Sussex Advertiser May 6 1865

Cuckfield

The result of intemperance – inquest. – 

On Saturday last an inquisition was held at the Liverpool Arms by the coroner for East Sussex, L. G. Fullagar, Esq, on view of the body of John Hobbs aged about 56, whose profession was that of a veterinary surgeon.

The circumstances of his untimely end will be found detailed in the following evidence: – 

Henry Oram said he was a labourer, living at Hayward's Heath. On Thursday morning he entered the stables of the Liverpool Arms, and saw deceased lying down apparently asleep. He saw his arm move, as if temporarily aroused. Spoke to him, but could not say whether he answered or not, as he was very deaf. He had seen him in the same place the previous evening, but could not say whether he was sober or not, – 

Mark Bennett, a labourer, stated that when he went into the stable on Thursday morning he saw deceased lying down with a piece of paper over his face. He spoke to him but got no answer, and thought he was asleep. He then took the paper off his face, and on feeling him found he was quite cold and dead. – 

John Henry Bull deposed – I am a surgeon in practice at Cuckfield. I have known deceased upwards of 40 years. He is a veterinary surgeon, and I believe about 56 years old. He was a man of exceedingly intemperate habits, and lead a wandering life. I saw the deceased on Thursday morning about 8:30. He appeared then to have been dead about an hour. I have no doubt that his death resulted from apoplexy and dilation of the pupils. When I saw him, there was an intolerable smell of liquor about him. His eyes were closed, and his hands clenched. – 

The jury had been addressed by the learned coroner, returning the following verdict: – "that deceased died from natural causes; and that his death was accelerated by intemperate habits."