INQUESI AT WEST OXFORD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 3

INQUEST AT WEST OXFORD.

On Monday an inquest was lield touching the death ef Mrs Elizabeth Curran, wife of the licensee of the Commercial Hotel, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., and a jury, of whom Mr W. Munn was foreman. J. Curran, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, said the deceased, his wife, was fond of drink for seventeen years, and was in the habit of drinking to excess occasionally. In the ks£ five weeks she had been drinking incessantly, and used to take it upstairs with her. Witness had had to call in Dr. Volckman, who said that if she took, any more drink it would, be fatal. Witness got some castor oil for her, and gave it in coffee. When he went to the storeroom for the oil deceased was sober, and when he returned she was stupidly drunk. He did not wish to allow her liquor, and instructed every one about to keep her from the bar. Deceased was ■weak on Saturday, and got up at 4 p.m., and entered the bar. but witness turned her out, and she went into the kitchen stupidly drunk. He left her there, after trying "to get her upstairs. He left her on the floor, as she asked to have a spell. Two lioura after he leturned to the kitclkd. and fuuud her still lying on the floor on her side. At 8.45 p.m. he tried to get her to bed and left her. At 9.45 the servant went in and found her dead. Witness was playing billiaids at the time, but was summoned at once. On Saturday lie had missed liquor from the bar. Witness did not. drink to excels.

W. Curran, fourteen years, said hie mother had been drinking heavily since December 23rd. Witness had to attend to the bar, and was sometimes in ehargp ail day. 'He tried to stop his mother from coming in, but she used to help herself. On Saturday evening he saw her drink a targe tumbler-full of whiskey, and did not see her again till she was dead.

Nellie Curran, thirteen yeais, said her mother had been drinking heavily for two weeks, and got drunk, and did n-ot do much Ikuus work. On Saturday deceased was in bid part of the day. She came downstairs at 6 p.m., and seemed all right. About ssven o"ck>ck she was very drunk, and sitting in the kitchen. Witness saw her father lay her down on the floor after he found that she was too heavy to take upstairs. She was on the bare floor, without any pillow or anything. Witness left the kitchen at 8 p.m., and deceased was lying on the floor then, behind the door, and* she saw no more of her. Witness had been kept in charge of the bar for a day at a time, when Eer father would be away in town. Nellie Stewart, servant, gave similar evidence, saying that at 11 a*m. on Saturday deceased was under the. influence of liquor, and went to bed. She came down at 6 p.m., and by seven o'clock ivas very much the worse of liquor. .ur Curran tried to gjt> her upstairs, and then lakl her on the tioor. Witness went oat, and returning at 10 p.m. could nut open tie kitchen door, so sent a boy in, and they found deceased lying face downwards, dead. Witness had not placed anything under deceased's head, being too much disgusted.

Dr. It. Volckmaii said he was called on January sth, and found deceased on the vorge of, delirium tremens, ordered her to be sent a sleeping draught, and told her husband to ke».-p a watch on her. and give nourijshing food. Told him on no account to allow her to get any liquor. Site was much improved next day, and witness gave her strong advice as to her habit?. He ha*i made a post mortem examination, and d.-scribed the condition of the respective organs, and reserved the stomach for further examination if necessary. Deceased died from failure of the heart from alcolohic poisoning. "Leaving d-.-ceased in a «tate of helpless drunkenness without attention was alone liable to cause death.' . The Coroner commented in strong terms on the whole, of the circumstances. The causa of death was clear. The verdict was thac deceased died from jlhAJui nnmlima owtt thit JUIV. addftd ft

:ii".er thnt the husband of the deceased showed givat indigence in leaving his wife lying on tlw nV>r in the J-taU- of health she u-as in ihqn-htssly drunk), and not ufiing sufficient precautions to prevent her obtaining drink. The Coroner, addressing Mr Curran, referred in .scathing terms to the inhuman ay of a man playing billiards while his wife was dying, and reminded him that it would .so#m an impossible tiling for the Licensing Committee to continue Ins license. Notice would also have to ba taken of the "girl under thirteen years being allowed to attend to the b;tr. He quite endorsed the verdict of the jury.