Preece Family Tree

ANOTHER SUDDEN DEATH IN TOTNES.

In our issue of Thursday last we noticed the death of Mr R. Kelland, who died suddenly at Totnes on Wednesday, and on Saturday we gave an account of the death in a similar manner of Mr W. B. Hambling, of Totnes. We now have again the painful duty to record the occurrence of a third of these melancholy events, and all within the space of six days. The town has not recovered the shock caused by the first-mentioned deaths before it is again aroused by the report of another, which, for its suddenness, is more marked than either of the previous ones. Mr Thomas Beable, of Ivybridge and Ugborough, by trade a smith, and aged on Sunday last 56 years, came to Totnes yesterday morning for the purpose of taking out some money from the County Court, and for that purpose he had entered the office of T. Bryett, Esq., the registrar of the court, but had scarce time to make his errand known before he fell suddenly to the floor a lifeless being. Mr W. Oldrey, the bailiff of the court, with one of the clerks - Mr W. H. Narramore - were in the office at the time. Mr Oldrey picked up the unfortunate man, but all signs of animation had fled. The body was removed to the Market-house Inn, where it awaits the coroner's inquest, which will be held this day. A messenger was despatched to Ugborough to acquaint the relatives and friends of the deceased of their melancholy bereavement; and some of the family immediately came to Totnes to attend the inquest, &c. We understand that the deceased has complained lately of a pain in his chest, also of giddiness, but no serious result was or has been anticipated. Mr W. Kellock was in immediate attendance, and tried means for restoring animation, but without avail. A gloomy sensation pervades the town, as may very naturally be expected, from the occurrence of these mournful events; but the individual sorrow is not great, as two of the three who have thus hastily been snatched away are comparative strangers to to town; but yet the fact of their being such does not lessen the general feeling of anxiety and consternation, and the truth of the proverb "In the midst of life we are in death" is the more truthfully felt and acknowledged.