Reading Mercury
Dated 30th January 1886
SAD CASE OF DESTITUTION AND SUDDEN DEATH
AT NEWBURY
On Saturday evening Dr. Watson, Borough Coroner, held an inquest on the body of a labourer named James Breadman, aged 50 years, who died suddenly on the previous afternoon while being conveyed in a cart to his home in Wharf-road, as briefly reported in last week’s Mercury. Mr. Orms, of Bartholomew-street was chosen as foreman of the jury and the body, having been viewed, the following evidence was adduced:-
Isaac Wicks, a carter, in the employ of John Heath of Bartholomew Farm, said deceased had been employed as a labourer by Mr. Heath for about a month, and was at work with witness on Friday afternoon. He was driving on of the horses, and when near the Grammar School, he suddenly dropped down. He had not previously complained. Witness picked him up, and he leant against a gate saying, “I’m done, I can’t do any more.” Witness asked him to stay there a few minutes whilst he unloaded his cart, and he would take him home. When witness was done, which was about ten minutes, he found the deceased under the hedge. He asked to be helped into the cart, and with the assistance of a gentleman, who was passing, witness got a shawl and jacket from his lodging near the Grammar School, and covered him up. Deceased asked for a cup of tea, but as there was none, witness took him some soup, of which he ate three or four spoonsful. Just before they got to the “Lamb” witness took his jacket and put it under the head of deceased, who whispered something, but he could not hear what it was. He went down Bartholomew-street, and here met P.C. Gamble and asked him about finding a doctor. The constable got up on the cart shaft, and said “The man is dead.” P. C. Gamble went to Mr. Hickman’s, but he was not at home. They then took deceased to his home. During the month he was at work deceased constantly complained to witness about his heart, and said he felt unable to work.
Mrs. Breadman, widow of the deceased, said her husband went to work as usual about a quarter to seven on Friday. He was late, and did not stay for any breakfast, but took some bread and butter with him. She sent her boy with a bottle of tea, but the boy did not find his father until half-past ten. He drank the tea and did not complain. She heard nothing more of him until he was brought home dead. His health had been very bad for five years; he complained, his back and his legs. He had not had any medical attendance for the past twelve months, but was in the Union for six weeks last winter, in consequence of illness. Deceased told her that Mr. Hickman and Mr. Birch both said there was something the matter with his heart. Her husband had not constant work all winter until he went on for Mr. Heath. She had not any help from the parish. His wages were 10s a week, and they had to keep six children and themselves out of it. Occasionally she had some charing, but they lived very badly indeed. Her husband complained very much of the cold.
P. C. Gamble said that the family were in a very destitute condition; there was only one bedstead and a bundle of rags for the whole family to lie on.
The coroner in summing up, said this unfortunate occurrence disclosed the circumstances under which some of the poor lived. He especially commended the manner in which the witness Wicks had acted towards the deceased.
The jury, on the suggestion of the foreman, returned their fees to the widow, and the coroner, and others present added donations, for which the poor woman expressed her grateful thanks. |
