Sad Death

[Pandabean]

I have been in contact with the Kirkcaldy Library and they found a press cutting of my great great grandfather's death in 1922.

I have uploaded the word document to the gallery.

http://www.talkingscot.com/gallery/disp ... p?pos=-709

[StewL]

A sad death indeed, and the sadness that he appeared to have lain there a while too

[DavidWW]

Hi Pandabean

Thanks for sharing that with us.

A very neat example of the info that can most often be found in a local newpaper in such a situation, sometimes even in a newspaper covering a wider area, or even one the "nationals" in Edinburgh or Glasgow, as the latter often picked up on such local snippets.

Also a very neat example of what can turn up through contact with local libraries and archives.

David

[scooter]

Hi Pandabean,

I was scanning through copies of the Fife Free Press the other week in Colindale and found them astonishingly interesting. I was looking for further details of my G G Grandfather's bankruptcy and came away with a wealth of information that I wouldn't have garnered anywhere else.

I was particularly tickled by a section dealing with neighbours disputes and imagined how good they'd be to flesh out names on a family tree, particularly when colourful character descriptions were given.

The local news sections are a good read too. My favourite story dealt with several men who rolled out of a drinking establishment in Gallatown and pretended to be goats, to the extent that they ended up stealing one from a back yard and tried to sell it to a passing stranger.

I also found the death notices useful, where the place of death on a certificate just gave the address as 'Abbotshall', the newspaper gave an actual place of abode.

Best,

Scott

[Tracey]

When i found via my gt x2 grandfathers marriage cert what his occupation was it also noted where he had worked. So as usual i got on to Moray i also took a chance and emailed one of the newspapers it said he had worked for baring in mind this was in 1870,s ! but as luck would have it my email went straight to the editor and even better her father was part of the local family history society ! So, between them i got sent a few death notices but this is the coroners inquest................

The Morley Observer - 11th August 1877
SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM DONALDSON

It is with deep regret that we have to record the sudden death of a member of our staff. Not quite three months ago William Donaldson, a young Scotchman, was recommended to us an excellent reporter, and one who had had considerable experience in journalism. After his engagement we very soon found that his literary abilities had not been overestimated. He had a well stored mind, a remarkable memory, fine descriptive powers, and poetic talent of a high order. But, unfortunately, habits had grown upon him which had become his master, and with all the brilliancy of his intellect he was no better than a slave. It was frequently impressed upon him that there was only one course open by which he could maintain a honourable position and that was by being a total abstainer from all intoxicants. This he knew very well himself, and a month ago he took the pledge with a full determination to keep it. He again fell a victim to his worst enemy, and on Friday the 3rd instant, he died from an overdose of opium, which he had been accustomed to take when suffering from the effects of intoxication. Last Saturday evening an inquest was held at the Fleece Inn, Morley, before Mr. Taylor, Coroner.
Mr. David Terry was the first witness, and in reply to questions put by the Coroner said that the deceased, along with his wife and children had lodged at his since they came to Morley, and they had lived very agreeably together. He was a cheerful sort of man
By the Coroner : Was he a steady man ?
Mr. Terry : Well he took a sup sometimes. I did not consider him to be a dissipated man. He was very steady when he came at first.
The Coroner : When did you last see him alive ?
Mr. Terry : Yesterday morning just before eight o’clock, I got up to go away from home for the day, and the deceased left the house before I went, to go to his work. Deceased was a newspaper reporter. I did not return home until evening, and before I got home I was told of what had taken place.
Doctor Steele said he knew the deceased, William Donaldson, who became a patient of his about three weeks ago, but he had not known him previous to that time. Then he was on the verge of delirium tremens, and was confined to the house four or five days. He was partly in bed. He recovered perfectly and had no other ailment. On the morning of his death , the deceased came to him (the doctor) in a somewhat similar condition to what he was before, though not quite as bad. That would be shortly after ten o’clock in the morning. He talked very rational on various subjects for a quarter of an hour. He (the doctor) prescribed for him a draught of tincture of opium. He put ½ oz of the tincture in a 1oz bottle and filled it up with water, and then told him to go home at once to bed and take half the quantity. He knew that the deceased had a great aptitude for taking opium, and it was the same dose which he had taken before. He (the doctor) was very particular with regard to the half dose. And it was not usual to put labels on to the bottles in such cases, but in this case he took the precaution to label “poison” on the bottle in addition to pressing on the deceased that he was only to take half the quantity until he (the doctor) had called upon him. The deceased seemed anxious to be put right speedily that he might get to the office by four o’clock in the afternoon.
By the Coroner : When did you see him again ?
Dr Steele : I was called in about ten minutes past one, and he was sitting in a chair opposite the window in the house where he lodged, perfectly insensible, the pupils of his eyes were very strongly contracted, and there were all the symptoms of narcotic poison. I applied the stomach pump, but the poison had been absorbed too long in the system. I was there when he died, which would be about half-past two the same afternoon. My opinion is that he has died from taking an overdose of the draught. He was in the habit of taking opium, and I never just give him what he said he had been accustomed to take. He has, therefore, in my opinion over estimated the dose. He said “You may trust me doctor, I have no wish to leave this life yet .” He only wanted to get right for his work. I went down to see his wife who was unwell, half an our after he had got the draught, and was surprised that the deceased had not returned home.
William Allen Bright, the next witness, said- I am a waiter at Mr. B. H. Worrall’s, the Alliance Hotel. I knew the deceased by sight but not by name. He often came to the hotel. He generally drank “Old Tom. ’ I saw him yesterday about ten minutes to eleven. He acted rather strange. He called for a glass of beer at the counter. He stood at the counter and poured something black out of a bottle into the beer. He poured half of it out, and said Doctor Steele was going to wake him up at three o’clock in the afternoon. He then put the cork into the bottle and put it into his pocket. I saw him drink once, and then he drank again. He got another glass after that : Miss Worrall served him. He would be in the house about quarter of an hour. I heard him say that he had taken 5oz of opium at once and it had taken no effect upon him. A man at the next counter said “ You had better not try that experiment again.” the deceased left the house and I saw him go down Queen Street.
Daniel Holliday said - I am an engineer. I did not know the deceased. I saw him in Queen Street about a quarter past eleven yesterday morning. He was in the act of falling on the causeway and I helped him up. He was perfectly helpless. He muttered something to the effect that he had got drunk. He went across the road to the pork shop. He was helped out of there and I assisted him until we got near the Co-operative Stores, when he fell several times. Another man came to my assistance, and we had to carry him to his lodgings. On arriving there we laid him down, and his neck and face were nearly black. His wife was much distressed and said he had been to the doctor to get a draught. Deceased had a broken bottle in his pocket which smelled very strong.
The Police sergeant said his pockets were dry.
The Coroner had not the slightest doubt but what the deceased wished to be ready for his work, and that was the reason why he had not taken the draught.
The jury were unanimous in their opinion that it was a misadventure, and that no blame whatever could be attached to Dr. Steele.


This was from the Morley Weekly News, 10th August 1877

Sad Death of a Native of Elgin - The English papers notice the death under distressing circumstances of William Donaldson, aged 32 a reporter engaged on the Morley Observer, and a native of Elgin. The deceased met his death it appears through poisoning by opium. He had been drinking heavily of late, and was also addicted to opium eating. At a quarter past ten o’clock on Friday last he called at a doctors for half an ounce of opium diluted with water. He was supplied with it, and ordered to take it twice, but he appeared to have taken the whole in one dose. On his way home he fell down, and although a doctor was called in and applied the stomach pump, the poor fellow expired. Deceased had been connected with the press for sixteen years. Previous to going to Morley, nine weeks ago, he was on the staff of the Whitehaven Herald. Donaldson will be remembered by many Elgin people. Successively a printer with Mr McGillivray, Elgin, and a shoemaker in Keith, he afterwards appeared as the publisher of short lived newspaper in the latter place. Then he was employed as sub-editor on the Elgin Courier by the late Mr. Sprigg and afterwards went south to act in the same capacity.

Really of no interest to anyone but me but as said before good examples of what can be found in newspapers.

[DavidWW]

.....a massive amount snipped ....... !!

Really of no interest to anyone but me but as said before good examples of what can be found in newspapers.

Exactly

David

[Ted]

Hi Folks

I would like to share a great death related newspaper article with the Forum - however when I tried to upload the image to the gallery I get an error message saying that my disk quota is exceeded - I am sure it is not the file size as it is quite small - can someone suggest how to correct this please.

Thanks

Thick Ted

[LesleyB]

Hi Ted
You might need to delete one two other files you may have uploaded in the past to make space.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Ted]

Hi Lesley

Thanks for the advice - however I must be having an elderly moment - I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do this - any futher advice truly appreciated.

Thanks lots

Ted

[JustJean]

Hi Ted

Methinks that only Admin folks have the powers to delete images from the gallery. So not a senior moment for you (knew you'd be pleased to hear that )

Best wishes
Jean