Deaths and Inquests May 1859
Liverpool Mercury, May 6th, 1859
Coroners Court
Inquests held on Wednesday by Mr CURRY, Coroner
On the body of Robert GOLDSMITH, a joiner, aged 50, employed by Messers HOLME and NICHOL, builders and on Tuesday was employed at CROSSFIELDS sugar house, Athol St, he was ascending a ladder, it turned around and he fell to the ground a distance of 18 ft, he died soon afterwards in the Northern Hospital from his injuries. Accidental death recorded
On the body of John the son of Thomas SOLEY who has a coalyard in Addison Street the deceased was 19, and as he was scotching the wheel of a drag in the yard on Tuesday, he was crushed between the vehicle and the wall, and killed on the spot. Accidental death recorded
On the body of Mary SWEENEY aged 29, who had been a servant in a brothel in Glover St. It was stated some months ago a young man had promised her marriage but had deserted her. This preyed upon her mind and she wandered about day and night like an idiot, her body was found on Tuesday in the water at the Brunswick Dock. Verdict, found drowned.
On the body of a man unknown who died in the Southern Hospital. On Tuesday morning he was found by PC NAYLOR, lying drunk on some steps in Henderson St, insensible and bleeding from the eyes. Post mortem showed death was due to a fractured skull. How it was caused there was no evidence to show.
-------------
A HUMAN BODY EATEN BY CATS
Considerable sensation was caused on Monday last at Great Crosby, in consequence of the body of an old woman being found under peculiar circumstances. The name of the deceased was Frances HODGSON, supposed to be about 80 and resided alone in a small cottage at Great Crosby. She was comparatively a stranger, not having resided very long in the village and had seldom left her own habitation.
On Monday morning a neighbour whose house overlooked that of the deceased was looking through her window when she saw an inner door standing open. The deceased was lying on the floor of the kitchen, and as she did not move suspicion was raised that something had occurred. The supposition received confirmation from the fact that the deceased had not been seen for several days.
The attention of the police was immediately called to the matter and several of them proceeded to the place. They were accompanied by a medical man. One of the police officers scaled the back wall and gained access to the house, after which the remainder of the party entered.
The body of the old woman was found lying on the kitchen floor by the door, and presented a horrifying spectacle. A considerable portion of the face had been eaten away, several of her fingers gnawed or torn off, and her eyes picked out, other parts of the body were also mutilated in a similar manner. The ring finger with the ring still on it was lying near the coals in the back yard.
Two large cats and a kitten, known to belong to the deceased, were in the house, also a number of fowls. It is supposed that the cats simulated by the cravings of hunger, had eaten parts of the body and the fowls from a similar cause picked out the eyes. When the officers entered the kitten previously alluded to was sitting on the deceased’s shoulder. The cats made their escape.
From examination of the body by the surgeon he was of the opinion the woman had died from natural causes and had been dead for about a week. She had not been seen for about a fortnight, but this circumstance led to no great attention as she led a secluded life very little was known respecting her.
The house was put in charge of the police and inquires made to find her relatives, an envelope found in the house directed William GIBBS, High Wycombe it was inferred this might be a relative or friend, he had been written to by the Superintendent of Police Mr SELLERS,
---------
An inquest at the Ship Inn, Great Crosby, death resulted from natural causes, and verdict returned to that effect.
Liverpool Mercury, May 6th, 1859
Coroners Court
An inquest was held on Tuesday on the body of Patrick CARDEN, a labourer of Simpson St, who on Monday was killed by being crushed between two boilers on board the ship Henckindorff, in the Kings Dock “Accidental Death “ recorded
An inquest was held on the body of William HARDMAN aged two and a half, son of Joseph HARDMAN, a labourer of Beau Street, who on Saturday night pulled a cup of boiling tea over himself, he died on Monday from his injuries. “Accidental Death “ recorded.
Liverpool Mercury, May 6th, 1859
Coroners Court
Inquests held on Wednesday by Mr CURRY, Coroner
Suspicious death
On Wednesday an inquiry was held by Mr CURRY, coroner, respecting the death of an old lady named Elizabeth CLARKSON, whose death it had been rumoured had been caused by the violence of her own daughter named Jane KELLY. The deceased was 76 years of age and resided in Howarth St, West Derby Road.
She appears to be a woman of independent means, as she allowed the woman KELLY, an income of 6s per week as well as free occupation of a house belonging to her.
Though the medical evidence proved that death was due to natural causes, there were several circumstances tending to give a colour to the reports that she had not met her death by fair means as may be seen by the epitome of the evidence subjoined.
KELLY is a woman of intemperate habits and violent passions, had been brought before the magistrates and fined for brutally assaulting her aged parent, and the day preceding her death had been heard to utter violent threats against her, another fact greatly calculated to excite suspicion was the knowledge that KELLY was entitled to inherit property in Wales at her mothers death, and that as soon as she found the old lady was dead, she carried off the deeds relating to the property, together with a quantity of plate.
She was alone too with her mother in the house at the time she died, in a state of drunkenness and having used violent and disgraceful language towards on the earlier part of the night.
The whole of these things as well as her frequent ill-treatment of the deceased were well known to the neighbours and gave rise to the rumours referred to.
First witness called,
Mary Jane BRUCE, who said Jane KELLY was her mother, and on Monday evening the latter went to see the deceased. Her mother never went to bed without three glasses of rum or whiskey, witness had frequently helped her to bed when tipsy. The deceased and her mother frequently had words, and she recollected her mother putting a tub on the head of her grandmother, when a policeman was sent for and she was taken before the magistrates and fined.
Mrs ABRAHAMS a neighbour spoke to seeing KELLY go to her mothers house drunk on Monday night saying, I will give her the d------- to eat in the morning.
Letitia JONES who lives with Mrs CLARKSON, stated that the deceased was her grand-aunt
and was a sober woman. On Monday night she took her to the Zoological Gardens, and when they returned they met KELLY, who went home with them and said to her mother, You old d----, the money you have spent in going to the gardens you ought to have given me. Before I go home I must have a pint of ale and a glass of rum. To endeavour to keep her quiet ale was given to her, but she became very violent and grossly abused her mother, telling her she had robbed her, and she would then give her the d-----. Witness went to bed leaving the deceased and KELLY in the kitchen, and after she was upstairs she heard KELLY calling the deceased bad names. Some time after the deceased came up and said to the witness, I will not sleep with that bad woman, for I think I shall not die a natural death with her. Deceased left the room and witness saw no more of her until Tuesday morning when KELLY came into her room and said Mrs CLARKSON was dead, and asked witness for the deceased’s pocket. She took it from under the pillow of the bed, took the money it contained, key and watch, and then opened the deceased’s box and took away the deeds of some property and a number of silver spoons. The body of the deceased was found in the kitchen on Tuesday morning.
Mr John Henry WILSON, surgeon stated he had made a post mortem examination on the body of the deceased and was of the opinion death was due to serous apoplexy, the Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence at the same time saying that the conduct of KELLY towards her mother was most unnatural.
The Coroner addressing KELLY, who did not betray the slightest emotion agreed with the opinion expressed by the jury, her conduct to her aged parent was unnatural and disgraceful, and she would have to answer for all the cruelty she had exercised towards the poor old woman, who ought to have received the kindest treatment at her hands.
Liverpool Mercury, May 6th, 1859
Coroners Court
Inquests held on Wednesday by Mr CURRY, Coroner
Horrible death
An inquest was held on Tuesday on the body of Rose McKONE, aged 90 and old woman who had been paralysed for the last two years and unable to walk without assistance. Between 2 and 3pm on Monday she was left sitting in her armchair, in a room where she lodged at 33 Banastre Street. A short time afterwards a woman who lived in the same house went into her room and found her with her elbows resting in the fire, her head upon her hand and her side pressing against the bars, which had burnt through her clothing and flesh. The woman who first saw the deceased ran out into the street and fainted. Others went up and taking the deceased from the fire found her dead, her body in several places frightfully burned. Accidental death returned.
MAIN PAGE
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved