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Edward (1) Woodhurst died at Highbury Hill Park, Islington, on May 12th 1873. The inquest into his death was convened on the following day at 81, Holloway Road, Islington (a property known as The Castle) - where the body then lay - and was undertaken by Mr. Edwin Lankester, the Central Middlesex Coroner.
Most Coroners' Reports for 19th-century Middlesex are held in the London Metropolitan Archives [LMA] at 40, Northampton Road in London. Each one normally has two components - a short summarized account of the inquest's finding and a longer collection of 'depositions' (typically witness statements) noted down by the Coroner during the inquest.
The summarized finding in the case of Edward (1) reads as follows:
Edward Woodhurst 69 Castle Islington Fatty Heart Nat. 13th May
comprising the deceased's name, age, the inquest venue, the cause of death and the fact that it was 'natural', and the inquest date.
The Depositions in the case of Edward (1) - including one made by his son Edwin - were recorded on two pages of notes in the Coroner's handwriting together with the standard Letter for Coroner's Warrant issued by a police constable to the Coroner formally requiring that an inquest be held. This same constable was then required to attend the inquest. The Depositions have survived in excellent physical condition but are nonetheless difficult to decipher fully, as the handwriting is highly flourished and contains numerous abbreviations. In the transcription below, phrases of uncertain content are typed in red font and clarifying notes are embraced by curly brackets. Phrases shown underlined appear that way in the original notes.
Depositions of Witnesses taken and acknowledged on behalf of our Sovereign Lady the Queen touching the death of Edward Woodhurst at the House known as the Castle in the Parish of Islington in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, on Tuesday the 13th day of May One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Three, before EDWIN LANKESTER, Esquire, one of Her Majesty's Coroners for the said County, on view of the Body of the said Person then and there lying dead.
Edwin Woodhurst having been sworn upon the day and year and at the place above-mentioned deposed as follows:-
I reside at 14 Kent? Rest? Rost? St. I am the son of D {denoting 'deceased'}. D was 69 years old. He was a brickmaker. He has not worked lately. He was superannuated. He had 6/- {six shillings} a week. He was found dead in a field yesterday morning. I have not seen him since Tuesday fortnight. He lived at 36 Woodland St. I do not blame anyone. The body seen is that of my D. father.
John Segues at Highbury. I am a labourer. I was at work yesterday morning at 10 1/2 {half past 10} when two boys came and told me a man was dying. I went and looked and saw him draw two breaths and then die. I went and called a P.C. {police constable} and left him in charge of the P.C. He lay in the grass. It was Highbury Hill Park.
John Edwards 199 G.P.C. {General Police Constable?} I was called by last witness to D at 1/4 p10 {quarter past 10}. He was quite dead. I sent for Dr. Wight. I asked his servant W {woman} to send him. I searched the body. I found a purse with 9/6 {9 shillings and sixpence}, a door key and other things. D lived at 36 Woodland St. Dalston. The landlady said he had left home early in the morning and saw nothing to lead her to suppose he had been ill-used.
George Wight MD I was called to D yesterday morning at 11 oc {11 o'clock}. He was quite dead and warm. P.M. Ex.M {Post Mortem Examination}. No mark [but?] an ulcer on chin. Body fat. Fatty Heart. Brain soft Lesion to surface of Brain. Chest. Lungs. Right. Tubercle of upper lobe. Heart Substance fatty. Blood in right side and ditto on left. Abd: St: {abdomen: stomach} Empty but ... . Cause of Death Fatty Degeneration of the Heart.
{Addressed to} Edwin Lankester, Esq., Coroner's Office, 68, Belsize Park, London, N.W.
{Postmark} London N. MY 13 73
(Postage to be paid to the Constable)
A Warrant is requested for an Inquest on the Body of Edward Woodhurst {a previous phrase 'A Man Unknown' was deleted} now lying dead at The Mortuary Chapel of Ease in the Parish of Islington. The Inquest to be held at The Castle, No. 81 Holloway Road.
The Constable, in all cases, must fill up, and without delay forward the following form, and should attend at the Office of the Coroner in all doubtful and peculiar cases.
{The various sections of the form were completed as follows:}
Age and trade: Aged 69. A Brickmaker
Day and hour of death: Monday May 12th 1873 at about 20 minutes to 11 o'clock in the morning
How found: Dead in a Field at Highbury Hill Park
Cause: not ascertained
Suspicion that poison was taken: not ascertained
Existence of prior illness: not ascertained
Attachment of blame to any party: not ascertained
Prior attendance of legally qualified medical man: No
If not, who was called in afterwards: Dr. Wight, Liverpool Road