1857 Newspaper Inquisition at Waldringfield – David Rush

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From The Ipswich Journal (Ipswich, England), Saturday, July 25, 1857; Issue 6168.

See William Moles in Sudden Death. Thanks to Joe for the transcript which precedes the scanned article. INQUISITION AT WALDRINGFIELD from Ipswich Journal July 25^th. 1857

In consequence of a report having been abroad that DAVID RUSH, a labourer in that Parish who had died very suddenly on the 6^th. and buried on the 8^th.instant was supposed to have been poisoned by his wife. Mr. Wood on the 14^th. inst at the request of the minister and churchwardens of that parish, issued his warrant to have the body exhumed and summoned Mr. George Washington Tailor and Mr. John Stearn Gissing surgeons, to make a post mortem examination of the body. On the 15^th. inst. the Inquest was held upon the body at the Bush Inn Waldringfield, before a most respectable jury: when William Moles, Waldringfield labourer, deposed that he knew the deceased and had done so for several years: that he was with him when he died on the morning of the 6^th.inst: that he went to see him on the previous day for the purpose of shaving him and after he had shaved him he had a convulsive fit, from which he did not rally. No one gave deceased anything during the night but himself and he only gave him a small quantity of brandy and water.

Mr. George W. Tailor of Bucklesham, surgeon, deposed that he had attended the deceased up to the day preceding his death, and had treated him for dyspepsia and diseased kidneys: that on the day preceding his death he was requested by the deceased’s wife not to come again until he was sent for, as she must get parochial relief and parochial medical attendance. On the last visit he paid to the deceased he had no doubt there was inflammation in the stomach, and directed a blister to be applied. He did not think him near his end and did not see him again alive: he was, however, on the Tuesday applied to for a certificate of the cause of death, which he gave not suspecting anything wrong. On the Thursday following he was again applied to for another certificate by Margaret Rush the widow of the deceased, to satisfy the club men that her husband had not been poisoned: this he refused to give, stating that having given one certificate he could give no more. He further stated that he had on that day, in conjunction with Mr. John Stearn Gissing, of Woodbridge, and in the presence of Mr. Thomas Grimbridge, of Walton, surgeon [who as a friend volunteered his assistance] made a post mortem examination of the body of the said David Rush: that they found the body in a very decomposed state, the head, face and hips very much swelled: that he opened the chest, found the heart and lungs healthy the latter gorged with blood: that he opened the abdomen and found the stomach empty with exception of a small quantity of dark body fluid: that the stomach with the aesophagus were much inflamed and several patches or elevated spots consisting of thickened mucus and sub mucus tissue. That they also examined the bowels and found patches of inflammation throughout: that the kidneys were diseased, but the spleen and liver were healthy. The three medical men agreed that the deceased died from the effect of intense inflammation of the stomach and intestines: how the inflammation was produced they were not prepared to say, but recommended that the stomach and some other portions of the inside of the deceased should be analysed by some eminent man. The inquest was therefore adjourned until the 22^nd. inst. and in the meantime the portions of the body chosen by the surgeons were inclosed in jars, and taken by the direction of the Coroner Dr. Alfred S. Taylor Professor of Chemistry at Guy’s Hospital for analysis.

On the 22^nd inst. the adjourned inquest was held, when the report from Dr. Taylor was read to the jury on their re assembling. In his report Dr. Taylor stated that he carefully analysed the contents of the jars sent to him, purporting to contain the viscera of the stomach etc. of David Rush: that he had tested the same for mineral and other poisons but could not detect the presence of either: but that the appearance s were so very suspicious he should not have considered himself competent to have given an opinion without making a strict analysis. Mr. John Stearn Gissing was then examined and stated that he fully concurred in the statement of Mr. George W. Tailor, and in the report of Dr. Alfred Taylor and was of the opinion that the deceased died of NATURAL CAUSES. The jury being of the same opinion returned a verdict accordingly.

It raises several interesting points:-

1. What is a respectable jury?
2. Parochial relief and parochial medical attendance? Part of Parish Relief/Poor Laws. Perhaps Colin Reid might know.
3. Club men? Who were they and what were their powers.?

I can’t find my copy of the Census returns, but from memory a Rush was the village wheelwright and later another was the village constable.