PETERSFIELD.
SUDDEN DEATH.—A sad exemplification of the uncertainty of life occurred in our parish church on Sunday last. Im the midst of the afternoon service, while the rite of baptism was being administered, Miss Waller, a teacher in Miss Bull’s school, and daughter of Mr. Thomas Waller, of Steep Farm, fell on the floor of the pew and expired instantly. Of course the service was abruptly suspended, and great consternation was produced throughout the church. Several persons rushed to the pew, and every possible effort was made to restore her, but life was extinct before she could be removed from the church. Mr. Cross, of the firm of Whicher and Cross, was in attendance within a few minutes after the sad event, but it was too late —in fact, she appears to have fallen dead on the spot. The corpse was removed in a fly to her father’s house, where an inquest was held on Tuesday last, before the Coroner E. Hoskins, Esq and a jury. The following is a summary of the evidence adduced:—
Miss Martha Bull deposed to having known deceased from her early childhood, that she had been in her establishment many years—first as pupil and afterwards as teacher. She was 21 years of age. Witness last saw her alive on Sunday, about one o’clock, at dinner, when she partook of cold mutton and rhubarb pudding, and drank water; she appeared quite well, and sat with the young ladies in the schoolroom till half-past two, and then went with some of the smaller children to church. She was very much beloved by all about her. Witness had heard her complain of palpitation of the heart, but not lately. She was in the habit of taking air and exercise every day.
Helen Collins, a child about ten years old, one of the pupils who accompanied Miss Waller to church on Sunday afternoon, deposed that while they were standing up during the christening service, she heard something fall on the floor of the pew, and on looking round saw Miss Waller lying on her face. Several persons came to the pew; they raised her up and carried her out. (This child gave her evidence with beautiful simplicity and intelligence.)
Ann Harrison, wife of Mr. William Harrison, of Petersfield, deposed that she was at church on Sunday afternoon, her pew is next but one to Miss Bull’s. She saw Miss Waller come in with several young ladies, and noticed particularly how smiling and well she looked. She witness was standing with her back towards deceased, when she heard a noise, and on turning round, saw deceased had fallen down in the pew. She went to her immediately: deceased was lying on her face, and she raised her head. Witness did not observe the least movement: her eyes were open, and blood was flowing freely from her nostrils, She did not hear deceased speak or move, or utter any sound whatever. She went to get some vinegar: and on returning found several persons removing her from the pew into the porch. Mr Cross was sent for and he came immediately. I did not observe any breathing when I raised her head.
Thomas Louch, pew-openor at the Church, deposed that on hearing a noise in the direction of Miss Bull’s pew, he went down the aisle and as he was going he saw Mrs. Harrison leave her pew and go into Miss Bull’s, when he got to the pew he found deceased lying on her face, he raised her up and there appeared to be no life in her, he never heard a breath or a groan or anything of the sort and the only motion he saw was a slight drawing up of the hands. He went for Mr. Cross, and seeing him in High Street, hailed him, and he came immediately.
Mr. R. S. Cross, deposed that as medical attendant of deceased’s family, he had known her many years. She had not lately been under his care and he had never attended her for any serious illness, and was not aware of the existence of any latent disease. On Sunday last as he was leaving the house of a patient in the High street, he heard some one running and calling and on looking round saw the last witness beckoning to him, who begged he would come to the Church, as some lady had fallen and cut her head very much. He went with him and found deceased in the south porch, supported in a sitting position. She was quite dead. There was an abrasion on the right side of the forehead and also on the right cheek bone, there was evidence of blood having flowed from both nostrils, the countenance was of a livid hue, the hands were not clenched, the nails were of a purplish tinge. He had no doubt that death arose from natural causes, it might have arisen from disease of the heart, but the state of her health up to the time hardly bore out this supposition and he thought it possible it might have been no more than a fainting fit, the severe blow on the head, amounting to concussion of the brain having so far embarrassed that organ, that with a temporarily disabled heart, life ceased almost on the instant.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict of ‟Died from Natural causes.”
Ancestry shows the burial Register for Mary Ann Waller at Steep on 01-Jun-1865 age 21yrs
