to call Charles Perry, who resides within 100 yards from where I left my husband. With the assistance of Perry, I got him home and put him into bed. He remained insensible until 6 o’clock next morning, when after that hour, he got much better, but complained of a pain in his stomach. He asked me to give my some physic and I gave him some bitter also, a little bit about the size of a pea. He appeared quite conscious and told me he had played a game of billiards and during the time he was away he had three nobblers of (unreadable word). In the afternoon, he appeared to be getting worse, and I sent for the doctor, who came and gave him some medicine. But he got no better. I sent again this morning for the doctor, but when he arrived my husband was dead. He died about 10 o’clock this morning. He had been engaged at the Post Office. He had been carrying lead up on the roof of the building. He met with an accident about twelve months since, a spring cart capsized and hurt his cheek badly. My husband was 56 years old.
Sarah Love (signed)
Terence Joseph Maidmen, on oath saith as follows:
I am the landlord of the Northumberland Arms Hotel. I have this day seen the body of the deceased, Thomas W. Love. I have known him for some time. On Saturday last, about 9 o’clock, he came to the hotel and remained until about 10 minutes to 12. He occupied himself during the interval, playing billiards. He had, I think, 4 glasses of ? He was sober when he left and took a shillings worth of beer with him for home. About a month ago, after playing a game of cards, and before having anything to drink, he suddenly fell down, as if in a fit. He knocked his head against a chair. After about ten minutes, he recovered and went home.
T.J. Maidmen
Charles Perry, on oath saith, as follows.
I am a carpenter, residing in Heathcote. I have this day seen the body of deceased, Thomas W. Love. I have known him for nine or ten years. He was a plasterer by trade. On Sunday morning, the third, at 20 minutes past two, Mrs. Love called me up. She said her husband was very ill. She thought he was in a fit. I immediately dressed and followed her and overtook her in Pohlman Street. I found the deceased, lying on his left side. I spoke to him, but got no reply. I lifted him up and rested his head between my knees, while I struck a match to see what was the matter. Water was coming from his mouth. I saw traces of blood. I carried him home with the assistance of his wife, and put him to bed. He said “My dear Sarah, I am at home”. Soon after I left and went home. I did not see him again until this (Monday) morning, about half past nine, when I found him quite conscious and talked to him for a quarter of an hour. The first thing he said, he expected when seen me on Sunday – he informed me he had been to the Northumberland Arms Hotel on Saturday night, where he had played a game of billiards and had three nobblers of (unreadable word) and that was all he had. He said, when he left the hotel, he was as right as ever he was in his life, until he turned into Pohlman street, being about 100 yards from the hotel, but remembered nothing after that. He did not know that I had taken him home. The deceased was a pleasant natured man and generally liked. He said he had never been right since he fell out of his spring cart. He said he would like a glass of my uncle’s home made wine. I left to get it and returned in a quarter of an hour but he was dead. Charles Perry (signed)
John Collins, on oath saith, as follows:
I am a labourer residing in Heathcote. On Saturday night last, I was at the Northumberland Arms Hotel. I met the deceased, Thomas Love (whose body I have seen today), between eight and nine o’clock, at the above hotel. I played a game of billiards with him. I only saw him take one drink. I think he remained about three hours. He was sober when there.
John Collins (signed)
**Please Note: Punctuation and paragraphs have been added to the above transcription for ease and speed of reading
Sources:
Public Record Office of Victoria VPRS 24/P UNIT 379 FILE 1878/954