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8:33am on Saturday, 25th April, 2026:
Anecdote
I have stomach ache at the moment, which reminded me of this article from the Knaresborough Post, 17th December, 1887.
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INQUEST AT HARROGATE
On Monday afternoon, about half-past five, Florence Eva Bartle, aged 5 years, daughter of Frederick Bartle, pianist, of No. 1 Parliament Terrace, Harrogate, died somewhat suddenly. It appears that about four o'clock on the 11th inst., the child came home from church and complained of feeling sick, and Mrs. Bartle gave her some tea. The deceased remained in the house the whole of the evening, and went to bed about 8 p.m. Shortly before ten the mother sent to Coupland's for some Carminative Mixture, and administered it to the child twice, but it got no better. About four o'clock on Monday Dr. Lever was sent for, but on his arrival the child was dead.
On Tuesday afternoon, and inquest was held at the house of Mr. Clarkson, the Somerset Hotel, Harrogate, before Mr. J. H. Turner, deputy coroner. Mr. G. R. Parker was selected as the foreman of the jury. The first witness called was
Elisa Bartle, wife of Frederick Bartle, who deposed:- The deceased was five years of age, and was in good health up to half-past four on Sunday afternoon. She was at church in the afternoon; and when she came home she said that she felt sick. I thought it was a cold. I sent for some brandy because she was sick. She was sick several times. I thought she had eaten something that had disagreed with her. She began to have diarrhoea after the sickness; and she continued suffering from diarrhoea and sickness all the night. I sent for some Carminative; and that allayed both sickness and diarrhoea. I sent early in the morning for the mixture from Mr. Coupland's. I afterwards gave her another dose, and she said that it comforted her. About noon on Monday she appeared better, and seemed all right until about four. We saw her change shortly afterwards. I left to get some tea. She made a noise as if she was going into a fit. I did not leave her for more than ten minutes the whole of the time. I sent for four different doctors, and these were not in. I would have sent for a doctor earlier if I had thought it was serious. She died in a convulsion. I do not know that she ate anything that had not agreed with her. I had not given her anything. She took the same dinner as the rest of the family, and it did not disagree with any other member of the family. I took a dose of the same mixture on Monday night as I felt sick, and it did me good.
Annie Bell Henson, wife of Wm. Henson, joiner deposed: I was called into Mrs. Bartle's on Sunday to see the deceased. She was on her mother's knee, and died in my presence. The deceased received every care at her parents' hands.
Frederick Lever, of Harrogate, physicians and surgeon, deposed: I have never attended the deceased professionally. I was called in a little before five o'clock on Monday. The deceased was dead when I saw her. She was quite warm. There were no marks of physical violence on the body; and not injury to the mouth compatible with corrosive poisoning. It is my opinion the deceased died naturally. From the evidence given, and the appearance of the body, it is my opinion she died from syncope, caused by excessive diarrhoea and vomiting. There was no contraction of the pupils of the eyes of the deceased.
William Henry Tyas, of Montpelier Parade, assistant to Mr. Coupland, deposed: I supplied the bottle of mixture produced. It is Carminative Mixture, and is used for soothing children when suffering from divers complaints. I do not know what there is in it. It is made up at the principal shop. It is made from the late Dr. Short's recipe. We sell from the same bottle regularly, and I never heard of it doing any harm.
The jury then returned a verdict that the deceased died naturally from syncope, in accordance with the medical evidence. The jury afterwards expressed their sympathy with the parents in their bereavement; the Coroner adding that he felt sure they would have sent for medical aid sooner if they had thought it was of so serious a nature.
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Interestingly, my grandfather's grandfather, Frederick Bartle's youngest daughter, Eva, fell ill on 11th December and died the next day. On the 9th December, Frederick himself had been subject to a court administration order for being in debt. Two body blows in close succession must have been tough.
No, I don't believe he killed Eva — he was a very popular figure and all his children were proud of him (even the reprobate who was my grandfather's father).
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