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Our Family
Genealogy Pages
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 1850 - 1916 (66 years)
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| Name |
Sarah Ann Perry |
| Birth |
1850 |
Binegar, Somerset, England, UK  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Baptism |
10 Nov 1850 |
Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
Address:
Holy Trinity Church, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
| Death |
14 Nov 1916 |
Cam, Gloucestershire, England, UK |
- She lived at The Sandpits, Dursley, as the "housekeeper" for George Paradise, retired farmer.
She was charged with with drunkenness in Cam, Gloucestershire on October 31, 1916. She did not appear in court, but was represented by Mr. W. Langley-Smith. P.C. Lawrence and Mrs. Hill found her lying in the road, helplessly drunk and smelling of spirits. Mr. Langley-Smith said defendant, had been on a railway journey, and having to wait through missing a train, had partaken of brandy. She left the train at Cam and gave her ticket; her explanation was that she fell off the curb. The Bench imposed a fine of 8 shillings, including costs.
Embarrassed and depressed about the court case she took her own life, swallowing strychnine, on November 14, 1916.
An inquest was held and the proceedings shone a light on the dreadful character of George Paradise. The inquest was resumed by Mr. Edwin Watts, Deputy Coroner, at the Police Station, on the evening of November 21, 1916. At the hearing in the previous week, Dr. Brewis, who made a postmortem, was unable to find the cause of death. The evidence given by other witnesses pointed to self-destruction, having been upset about having been prosecuted and fined for drunkenness.
She was a respectable old lady, and apparently felt the exposure of her fall very much. The inquest was adjourned to allow the contents of the stomach to be analysed. Dr. Brewis now told the jury that from the County Analyst's report he had no hesitation in stating that death was due to strychnine poisoning. The Coroner referred to the statement by a chemist that she had purchased a vermin-killer from him on the day of her death, and that the 3d. packet contained enough strychnine to kill several people.
The Coroner questioned deceased's employer (Mr. George Paradise) at some length as to the relationship of the girl Lilian Wyndham, who lived in the house as the supposed niece of deceased. After much pressing, witness admitted that the girl might be the daughter of deceased, and that he (witness) might be the father, "but he did not know". The Coroner in the course of further questions, severely rebuked the witness for keeping the girl Lilian (21 years of age) in his house like a slave, paying her no wages, and not telling her who her mother and father were. Later, Mr. Watts told witness believed he had told him downright lies, and that he gave untrue answers to questions in order to hide something. "Don't say that", appealed witness, "I've nothing to hide, bless you". "Then you give everyone the impression that you have", commented the Coroner.
Answering more questions, Mr. Paradise said he might carry out deceased's wishes and make provision for Lilian, but he supposed he could please himself. If Miss Perry had remained with him he would have left her a thousand or two. The Coroner observed that Mr. Paradise had himself to thank for certain things being made known. Doubtless in order to avoid publicity, he made most evasive answers, and although it was not altogether their duty to go into those unsavoury matters in order to ascertain the cause of the woman's death, yet he was bound to drag out of him just what the witness did not desire to say, owing to his apparent attempt to conceal something.
The jury found that she committed suicide by taking vermin-killer which contained strychnine whilst of unsound mind.
The fees of the jurymen were given to Standish Red Cross Hospital.
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| Burial |
Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
Address:
Holy Trinity Church, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
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Grave of Sarah Ann Perry
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| Person ID |
I96406 |
Lasbury Family |
| Last Modified |
26 Apr 2024 |
| Father |
James Perry
b. 9 Aug 1822, Chilcompton, Somerset, England, UK
d. 27 Oct 1901, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK (Age 79 years) |
| Mother |
Wyndham Gould
b. 1824, Chilcompton, Somerset, England, UK
d. 30 Mar 1905, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK (Age 81 years) |
| Marriage |
4 Aug 1850 |
Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
Address:
Holy Trinity Church, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
| Marriage Witness |
4 Aug 1850 |
| John Perry & Sarah Gould |
| Family ID |
F40038 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Event Map |
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 | Birth - 1850 - Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
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| Baptism - Address:
Holy Trinity Church, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK - 10 Nov 1850 - Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
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 | Death - 14 Nov 1916 - Cam, Gloucestershire, England, UK |
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| Burial - Address:
Holy Trinity Church, Binegar, Somerset, England, UK - - Binegar, Somerset, England, UK |
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