From the Dover Telegraph, 14 Oct 1837.

Inquest at Half Moon, Mount Pleasant:

BLANCHARD, Isaac, 78 yrs (Military Pensioner, original American War): Found dying; verdict: Natural death.

(Mount Pleasant was situated between Cowgate Hill and Military Road.)

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 20 February, 1841. Price 5d.

DEATH FROM SUFFOCATION

Yesterday afternoon, an inquest was held at the "Half Moon," public house, before G. T. Thompson, Esq. coroner, and a jury of twelve persons to enquire into the cause of death of Thomas James Ashcroft, aged 6 months.

Mary Bennett, widow, said, I liver at No. 5 Bowling-green-lane, and the parents of the children occupy a front room on the first stair. I left my home about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, and did not return till the afternoon, when I was called by Miss Friend, who said that the house was on fire. I immediately ran home and went into Ashcroft's room, which, on opening the door, I perceived was full of smoke. I called the children twice, well knowing that they were in the room, but obtained no answer. I then ran to the well for some water, and on my return, fund that two children had been brought out of the room. The baby was quite dead, but the other child, who is about 5 years old, after a short time recovered.

George Meredith deposed as follows: I am a labourer, residing at Lowe-road, Mount Pleasant. Yesterday afternoon, about three o'clock, I was going up the hill with a quantity of rubbish, some woman cried fire! I ran to see where it was, and on getting to Mrs. Bennett's house, I saw the flames of fire coming out of the top window. I then took a pail of water and was going up stairs, when I saw a man engaged in throwing some burnt chairs down stairs. The flooring was being consumed, but I succeeded in putting out the fire by throwing water upon it. There was a large quantity of linen in a heap burning near the window. The smoke was so dense that I was almost suffocated. I then saw a child's foot sticking out from under a bed quilt, and upon uncovering it, I perceived that it was a child, about 5 years old, on its back. I immediately picked it up, and carried it down stairs, and on being told that there was another child in the room, I again went up, when I saw the child was on its face on the floor, by the side of a cradle which had been upset. The child lay about 18 inches from where the floor was burnt, and was apparently quite dead. One arm was a little scorched, but none of its clothes were burnt.

Thomas Hayward, carrier - Yesterday afternoon, on being called by Mrs. Bennett, I ran up stairs and discovered that Ashcroft's room was on fire. Near the window was a bundle of linen and a chair, on fire. The window frame was also in flames. The room was full of smoke, and I could see nothing but the flames. I went to the well to draw some water, and on my return I observed that the children had been brought out of the room. The grate in the room was cool, and there could have been no fire in it for some time previously.

Mr. G. E. Rutley, surgeon, said - Yesterday about half past four I was sent for to see two children, who, I was told, were very much burnt. On my arrival, I found the younger quite dead; but I did not observe any external marks of injury, excepting about the face. The child was put into a warm bath, but it was of no service. The other child was recovering rapidly at that time. I believe the cause of death arose from suffocation by smoke.

Thomas Ashcroft, labourer, the father of the child, on being examined said - I occupy a room in Mrs. Bennett's house. About half-past two o'clock yesterday, I left the room my two children being in it. The younger was asleep in the cradle, the other was sitting in a chair, close by him. I did not return till about half-past four, when I found that the room had caught fire. When I went out at about half-past two, there was a very small fire in the grate, but it was nearly out. I had not been smoking, and as the children are not in the habit of playing with fire, I considered that every thing was safe. I am out and in generally several times in the course of a day. My wife is generally out all day, and yesterday left home early. I cannot account how or in what manner the fire originated, unless it be that a spark had flown from the grate to the clothes under the window.

Jane Friend deposed, that she lodged in the front room on the ground floor, at Mrs. Bennett's. Yesterday afternoon, a little after three, she went to the well to get some water, and on her return she observed two pieces of rags, burning in the road, just under the window. She, at first, thought her chimney was alight, and took a brush and knocked in a cupboard adjoining the chimney, on which some smoke came out from under the paper with which the wall was covered. She immediately ran to Mrs. Bennett, who was at work at a house just below and informed her of the circumstance. On returning to the house, she saw the flames issuing from Ashcroft's window. She had not previously smelt fire, and did not hear the children make any noise whatever. The rags which lay on the road appeared as though they had been used to fill the holes where some panes of glass had been broken out.

Susannah Bennett, on being sworn said - Yesterday afternoon, just after Mr. Ashcroft went out of the house, I heard the children cry. I went up and asked the elder what was the matter? and he said he could not get his brother to sleep. I told him not to mind, but to rock the cradle. There was a little fire indeed in the grate; scarcely reaching above the first bar. Everything appeared quite safe; and I went down stairs and left the house. I did not return till after the fire had taken place.

Ashcroft on being re-called, said that two panes of glass were broken in the window, but they were not stopped with anything when he went out, but there was a cotton blind hanging on one side of it.

The Coroner then briefly summed up the evidence, when the jury returned a verdict, "Thus the deceased came by his death from suffocation by smoke, but how or in what manner the fire originated, there was no sufficient evidence."

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 8 March, 1845. Price 5d.

CORONERS INQUEST

On Monday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, a Coroner's inquest was held at the "Half Moon," Mount Pleasant, before G. T. Thomson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of Thomas Rogers, a pensioner in the Rifle Brigade, aged 57. - The jury being sworn, proceeded to view the body, when the following evidence was adduced:-

Edward Jones, surgeon, deposed, on Saturday night, at 12 o'clock, I was called upon to attend deceased, and found him suffering from rattles in his throat, with pulse scarcely perceptible. He was partially sensible. I asked him if he was in pain; but his answer was very indistinct, and I understood him he wanted to sleep. He appeared gasping for breath. I tried to get a little brandy down his throat, but I could not succeed. I remained with him nearly an hour, endeavouring to rouse the system, but not succeeding, went away, and sent him some medicine. On going at 7 o'clock on the following morning, he was dead. - I enquired if he had been ill, and I was told, (I think by one of his daughters), he had been ailing more than a week, and had taken no solid food during that period. He took only a little tea and coffee; some gruel had been made for him, but he could not take it. He had had no sleep since Monday, although he got up every day, and had been on the Heights the day he died between 3 and 4 o'clock. I enquired why they had not sent for a medical man; and they said they did not think there was any occasion. I cannot tell the cause of death. The only symptom of disease I could discover was the rattle in the throat, which might probably proceed from an accumulation of blood or phlegm.

Ann Rogers, daughter of deceased, deposed - My father had complained of a cold for about a week, but had been to the Heights every day to light the lamps. On Saturday when he went up as usual; but Mr. Marshall would not let him light the lamps, as he appeared too ill, and he sent him home. He was obliged to sit down on the bank and was led home, he did not complain of pain, and only coughed. He took nothing but a little bit of toast and some tea. He said that he had had no sleep all week. My mother wanted to send for a surgeon, on Wednesday and Thursday, but he said he did not want one, and should get better. He died about half-past 7 o'clock on Sunday morning. He has left a widow and nine children. I wished to send for the Rev. Mr. Bates, on Saturday, but he said there was no occasion, as he was not going to die.

Margaret Rogers, widow of deceased, was next called, and, after corroborating the above evidence, deposed -  that the deceased had suffered greatly from a cough and spitting during the week, but which left him on Saturday morning. In the afternoon, he went to the Heights, as usual, with two of his little boys, but Mr. Marshall said he was too ill, and Mrs. Marshall made him some hot elder wine. He then returned home, as far as the Mess-House, when he sat down on the bank, and said to one of the boys to fetch his daughter to help him home. When he came in, he complained of no pain, but said his legs were very weak. He went to bed, and about 11 o'clock he was taken with the rattle in his throat, and I sent for Mrs. Jones. He has always been a healthy man. He was servant to Capt. Frampton, when in the Rifle Brigade.

Mr. Jones being re-called, said - if inflammation had existed - the sudden ceasing of the cough might have caused death; and the Jury returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes."