Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 19 Mar 1902
Page 6 Column 4
PITMINSTER.
SAD DEATH OF AN AGED RESIDENT. - An inquest was held at the Winchester Arms Inn on Monday morning, by Mr. T. Foster BARHAM, coroner for West Somerset, touching the death of Maria PARKHOUSE, aged 92 years, of Eastbrook. Pitminster, who died at her residence on Friday, the 14th March, from the effects of drinking some ammonia. - Mr. R. J. DOBLE was chosen foreman of the jury, and P.C. GUPPY as Coroner's officer. - Elizabeth PARKHOUSE, wife of John PARKHOUSE, gave evidence of identification, and said that deceased was at her house on Thursday, March 13th, helping her with some laundry work. Witness had gone indoors to prepare the dinner when she heard screams from the deceased. She went into the wash-house and saw her with her mouth open. Witness asked her what was the matter, but she continued screaming and did not reply. Witness then took her into the kitchen, and deceased asked for water. This witness gave her, and in reply to her again asking her what she had done, she said she had drank some of the water out of the bottle on the table. The bottle was now produced by P.C. GUPPY. Continuing, witness said that the bottle contained ammonia, and was always kept on the table. They used it for washing flannels. They never kept spirits in the house, and there was no reason for her thinking it was gin, as was supposed. She made deceased a cup of tea, and at six o'clock she was able to walk back to her home. Dr. CODNER was sent for the same evening, and notwithstanding his services, she died at one p.m. the following day. - Dr. John CODNER, of Corfe, gave evidence that he was called about 9.30 p.m. on the 13th inst., and arrived at the house of deceased about 10 o'clock. He found her in great pain, and she was very pale, had great difficulty in swallowing, and everything she took was brought back. After taking castor oil she vomited blood. Afterwards she managed to swallow a small portion of an antidote, but it was too late to have any effect. He saw her again on Friday at 12 noon, and she was then dying, the extremities being cold. He made a post-mortem examination on Saturday, and found that the mucous membrane of the gullet was softened and peeling off in places, and the lining membrane showed marks of corrosion. The stomach was empty. Death was due to inflammation of the throat and stomach. He had had the bottle (produced) handed to him and found it contained a strong solution of ammonia, which would have caused the inflammation described. - The jury returned a verdict of death from misadventure. The Coroner and some of the jury afterwards inhaled from the bottle, and it was plainly evident by their sensations that the contents were pretty strong.
<NOTES: Maria PARKHOUSE is Maria BINDON or BENDING probably daughter of Joseph BINDON or BENDING and Ann WILKINS, married Isaac PARKHOUSE
Elizabeth PARKHOUSE is Elizabeth DYER, spouse of John PARKHOUSE>