New Market Inn, Market Parade, Gloucester

 

 

William Fox, an assistant sheriff’s officer, came by his death on Wednesday night, at the New Market Inn, after several quarterns of neat rum. Mr Lovegrove held an inquest on Thursday, when William Vines stated he was an assistant sheriff’s officer; deceased had accompanied him on Wednesday to Stroud. Deceased was “fresh” before they started; he said he had been drinking gin; he had a pint of ale at the New Market Inn, and three pints of beer at Stroud. When they returned at about half-past three, they again came to the New Market Inn. Deceased was still “fresh” They had two pints of ale, and a penny worth of tobacco. The deceased then had a noggin of neat rum; and after that another noggin, which he drank at intervals. Witness gave him a shilling, and he had another noggin, which witness paid for, and had a small glass full out of it, and Mr Meadows another glass. Deceased had another noggin, but witness did not know whether he drank it all. Witness left about half-past five. The deceased fell upon the floor of the kitchen, and witness assisted in carrying him upstairs. He opened his eyes but appeared insensible. Mr. Cole fishmonger, Mr. William Probert, Mr. G. Cole, and Mr. Henry Meadows were in the kitchen drinking nearly all the time. Witness called about eight o’clock, and asked how the deceased was, but he forgot what answer was given. Deceased paid for all the rum except one noggin. Rum was always his favourite liquor.

 

John Band, who was in the house at the time, deposed to the same circumstances as the previous witness. He heard deceased say he could drink a bushel of rum. Deceased was sick in the kitchen, and witness assisted him upstairs. Witness saw him half an hour afterwards, when he appeared to be lying on the bed in the same state. Witness was at the house again two hours afterwards, but did not see the deceased nor enquire about him.

 

William Mealing, who had been brewing for Mr. Hillier (the landlord,) went at his request for Mr. Clarke, surgeon, about one o’clock in the morning, and witness afterwards attended to the deceased according to Mr. Clarke’s instructions, and went to bed at three o’clock. When he got up at nearly five he found deceased dead. Mr. Clarke had promised to call again, but he (witness) did not hear that he had. —Mr. Clarke deposed to being called at about half-past one by the last witness, who said there was a man dying at the New Market Inn. Witness attended immediately and found the deceased quite insensible lying on a bed dressed. His face and hands were cold, his cheeks purplish, the pupil of the right eye insensible to light, and that of the left slightly contracted, and feebly sensible to light. The breath of deceased, and the whole room, smelt strongly of spirits. He was labouring under coma. Witness directed some strong tea to be made, and he brought a strong emetic, and some turpentine, directed the latter to be rubbed into the calves of deceased’s legs and the back of his neck, and then the emetic to be administered. Witness told Mr. Hillier that deceased was dangerously ill, and that he would call upon his return from St. Mary’s Square, at all events within an hour. Witness left deceased at two, came back at three. He could see no light and knocked at the front door with his stick twice, and was answered from the window by the housekeeper, who said that the deceased was very much better, and it was witness’s impression that she said he had come to himself. Witness then went home. On calling in the morning at ten o’clock, he found to his surprise that deceased was dead. The cause of death in his opinion was the great quantity of rum drank by the deceased.

 

The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of died from excessive drinking.