Ulster Origins

Belfast Weekly News – Saturday 06 April 1895  

An inquest was held on the 30th ult before W.H. Caldwell, JP, Coroner at Macleary near Coleraine, on the body of a single woman named Catherine Herald, thirty-seven years of age, who died that morning from the effects of exposure to cold and wet on the 27th ult. Head Constable Tilson, R.I.C., Coleraine represented the authorities. 

From the evidence of Jane Edmundson, a married sister of deceased, it appeared that the two women, with a third sister had spent the day at Landmore, Agivey, where deceased resided.  

In the evening Mrs. Edmundson left, accompanied by deceased, to catch the Dairy Central train for Coleraine, but missed it. They then decided to walk the distance (about 7 miles), but after night fall deceased became exhausted, and, notwithstanding the efforts of her sister, she could not keep on her way, but sat down on the roadside about 20 perches from the house of a labourer named Gaston.  

Two or three persons passed them on the road, but Mrs Edmundson made no complaint to any of them, nor did she endeavour to obtain assistance at any of the adjoining houses.  

She explained to the coroner that she did not wish any person to know who they were or why they were out so late, it being then about nine o’clock. It was also stated by her that she did not know she was so near houses, not having observed any lights, and that she had made a wrong turn and missed her way, but knew that she could get home by that road.  

The night was wet and stormy, but the pair sat on the roadside until daybreak, deceased having become unconscious and recovered in the meantime. When day dawned they attempted to proceed but deceased again collapsed, and Mrs Edmundson summoned help from Gaston’s house and had her sister conveyed there.  

Doctor Morrison, Medical Officer of Aghadowey District, stated that on seeing deceased at two o’clock on the 28th ult. he found her quite unconscious, perfectly cold and her clothing saturated with wet. She was put to bed, rolled in warm blankets and every effort used to restore animation but without success. Death resulted from exposure to cold and wet.  

In answer to the head-constable. Mrs McQuillan, sister of the deceased, said the latter had been a delicate woman. On the day of the visit there were two half pints of whiskey consumed by five persons, including deceased, her sister, and witness. But when the pair left the house, they were quite sober.  

Another witness said he saw two women, presumably the same pair, staggering on the road close to where they spent the night.  

The jury found the verdict in accordance with the medical evidence and discussed the advisability of censuring Mrs Edmundson’s conduct, but subsequently agreed not to add a rider which might involve the woman in criminal proceedings.