Sudden Deaths and Inquests from the Longtown area
From the Carlisle Journal (CJ) and Carlisle Patriot (CP) Newspapers
1835-1839
January 31st 1835 CP
On Saturday last, at Angus Well in the parish of Kirklinton, on the body of Margaret Graham, aged 33 years, who on the Saturday preceding had left the house in which she resided with her husband William Graham, at Stanwix, and was found in a field on a farm called the Horsegills, in a state of insensibility, in which state she lived until the Tuesday following.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had died from starvation and the inclemency of the weather.
February 14th 1835 CP
Inquest at Pepper Moss in the parish of Kirkandrews upon Esk on the 9th inst upon the body of Mary Foster aged 89. It appeared in evidence that on the 6th inst the clothes of the deceased caught fire, and she was so much burned on different parts of the body that she died in about nine hours afterwards.
Verdict - accidental death.
July 25th 1835 CP
Inquest at Longtown on the 17th inst on view of the body of John Scott, weaver.
Died by the visitation of God.
January 31st 1835 CP
Inquest at Longtown on Sunday last on the body of Mary Strachan aged 67 years, who was so dreadfully burned on the Friday preceding by her clothes catching fire, that she died on the following day.
Verdict - accidental death.
November 21st 1835 CP
Dreadful Case of Murder at Longtown
Inquest
The name of the deceased was James Irving, but he was more familiarly known by the somewhat vulgar appellation of “Jemmy the sweep” - his general residence was in this city, but the scene of his death was Longtown... The inquest commenced at the Globe Inn, from whence the jury proceeded to view the body of the deceased, which was lying in the vestry room. On examining the chest, they found no less than 98 perforations caused by shot in the left breast, and immediately over the region of the heart... The jury returned to the Globe Inn, and there a great number of witnesses were examined.
The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Walter Scott, a cleaner and repairer of clocks and watches, and a pensioner, that the murder was perpetrated by that person shooting deceased with a large pistol, and that James Hughes, James McKenna and Daniel Welsh (three Irishmen) were accessories.
Scott appears to be 50 years of age, is a strong muscular man, 5ft 11 in. in height.
(The name of the deceased, according to reports of the murder trial, was actually James Wright, not Irving).
January 6th 1836 CP
Mr Henry Noble of Oakbank, near Bewcastle Church, was returning from a sale of stock at Limebank, on Thursday night, in company with a neighbour, when on passing over a foot bridge over the river Line, he fell into the bed of the river upon a large root, and afterwards rolled into a deep pool. His companion succeeded in rescuing the unfortunate man from the water in the space of a minute, but he was quite dead.
Inquest verdict - accidental death.
January 16th 1836 CJ
Inquest at Parkhouse, Nicholforest, on the 10th inst. on view of the body of Elizabeth Graham, aged 2 years, the daughter of J Graham, farmer, who on the 26th ult fell into a vessel of boiling water and died of the injuries on the 8th inst.
Verdict - accidental death.
February 27th 1836 CP
An inquest was holden at Westlinton on Monday 22nd before Mr Carrick, coroner, on a child named John, son of John Cartner, husbandman, who was severely burnt on Friday last, during the absence of his mother, by reason of his clothes taking fire; the injuries were upon the throat and breast, and terminated his existence on the following night.
Verdict - accidental death.
Inquest on the following day at Grain Brow, Kirklinton, on the body of Sarah, wife of John Creighton, labourer, who was found dead in bed by a neighbour.
Verdict - died by the visitation of God.
March 5th 1836 CP
A boy aged 9, named Isaac Milburn, son of Mr Milburn of Scagg Gate, Nicholforest, lime burner, was drowned in Carwhinley Beck on Wednesday last. The child had been sent to a neighbouring shop for goods, and instead of going by the road... he took a shorter way by the fields, and in attempting to wade the water, he was drowned.
Verdict - accidentally drowned.
March 19th 1836 CP
Inquest at Inch, Kirkandrews on Esk on Friday 11th inst on view of the body of John Armstrong, a pauper, who was found dead in bed that morning.
Verdict - died by the visitation of God.
On the following day at Catlowdy, Nicholforest, on view of the body of Mary Turnbull, a very infirm old woman, who resided alone in a cottage. She was seen by her niece on Thursday evening, and at 10 o’clock the next morning, on the girl going to wait on her, she found her dead.
Verdict - natural death.
June 11th 1836 CJ
Inquest at Brampton on the body of James Hewitt, carrier, who on the previous Saturday received mortal injuries at our Canal Basin by the fall of a certain set of triangles, used for loading logs of timber upon wagons.
Verdict - accidental death. Deodand 1s
The deceased was a steady, respectable man, and has left a wife and ten children.
August 13th 1836 CP
A boy named Richard Moscrop, aged 7 years, the son of Jos. Moscrop of Hailthwaitegate, Nicholforest, was missing from his home on Friday last until Tuesday, when he was found drowned in the river Liddle, about half a mile below Penton Bridge. It is supposed he had been attempting to cross the river to join his playfellows, when he had been carried away by the stream...
Verdict - deceased was found drowned.
November 19th 1836 CP
Inquest on the 15th inst at Mewsgate in the parish of Stapleton, on the body of Thomas Scott, aged 2 years three months, the son of a labouring man named John Scott. The child, it appears, on the 13th while playing by the fireside, put his mouth to the spout of a tea kettle, and drank a quantity of boiling water therefrom. He immediately fell upon the ground and vomited the water, however it had the effect of bringing on extensive inflammation, which terminated in death within twenty hours.
February 18th 1837 CP
On the 14th inst an inquest was held at Beuts-Cottage, parish of Rockliff, on the body of David Johnstone, aged 38, who was killed by a fall from the Independent Coach on the previous night. The deceased was one of Mr Tweddle’s coach builders, and was on his return from Sanquhar in Scotland. Just after passing the metal bridge over the Esk, the deceased was getting from the hind part of the coach across the top to the box seat when he fell from the roof upon the road, the coach going at a moderate pace at the time, and the near hind wheel passing over his body, killed him on the spot.
Verdict - accidental death. Deodand - 1 s
The deceased was a steady and respectable man, and highly respected by his employers and all connected with the coaches in this district.
April 15th 1837 CJ
Inquest at Nicholforest on the 12th inst on the body of Jane Graham, the infant daughter of William Graham who was found dead on Tuesday morning.
Verdict - natural death.
April 15th 1837 CJ
Inquest at Longtown on the 13th inst on the body of Mary Ann Wilson aged 4 years, another victim to the imprudence of parents leaving their children in the house without protection from the fire.
Verdict - accidental death.
September 2nd 1837 CP
An inquest was held at Brampton on the 25th ult at Brampton Workhouse on view of the body of Mary Ann Rutherford, the illegitimate infant of an idiot, who was found dead in bed on that morning by another of the paupers. It is supposed that the child had been overlaid by its mother unintentionally.
September 2nd 1837 CP
Inquest on the 28th ult at Brampton on the body of Harriet Bowman aged 55, who had hanged herself in her dwelling room. The deceased travelled about the country selling tapes etc and was much addicted to drunkenness; she had been in a state of intoxication for the last three weeks, during which she had sold and pawned all her furniture.
September 9th 1837 CJ
Inquest at Greensike in the parish of Bewcastle on the body of John Elliot, a fine lad of 14 who met with his death under most distressing circumstances.
The deceased was passing along the highway near to a field wherein the Rev Mr Lochore had his pony grazing, at the time when the servant girl was attempting to catch it for her master. The animal had a cord about 12 yards in length attached to its neck, and this cord had been caught by the deceased, his brother and the servant, when the pony ran off at full speed. The two who escaped appear to have left hold, when the deceased was drawn off his feet and the rope coiled about his body, twisting his leg over his shoulder. In this dreadful position, he was dragged a distance of two miles... when Elliot’s companions found him they found his leg broken, his body otherwise shockingly mangled and life nearly extinct... he expired in a few hours.
Verdict - accidental death Deodand - a shilling
The deceased was a fine active youth and one of a family of ten children.
October 14th 1837 CJ
Inquest on Friday last at Tewitt’s Green, Kirklinton, on the body of Sarah Harley. The deceased was a weaver, and had on that Wednesday forenoon left home to take a dwelling at Harker; she was taken ill on her way home and died in the course of the night. It is supposed she had taken poison, but none could be detected on a post mortem examination.
Verdict - natural death.
November 18th 1837 CP
Inquest at Hindley Lane in the parish of Scaleby, on the 10th, touching the death of William Johnston, aged 4, who died from the effects of burns received five weeks ago.
December 2nd 1837 CJ
At Highhouse near Bewcastle Church, on the 30th, on the body of Isabella Nixon, aged 5 years, the daughter of a hind living at the above place. The mother had gone to a neighbour’s house a very short time previously, leaving deceased and another child in the house. By some means her clothes had taken fire. She succeeded in getting her slip pulled off, which was afterwards found on the floor, and she then ran across the fields to her mother, where she was met by a man, enveloped in flames, with the greater part of her clothes burnt... she lingered until the following day.
Verdict - accidental death.
December 30th 1837 CJ
At Leagare in Nicholforest on Wednesday night, on Mary Little, aged 54. Deceased left her home on Saturday afternoon to go to a neighbouring quarry. She was missing from that time until Tuesday morning, when she was found lying dead in a field near the quarry.
Verdict - found dead.
July 28th 1838 CP
Inquest at Longtown on view of the body of Jane, wife of Richard Sewell, labourer, who died unseen. It appeared from the evidence of the husband’s sister, who waited on the deceased, that the latter, in her dying moments, attributed her death to the kicks and blows which she had received several months ago from a neighbouring woman; in consequence of this the inquest was adjourned to the following day, in order to have the accused party produced.
August 11th 1838 CP
Inquest at Roan in the parish of Stapleton, on the 29th ult, on the body of Joseph Davidson, aged 73 years. Deceased was an indoor pauper of the Longtown Union. He had left the workhouse on the previous Thursday without the knowledge of the Master, and had gone to his sister’s at the Roan. On Friday evening, he left her to proceed to his daughter’s at Bewcastle, in a short time he was observed to return towards the house, and next morning he was found suspended from a step ladder in the barn. The unfortunate man had been in good circumstances until the last few years, and his present situation appeared to weigh heavily on his mind.
Verdict - suicide whilst labouring under insanity.
November 10th 1838 CP
Inquest at the Grahams Arms Inn, Longtown, on Monday last, on the body of a new born infant, born of the body of Ann Byers, under chamber maid with Mr Braithwaite of the above inn. The facts, as deposed to by the several witnesses, are as follows:
Ann Byers entered Mr Braithwaite’s service as under chamber maid at Whitsuntide last. Within the last month, Mrs Braithwaite suspected her of being pregnant, and having sent for the girl’s mother, charged her with it in presence of the latter. She denied that it was the case, and nothing more passed. She continued to do her work up to Saturday night, and retired to bed on that evening with two fellow servants, all of whom slept in one bed.
About three in the morning, one of the other girls was awoke by Byers who was on the floor vomiting. In a short time, she returned to bed complaining of a sore headache. About six o’clock the same girl awoke and found Byers standing on the floor, apparently very unwell. Her illness was made known to Mr Braithwaite, who immediately sent for Dr Graham, who upon his arrival ascertained that she had given birth to a child, but the girl persisted she had not. After a long search the body of the child was found dead, forced down the water closet, and underneath the valve...
The child appeared to be 6 weeks to two months before its time. The body was bruised in various parts, but with the exception of a contusion on the head, none of them were sufficient to have caused death. On a post mortem examination, it appeared to the medical men that the child was born with life, that the injury in the head was the cause of death, and that such injury might have been received by a fall at its birth without criminality on the part of the mother.
The jury returned a verdict that the child had died from the injury to the head, but whether the same was due to accident or design the evidence was not sufficient to enable them to decide. They commented in strong terms on the cruel and unnatural conduct of the mother, and expressed their hope that the officers of the parish would not allow her to escape the punishment she so richly merited...
November 17th 1838 CP
Inquest at Maxwelltown, Kirklinton, on Thomas Graham. Deceased was subject to fits, and it is supposed, during one of these attacks he fell into a deep ditch filled with water, in a field by his fathers house, where he was afterwards found by a neighbour.
Verdict - drowned while in a fit.
December 22nd 1838 CP
Inquest at Midkingfield, Nicholforest, on the 14th inst, to enquire touching the death of James Beattie, of Midkingfield, labourer. Mr Robert Johnston, a neighbour, having a quantity of timber to remove from the wood of Liddle Bank, obtained the assistance of deceased and several others for that purpose. After the termination of the day’s labours, Johnston treated them with whiskey, of which they partook, at the house of the gardener at Liddle Bank.
At nine o’clock at night, the party, six in number, took a small boat used there as a ferry, and with a lighted candle, took their frail bark a short distance about the waterfall known as the Bush of Linn. The boat had not proceeded more than 10 yards before it sank in 8 feet of water. Two persons who had accompanied the party to the river and were standing at the water’s edge, stated that they observed the candle sink gradually under the water, and then become extinguished, leaving all enveloped in perfect darkness; at the same time, the cries of distress sounded in their ears...
(Five of the party, described as tenants of Hirst Head: Robert Jackson, Thomas Jackson, Archibald Little, Christopher Little and John Baxter were saved, although John Baxter was unconscious for several hours after the accident. John Beattie was drowned.)
The deceased was a warm-hearted man, and without doubt his death is owing to his intrepidity and anxiety to save the lives of his companions. He has left a wife unprovided for.
Verdict - accidental death.
A subscription for the benefit of the widow was set up and liberally supported by the jury and coroner.
September 21st 1839 CP
A fatal accident happened at Todhills, near the Metal Bridge on the road to Gretna, on Saturday evening last, to a boy named Thomas Shickleshaft, aged 9 years, who was killed by Lord Eglinton’s carriage... the deceased was the son of a weaver, living at Todhills near the 6th mile stone from Carlisle on the Annan road. On the afternoon in question, he caught hold of the Mail going north, and after running with it for a short distance, quitted his hold. Lord Eglinton’s carriage and four was coming in the opposite direction... he ran directly in front of the leaders: before the post boys could hold up, one of the wheelers struck the child on the back part of his head with one of its fore feet and fractured the base of his skull... Lord Eglinton stepped from his carriage and appeared deeply concerned. He wished to send for a medical man, but on learning that one could be had from Carlisle with the least delay, he presented the mother with £5 and hastened to Carlisle to procure medical advice... Dr Anderson went immediately but to no avail.
Verdict - accidental death Deodand 1s on the horse.
October 5th 1839 CP
Wife Poisoned by Husband
An inquiry of a very serious nature has occupied the attention of Mr Carrick, coroner, during the greater part of the week at Ullermire, Kirklinton, which has terminated in committal of John Graham, carter and dealer in meal, to the gaol at Carlisle, for the wilful murder of his wife Jane Graham... Graham and his wife had been married about 10 months, during which they resided at the small village of Ullermire, where he kept a shop for the sale of meal and flour and deceased taught a school. She was pregnant and near her confinement. On Monday week, she was slightly indisposed with symptoms of approaching labour.
According to the husband’s statement, she had on several occasions pressed him to bring her some medicine from Carlisle, and that he had always forgotten to do so until the last named day, when he purchased one penny worth of cream of tartar, and another of magnesia, from Mr Harrison, druggist in Scotch Street, which he brought home, and gave to her; that she gave him some of it in warm milk, and mixed another part with treacle for herself. She took part of it, and they both partook of more next morning at breakfast time, immediately after which he left home. It appears that within an hour after breakfast, deceased was seized with violent and frequent vomiting, puring, and pains in her chest, with other symptoms of having taken poison, which continued without remission till about 8 o’clock the same evening, when she died...
Arrangements were made by Graham to have her buried on Tuesday, but Mr Patrickson, one of the magistrates, having learnt that rumours were afloat that she had died under very suspicious circumstances, caused the parish officers to give notice to the coroner...
(A post mortem was carried out and showed a large amount of arsenic in the stomach, enough to kill 6 persons. An inquest was held, and the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against John Graham).
The deceased was a most respectable woman, and had upwards of £100 in money when she married.
(In the trial at the Assizes in 1840, John Graham was found not guilty of murder; all the evidence against him being circumstantial).
