Ambleside Herald & Lakes News Issue #101 24 February 1882 Page 4 Death of WILLIAM STEWARDSON Found Dead at Bowness An inquest was held at Stag's Head Hotel, Bowness on Friday afternoon last, before C.G. THOMSON, Esq., and jury, whereof Mr. J. METCALF was foreman, on the body of WILLIAM STEWARDSON, a gardener who had been found dead in bed at his lodgings that morning. SARAH NELSON of Grasmere, a widow said: Deceased, WILLIAM STEWARDSON, was my nephew. He was 47 years of age, and a gardener by trade; but has been ill for the last four or five years and for some time has not been able to follow his employment. Until recently he and his father lived together. The father, who died on the first of February, was of very penurious habits and would not procure the necessaries of life, although he had money. Since his death the deceased had an allowance of 3s 6d from the club. The property remaining is to be divided amongst three - myself and two others. When I was sent for and came down here, he was not in bed but I found him in his room along with Mrs. Barker, where he was lodging. He seemed nicely and did not make any particular complaint; but he had said that he would not be long here. He has been very much troubled with sleepless nights since his father died, and has been taking liquor as well as medicine supplied by the doctor. I gave him some medicine according to the doctor's orders from the bottle now produced. Deceased said he was used to taking five spoonfuls of the medicined for a dose. On leaving for the night, I told the young boy not to let anyone in; and when I came this morning the shutters were down and Hadwin had not come down, but afterwards we went together into deceased's room and found him dead. He said last night that he would not live long but did not complain of neglect in any way, or the want of anything. Coroner: I think when deceased and his father lived they often wanted for the necessaries of life on account of their carefulness. It was about twenty minutes past eight when we found deceased. HENRY BARKER, of Bowness, 15 years of age said he resided with his mother. Deceased had lived with them for about a fortnight, and had been ailing during the whole time. He appeared to be seized for the worse only yesterday or the day before, and though he did not complain of anything particularly, he sent for DR. DOBSON, and the assistant came. I gave him some medicine, but he was not satisfied with the quantity and measured about five spoonfuls for himself. THOMAS DOBSON, MD deposed - I have attended the deceased more or less for the past 20 years; during the past five or six years have been frequently and during that time he has not been able to work. He was suffering from sleeplessness and general debility, which more recently turned to bronchitis. I prescribed the medicine to him, which consists of tincture opium and bromide of potassium. Two spoonfuls is a proper dose, and he had instructions as to quantity; but he has been used to taking the same kind of mixture for so many years that double the quantity that would prove fatal ordinarily would not affect him. I have, however, ordered deceased recently that he was not to take more than the proper quantity; and I also gave a similar caution to MRS. BARKER, his landlady. . The Coroner having noticed there were no directions on the bottle, witness replied that he had not considered it material as deceased well knew how much to take; and as he had been used to it for some years even a double dose, or more, would not cause any serious or fatal effects on deceased; in fact, he could take it (the mixture) the same as water. Although the dose given by MRS. NELSON was a large one, it was not the cause of death in this case, and he did not think it was sufficient to do so. The actual cause of death was owing to continuous bad living over a lengthened period, but not particularly towards the last - not having sufficient food. Deceased had also been in the habit of taking a great deal of alcoholic stimulants since his father's death, and not sufficient nutritious food. What he had would be principally tea etc. Coroner: What is your opinion as to the actual cause of death? Witness: I would say the cause of death was a failure of the proper action of the heart, and a dose of that stuff would accelerate it. Coroner: Do you think a post mortem examination would assist you in arriving at a more definite conclusion? Witness: I don't think so; but if you consider it necessary I can make a post mortem examination at once. The Jury, in reply to the Coroner, said they did not think such an examination at all necessary after the remarks of DR. DOBSON and in this view the Coroner said he concurred. He did not think there was any difficulty in the way of finding a verdict; still he considered it a rather peculiar case and such a one as it was proper to inquire into. A verdict was then entered according to the evidence. David Leverton Leverton, Stevens, Clibborn, Dodgson, Hird, Stalker ulpha@telus.net