This month Barry Cuff has chosen a 1906 postcard of the Green Dragon in Piddletrenthide. To accompany it we found a news story from an inquest held there just six years later. The following story was reported in the Bridport News on Friday 8th November, 1912.
Quite a sensation was caused in this village on the news being circulated that Mrs. Hunt, wife of Mr. W. J. Hunt, blacksmith, had died suddenly while sitting in her chair after partaking of some bread and cheese on Friday night. The deceased was 69 years of age.
On Monday an inquest was held into the circumstances of the death by Mr. F. B. La Maunsell, Bridport, coroner for West Dorset, at the Green Dragon Inn. The following composed the jury: Messrs. A. Baker (foreman), T. H. Payne, W. C. Groves, senr., W.C. Groves, Junr., G.W. Gillingham,
F. Peek, J. Hicks, A. Baltitt, G. Gale, A. Davis, P. Churchill, and W. M. Elsworth. After viewing the body, the following evidence was taken:
William James Hunt, of Piddletrenthide, blacksmith, said that he was the husband of the deceased, whose age was 69 years. About a fortnight ago his wife. who had before been in good health, fainted. She had suffered from rheumatism for the last year or two. After one fainting fit she seemed better than witness had known her for a long time. Her appetite was good and always hearty. On Friday last she took some bread and cheese and a glass of ale for her supper about 10.30, and was sitting in her chair. Witness thought deceased had dropped
asleep. He touched her but she did not move or speak. She seemed gone in an instant. She was still in her chair at the table.
Witness rubbed her hands and called to his son, saying “Mother’s gone Charlie, she is gone. She is dead,”
The doctor came the following day. Witness was satisfied that deceased could not have taken anything to disagree with her. She had been very short of breath for a long time and had to walk very steadily.
Charles Mathew Hunt, son of the deceased, stated that he lived at home with his father, and
was a carpenter.
He was home on Friday last,
sitting in the next room to his mother, having supper by himself. His father called out and said that mother was dead.
That was about 10.15 p.m.
Witness went and lifted up his mother’s chin, felt her pulse and spoke to her but she was dead. He could not feel any pulse.
The fainting fit, referred to by his father, lasted about a quarter of an hour and occurred just after dinner. He (witness) thought it was indigestion.
His mother seemed quite well again after and went to his workshop the same afternoon, talking about his work.
Dr. Dalton, of Cerne Abbas, stated that he had attended the deceased within the last three or four years, so that she was known to him, but for no serious illness, and be had within the last few months seen her in going past her house. He (witness) considered that deceased died from heart failure, as there seemed to be a distinct history of indigestion after meals occasionally and probably the heart failure was brought on by distention of the stomach. Death would be quite instantaneous. The appearance of the body after death would be consistent
with this. Witness saw deceased on Saturday about 11 a.m.
A verdict of death from cardiac syncope occasioned by Indigestion was returned.
The Green Dragon is still recognisable today, though it is better known now as The Piddle Inn. The 1906 postcard was sent from the village to Mr C Andrews, simply addressed ‘The Staff, Herrison, Nr Dorchester’. Herrison House was the Dorset County Asylum. Opened in 1863, 1904 had seen the opening of Herrison House for private patients and by 1913 there were 957 patients at Herrison Hospital.
The card reads: M.D.C Awfull disappointed over letter but if you make your arrangements as suggested don’t think under circumstances could do better. I shall go by earlier train Thursday & ask Mrs Farrer to meet me at Central as I don’t like an hour there, no one to talk to. Intended evening letter this eve but no time so will before I go out tomorrow afternoon. If anything happens you can’t do as you suggest let me know then will travel according yours AD
