Western Mail Monday May 19th 1924.
Dr.R.J. SMITH, the Cardiff City Coroner, on Saturday investigated the circumstances of the
death of Mrs Mary THOMAS,55, an Abertridwr woman, who died at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary
following an operation.
Dr. William Hewart Charles THOMAS, a resident surgeon at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary, said
that when the operation had been completed Mrs THOMAS showed signs of failing. Cardiac
restorers were administrated, but she died without response.
Witness added that a post-mortem examination revealed fatty degeneration of the heart. A
verdict that death was due to Cardiac failure to an anaesthetic, accelerated by fatty
degeneration of the heart was returned.
A tragedy of unemployment was revealed at the inquest conducted on Saturday by Mr. B.
Edward HOWE on David THOMAS, 62, builder's labourer, of Scotch-street, Abergwynfi, who
was found hanging by some copper wire in an outhouse at the back of the house on Thursday
morning. The widow, Mary Ann THOMAS, said her husband had not worked since Wednesday week,
and could get a turn only now and again.He went out on Wednesday to see the pit manager,
but failed to get work, and on his return told her, " It is very hard; I am out all
day and can't get work " The question of work was on his mind, and he was happy
when working. He appeared to be a little depressed the day before. She had noticed that
for the past few weeks he had been a little quiet and strange. A verdict of "Suicide
whilst of unsound mind" was returned.
Mr. David REES conducted an inquest at the Abertridwr Police-station on Saturday tiuching
the death of Rachel HUGHES 58, a maternity nurse , who was found dead in bed on Thursday
morning at 58, Thomas-street, Abertridwr, the residence of her daughter, Mrs Elizabeth
ROBERTS.
Dr. W.B. WATSON said when he saw Mrs HUGHES she had been dead about two hours. She was a
very active woman, and had been busily attending a number of maternity cases of late.
About three months ago she had a minor attack of apoplexy, and death was due to an
apoplectic seizure. A verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned.
John Patrick