Western Gazette - 21 April 1865

Following up from their report n the 'rumour' the Western Gazette followed up the story under the heading 'A SHAMEFUL AFFAIR' where it acknowledges and publishes George's letter, but not before intimating that her death was his fault as there was 'little doubt her life might have been prolonged had she received proper trestment' [presumably the editor was a qualified medical expert!] and then to describe in as lurid a manner as they could the unfortunate fate of her corpse.

Apparently Geore was in such a hurry to get rid of her that her clothes weren't even fastened when she was taken by Miss Hann to Mr Lester's cottage having been advised to go to Coombe St Nicholas. When she arrived at Mr Lester's she could not sit upright and despite the best efforts of Mr Lester and Dr Colmer she sank rapidly.

The main [justifiable] 'outrage' in the story appears to revolve around the treatment of Mary Hill's body following her demise. Although truly shocking it does not appear to be an isolated case for the time - though perhaps exeptional. Indeed George's third-cousin Arthur Hann was reprimanded by the Beaminster Board of Guardians as late as 1901 for going beyond his authority on a number of occasions in order to avoid exacly this sort of thing happening there whilst he was Assistant Overseer (the Relieving Officer living a distance from Beaminster itself).

Mary Hill died on Saturday and the following Monday a most undesirable chain of events commenced. Mr Lester applied for a coffin from Mr Herrard the Relieving Officer as he did not have the means to pay for one himself. He was told that Mr Jerrard required on order from the Board of Guardians On of Mary's daughters did applied for this when the Board next met on Wednesday. The order was granted but the coffin not delivered until Thursday by which time the body had begun to decay badly. Mr Lester and the daughters wanted the body buried as soon as possible but the cemetery would not dig a grave until the usual fees had been paid. but the Relieving Officer agin said he cowas not authorised to do so. The Inspector of Nuisances was then called upon as it was impossible to keep the body in Mr Lester's house but he too was not authorised to do anything. They then referred to matter to the Mayor who wasn't able to interfere but advised that the body should be taken to the workhouse. The cheap woodworm eaten coffin was therefore loaded onto an open coal waggon and taken to the workhose where the authorities refused to accept it so it was left outside the door. It was eventually take in and buried at the cemetery on Saturday - a week after Mary's death.

In his defence George had written to the Western Gazette as follows.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'WESTERN GAZETTE'
SIR. - In your report of Aprtil 14th, headed 'A Rumour,' respecting Mary Hill, of Coombe St. Nicholas, as it appears that I accelerated her death by improper treatment, I beg you will, in justice to me, insert a few of the leading particulars, as far as I am concerned in the matter, and leave the public to judge as to the authenticity of such a rumour. About ten months ago Mrs. Hill came to me for lodgings, and occupied a room for a few weeks; but left again as my charges were too high for her. About six weeks after she applied again to come back, and remained with me till Friday, April 7th. About the 30th of March she complained of a cold, but contnued to do her work as usual until the evening of Saturday April 8th. When her two daughters came on the Sunday morning, she complained of her cold being worse; on the Tuesday following she said that she felt better, and went into a room where her daughters were at work. On the same day, she asked me to lend her some money to buy a box of pills, which I did, but at the same time she said she wished she was at home, as a Mrs. Young had given her medicine from which she had derived great benefit. I then advised her to reurn home, thinking that her native air would probably do her good. On Wednesday she was no better, I then advised her to have medical advice, but she did no do so. On Thursday, there was no change; and her daughters left her. On Friday morning at five o'clock she knocked at my bed-room door, and asked me to get up and make her a cup of tea, as she felt cold in her stomach; I did so at once. At breakfast time she partook of some toast and tea. Dinner time came, and, as we had baked dinner, she expressed a wish to have some with us, and I supplied her before anyone else. In short, she had whatever she could eat during the time she was ill at my house. About half-past six she came down stairs dressed, and when I asked her where she was going, she answered, to Mrs. Lester's at the back of the Blue Ball, and asked one of my daughters to accompany her. My daughter returned in about five minutes, leaving her in the care of Mrs. Lester, in whose lodgings she hoped to get the parish doctor, which she said she could not expect if she remained in my house. On Saturday morning Mrs Lester came to me, saying that Mrs. Hill wished me to get her a doctor. As she had not applied for the parish doctor, I asked who was to pay in case I got one. She said it should be paid out of her effects. I went immediately to Dr. Colmer, Peter Street, and he was prompt in his attendance. On Sunday evening, I saw Mrs. Lester going to Dr. Colmer's for medicine, and asked her to call in on her return to let me know what he said. He recommednded beef-tea and port wine. I had no beef-tea but at once sent my daughter to Mr Foan's for half a pint of port wine, and gave it to Mrs. Lester to take to Mrs. Hill.
The above are the facts, and I can bring respecable witnesses to prove them. I believe that Mrs. Hill was an honest and respectful woman, and deeply lament that her immediate connexions did not come forward in the hours of her sickness and death.
I remain, sir,
Yours respectfully
GEORGE HANN
Middle Street, Yeovil.