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

Down, Mabel            1917 April 27^th              Over Wallop

Sad Domestic Tragedy

A domestic tragedy, involving the death of Mrs Mabel Anne Down, aged 27, and her newly-born female child, has caused a great sensation at Over Wallop, Stockbridge.

The woman’s mother, Mrs Ellen Martin, told the Coroner’s jury on Friday afternoon that her daughter’s little girl ran to her early on Thursday morning and called out, “Mother says she is going to die.” Death took place five minutes after her arrival.

After hearing other evidence the jury returned a verdict of “Death from want of attention” in the case of the woman, and one of “Murder against the mother” with regard to the child.

Mrs Down’s husband has been on active service in Salonika for two years, and the woman leaves two little children.