Sims, Alice 1913 June 6th Bemerton
An inquest was held at Bemerton on Saturday evening by the South Wilts Coroner (Mr F H Trethowan), concerning the death of Mrs Alice Sims, wife of William Harry Sims, who was found dead on her bed the previous day.
William Harry Sims, carpenter, of 5, Orchard Road, Bemerton, stated that his wife, who was 37 years of age had had varicose veins in the legs. She also suffered from neuralgia, but her mind was always clear and natural. During the week she had been suffering from acute neuralgia, which was particularly severe during Thursday night, when she did not get much sleep. He went downstairs and got her some hot water with which to bathe her face. She also used ammonia as an outward application to her face to ease the pain. The ammonia was used from the bottle produced, and was given to him by friends at Andover some time ago when he had toothache, and he since used it as well as his wife. On Friday morning his wife seemed better, and inclined to go to sleep, but he remained at home till 10 o’clock, and then, as she seemed all right and freer from pain he went to West Grimstead to work. He was summoned from there in the afternoon and on returning found his wife dead. When he left home the bottle of ammonia contained about the same quantity of fluid as there was now in it.
Edith Sims, oldest daughter, said she saw her mother at about 7 o’clock in the morning on Friday, and she then said her face was bad. She left the house before her father went to his work, and she returned at 12.30. Her little sister then told her that she could not make her mother hear what she said, so she went upstairs and found her lying on the bed. She thought her mother was dead, and called a neighbour.
Dr Thornton stated that on Friday, at 12.45pm, he was called to No 5, Orchard Road. He went to the room where Mrs Sims was, and found her lying on the bed with a newspaper across her knees. By her side was a small bottle which contained ammonia, and by the side of the bottle was a letter addressed to Mr Sims. He afterwards found that the letter was not written by Mrs Sims. She was lying as if she had gone to sleep, but she was dead. He informed the police, and afterwards made enquiries as to her medical history, and he examined the body later. There was no trace of ammonia on the lips or mouth, neither was there any trace on the lips or mouth of some liniment which he found in the room. From information which he obtained and from the examination he came to the conclusion that death was due to natural causes, and was caused by an embolism.
The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 