Reading Mercury
Dated 15th June 1901
SAD DEATH OF A WOMAN IN SILVER STREET, READING.
At St Giles’ Coffee-house, Southampton-street, Reading on Tuesday morning, Mr. W. Weedon held an inquest on the body of Emma Susannah Tucker, aged 42, living apart from her husband, at 2, Martin’s-court, Silver-street, who died on Saturday evening from hemorrhage, caused by a wound in the right arm. The following evidence was taken:-
Frederick George Andrew Tucker, a builder’s labourer, living at Wharf-road, Newbury, recognized the body in the mortuary as that of his mother, who did not live with his father, but with another man. It was five years since witness had seen her.
Henry Charles Collett, a hawker, living at 2, Martin’s-court, deposed that he had lived with the deceased as his wife for nearly two years. They had always lived happily together, although she drank very much and was subject to fits, but would not see a doctor. On the previous Friday she had been drinking all day, and in the evening was very excited. Witness found her in the “Oxford Arms” public-house and took her home, as she was very violent. He locked her in their room, but he saw her subsequently getting out of the window. Witness and a neighbour helped her back, but she got out again and he did not know where she went. She however, came back at nine o’clock and began breaking the windows. Witness asked her to come indoors, but she would not, and witness went to bed. During the night she called to witness, and he found her lying in the passage. As she would not come to bed witness put a quilt over her. Between six and seven o’clock next morning witness found her still in the passage, and about ten o’clock, with assistance, he put her on the bed. It was then found that she had lost a quantity of blood from a cut on the right arm, caused, he supposed, by the glass of the window. Witness remained with her until two o’clock, and she then said she felt better. Witness left to get some watercress, and returned about nine o’clock on Sunday morning, when he found her dead. Witness had no reason to think she was ill-treated.
Mr. H. S. Little, surgeon, said he was called to the deceased about five o’clock on Saturday evening. She died almost immediately. There was a deep laceration over one of the principal arteries of the right forearm. There was no blood about the body, which appeared to have been washed recently. The black eye was superficial. Witness considered the cause of death was slow hemorrhage, caused by a wound in the forearm. Witness examined the body, but could trace no marks beyond those mentioned. The wound in the arm was just such as might have been caused by glass.
Fanny Johnson, wife of a street musician, living at 1, Martin’s-court, said she had known the deceased for about five weeks. The deceased was given to intemperate habits, but she and Collett got on very well together, and witness never saw any violence on his part. When witness assisted to put the woman to bed on Saturday morning she was not bleeding. Witness saw her again at one o’clock, and she then appeared to be dying. Witness advised medical advice, but Collett said he had not the means. Subsequently, on witness visiting her again, she appeared to be sleeping. Thereupon witness took deceased’s clothes off and found she had lost a quantity on blood. Witness went in several times during the afternoon, and about 4.50 found her on the floor. With the assistance of a neighbour the deceased was put on the bed and a doctor was sent for, who came immediately, but the woman died a few minutes after.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from “Hemorrhage caused by a self-inflicted wound on the right forearm,”
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