An inquest at The Peacock Inn

130 Years Ago
Sussex Express
17 February 1894

FLETCHING

INQUEST
An inquiry was held the Peacock Inn, Shortbndge, near Fletching, on Tuesday, by Mr. E. Bedford,.deputy-coroner, touching the death of Joseph Sims.

George Fleet, blacksmith, identified the body that of Sims, who was a whip-maker and herbalist. He did not know deceased’s age, but had heard him say he was 75.

Deceased had had a bad cold previous to the 11th inst. Witness saw deceased on the 9th,. when he said he was very poorly.

Mrs. Jane Camfield, landlady of the Peacock Inn, said she advised deceased to have a doctor,. but he always declined.

About 10 a.m. on the 11th int. she went into the deceased’s house, and found him lying dead on his bed. Mr Graveley was called, and pronounced life extinct.

Mr. Harry Graveley, surgeon, practising at Fletching, said he was called on the 12th inst. to make a post mortem examination on deceased. Witness found the heart healthy, but there were signs of fatty degeneration. The lungs showed extensive pneumonia and pleurisy. The other-organs were healthy. The cause of death wassyncope, owing to pneumonia.

Jana Camfield (recalled) said deceased lived next door to her, and practised as an herbalist He never would have a doctor, though suffering from a severe cold. Deceased came into her house on Saturday mid-day, and bought a pint of beer, saving if he did not get better he would have a doctor.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”