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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Somerset => Topic started by: Richard Swaffield on Tuesday 22 December 09 13:20 GMT (UK)

Title: North Somerset Coroners Reports
Post by: Richard Swaffield on Tuesday 22 December 09 13:20 GMT (UK)

Hi
A death cert for my grt grt uncle, Henry John Swaffield, states that his death was caused by the 'discharging of a loaded pistol to the left chest during a period of temporary insanity'. The coroner, Samuel Craddock, recorded a verdict of suicide. I'd
like to find out more info about this - would they're be any coroners reports or local paper articles that may help? The distrct was long Ashton, inquest date 14-04/1890.
Regards
Richard

Title: Re: North Somerset Coroners Reports
Post by: Redroger on Tuesday 22 December 09 13:32 GMT (UK)

In my experience there will certainly be newspaper reports of both the death, and of the inquest which will be extremely graphic. Coroners' reports are closed for 75 years after the event, but though that clearly would not apply, few of them survive.

Title: Re: North Somerset Coroners Reports
Post by: Richard Swaffield on Wednesday 23 December 09 09:56 GMT (UK)

Hi,
Did a search for newspaper archives and came up with this site: http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs
I did a search, found the reference, paid my 6.99 and got the newspaper article! Fantastic! £6.99 gets you 24hrs  and access to up to 100 articles.
It answered all my questions and more.

Regards
Richard

Title: Re: North Somerset Coroners Reports
Post by: Redroger on Wednesday 23 December 09 12:49 GMT (UK)

Well done Richard, any further assistance needed happy to provide, but if I can't no doubt on this site there is someone who can.