Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 for Wiltshire

Barrett, William    1900 June 15^th

A Yeovil Merchant’s Sad End

An inquest was held at the Council Chamber last night by the city coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith) on the body of William Barrett, aged 55 years. Deceased, who was a partner in the firm of Messrs. Aplin and Barrett, butter and cheese merchants, of Yeovil, died suddenly in the market place yesterday morning under circumstances detailed in the following evidence.

The first witness was Mr Gilbert Kempe, surgeon, of Salisbury, who deposed that he was called at about 8 o’clock that morning, and found deceased lying on the ground on his back. There was a mark of a blow on the back of his head, but he did not think the blow, which was probably caused by a fall, sufficient to cause death. In his opinion death was due to natural causes, probably syncope.

William King, Fordingbridge, said he was a provision merchant. He came to the Market House on Thursday morning and met Mr Barrett at the gate. In answer to an inquiry after the state of his health, deceased said he was quite well. They walked together talking to the end of the Market House and met two other gentlemen. As deceased was speaking to one of these he fell back on the concrete floor. His friends raised his head and found blood coming from the skull. Deceased did not speak. Witness hurried away to fetch a doctor, and when he returned Mr Barret was dead.

William Sherwood Barrett said deceased was his father and was 55 years of age. He had seen a specialist with reference to his heart about twelve months ago, and he said he thought there was nothing serious the matter. Witness saw deceased on Wednesday, and he did not then complain of his health.

The Coroner read the following telegram which had been received by the last witness: “Sir Douglas Powell wires me your father had angina pectoris, Dr Kingston, Yeovil.”

After a short consultation a verdict of death from “natural causes” was returned.

The late Mr Barrett was a keen man of business, and had done useful work of a public character. He was a staunch Liberal, the President of the Yeovil Ratepayers’ Protection Association, and a member of the Yeovil School Board.