Preece Family Tree

AWFUL CIRCUMSTANCE. - An inquisition, which excited much interest from reports in circulation that the death of the deceased had been accelerated by ill-treatment, was held before J. Warren, Esq., the coroner for this city, on Friday last, at the Red Lion Inn, in St. Sidwell's, on the body of Barbara Southard, aged 60, who, it was said, had met with her death in consequence of injuries received from her husband. From the evidence of John Johnson, whose wife was sister to the deceased, it appeared that she and her husband, who was a plasterer, occupied two rooms in his house. On the afternoon of the previous Wednesday, he found deceased in her apartment cold and very ill. He fetched her husband, who came in about five o'clock. The deceased was then very faint and fell off her chair. The husband said she was drunk, and struck her several blows in the head. He then threw her down on the bed. The deceased did not speak again after that, and at eleven o'clock W. Land, Esq., surgeon, was sent for, who pronounced her to be dead. The deceased was subject to fits, but Johnson deposed that she was a sober woman. This evidence was confirmed by Johnson's wife, who further deposed, that after having thrown his wife on the bed, Southard refused to allow a doctor to be sent for, and actually left her insensible there. The deceased never spoke, but groaned a good deal after receiving the blows. Mr. Land was then called, who deposed, that he had attended deceased professionally for some time, and had supposed her to labour under an affection of the heart, which might have caused sudden death, had no blow been inflicted, and as this gentleman seemed to wish to make a further examination of the body, the inquest was adjourned till the evening. The Jury having then again met, Mr. Land continued his evidence. He had examined the body of the deceased, assisted by his partner Mr. Besley, Dr. Coster, and Mr. Warren. He opened the head, and found disease of the brain of long standing, which was sufficient to account for her death. He found no marks of violence on the exterior of the head, excepting a bruise on the temple, which might have been caused by a fall. He thought apoplexy was the cause of the death of deceased, and did not deem it necessary to examine her heart. Dr. Coster confirmed this testimony. He thought that any violence would be likely to hasten the death of a person, labouring under a disease like that of deceased, but he would not undertake to say, whether it had done so in this instance. The Jury, in consequence, returned a verdict of "Died by the Visitation of God."