Earl Grey 1920s

Folkestone Herald 24-4-1920

Inquest

An inquest was held yesterday on John Attwood Morford, aged 60, a journeyman butcher, of 31 Foord Road. It was stated whilst in the Earl Grey public house, High Street, after a fit of sneezing, he was taken ill. He was assisted to his home, where he died during the night. Dr. W.C.P. Barrett stated that the cause of death was haemorrhage of the brain. The Coroner entered a verdict of “Death from natural causes”.

Folkestone Express 1-5-1920

Inquest

On Friday afternoon the Borough Coroner held an inquest at the Town Hall into the circumstances attending the death of John Attwood Morford, of 31, Foord Road.

Mr. E.J. Chadwick, the Coroner`s Officer, said that on Thursday he went to 31, Foord Road, and saw the dead body of a man, who was identified in his presence by his wife as that of John Attwood Morford, a journeyman butcher, aged 60 years.

Mrs. Morford, 31, Foord Road, said the deceased was her husband. On Wednesday evening last he heft home about seven o`clock, apparently quite well. He had said at times that he thought his heart was not quite right, but he had not had a doctor for five years. Deceased returned home about 9.15, and was assisted home by three men. One of the men said her husband was ill, but she was not to be alarmed, and they thought he had had a stroke. He could not walk by himself. Her husband was conscious for about half an hour, and remarked that he had had a violent fit of sneezing, and had dropped his handkerchief, and in picking it up he fell and hurt his head, pointing to the right temple. She made deceased comfortable downstairs on a sofa, and about ten o`clock went for a doctor. Subsequently, Dr. Barrett`s son called at the house, but her husband was unconscious. The doctor said her husband might be suffering from alcohol, and that he thought deceased would be all right in the morning. She did not think deceased was suffering from alcohol. Witness remained with him until 2.30, when he suddenly collapsed, and she felt he was dead.

Mrs. Amy Scrivens, wife of the licensee of the Earl Grey, High Street, said she had known the deceased as a customer for the past few months. On Wednesday evening last deceased went into the public bar between seven and eight o`clock. She was attending to the customers, and there were several other people in the bar. Deceased was joking and laughing with other customers, and was perfectly sober. He had a fit of sneezing while he was standing up, and she told him she thought he had a cold coming on, and that he had better go home. Deceased said he would be all right, and when he started to move he almost fell. Witness caught hold of his arm, and asked two customers to take him home, and they did so. Deceased went funny in his speech, and the mouth was drawn up on one side. She thought he had had a stroke. Deceased made several attempts to pick up something. He had only had one pint, but had ordered another without touching it. Deceased did not strike his head while in the bar.

Mr. George Reil Scrivens, the licensee of the Earl Grey, said that on Wednesday evening he was called from his back room into the bar by his wife, saying “Come and see poor old Jack, he has got  fit”. He went in and saw deceased being held up by two other men. He appeared to be affected on one side, but said there was nothing the matter with him. He had to persuade deceased to go home. Witness thought deceased had had a stroke.

Mr. W.H. Foster, 69, Black Bull Road, tailor, also gave evidence, and said he assisted a man named Lewis to take deceased home. Deceased did not fall over when going home. In his opinion he had had a seizure.

Mr. J. Bowman, of 4, St. Michael`s Street, hotel porter, said he spoke to the deceased in the bar, and he was quite sober.

Dr. W.C.P. Barrett said that on Wednesday evening, about eleven o`clock, he went to 31, Foord Road, and on arrival he saw a man unconscious lying on a sofa in a room downstairs. He examined him, and his breathing was heavy but all right. There was no sign of paralysis. He came to the conclusion that he was suffering from alcohol. He expected to find deceased would be all right in the morning. He had since made a post mortem examination. There were no external marks. He found extensive haemorrhage in the spaces in the brain. The heart was normal, but fatty and very flabby.

The Coroner: Did the post mortem disclose any evidence of recent drinking?

Witness: No.

Do you think your diagnosis was right? – No, sir, it was wrong.

Dr. Barrett said that in his opinion death arose from the breaking of some blood vessel in the head, which might have been caused by violently sneezing or stooping down.

The Coroner returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes”. There was no evidence that the deceased was in drink, or in the habit of excessive drinking.