Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 May 1934
Gluttonous Mania
Death After Huge Meal
Extraordinary Conisborough Case
Raving and Ravenous
The death of Ezra Smith, miner, 21, Pope Avenue, Conisborough, from excessive eating was investigated by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile), and a jury, at the Conisborough Council Offices, on Tuesday.
Elizabeth Smith, 21, who identified the body, said that on Saturday her husband tripped over a mat at home and fell with his head against the fireplace. He had been struggling with witnesses. The incident occurred about 10.30 p.m. He had been excited all day and in the struggle he knocked a decanter off the mantelpiece. In trying to catch it he slipped and knocked his head against the broken glass. He was bleeding, and hearing him shouting one of the children rushed downstairs and went for Mr. Cole, a neighbour, who stopped the bleeding. They sent for a doctor.
The Coroner: “There is no question of a fight?”
Witness: “We have never had a fight in our lives. He was the best husband a woman could have.”
Enormous Meal
Witness added that during the day her husband had been very excited and would not allow the family to have food. He had never been normal since he was involved in an accident at Rocherdyke two years ago when he was knocked down by a motor car and sustained injuries to his left shoulder. He had never been violent although he had been very childish. He had not been working regularly and this had worried him. He has been employed at Denaby Main. He had been worse in his mind within the last fortnight but had refused a doctor.
On Saturday afternoon, about 2 o’clock, he was preparing to visit Dr. Bell regarding herself, when she heard her husband shouting about “a man who had done him some injury several months ago.” He then ordered all the chairs and various other household articles to be taken out of the house. He would not allow her to prepare the table for a meal saying that no one wanted to eat.
Later he left the house and walked up and down the street. She tried to persuade him to return home, but he refused.
On Sunday he had his dinner at 3-30 and asked for his tea at 4 o’clock when he had an enormous meal. In recent weeks he had complained of having a scarcely anything to eat. He came downstairs at 7 o’clock in the evening and on looking at the clock shouted “I am late for church; they will go mad in church without me.” He was in the habit of going to church.
Being quietened by Mr. Cole, he played dominoes with his two children.
Wife’s Ordeal
Witness left the house to visit a neighbour and on her return her husband asked for his supper. Having eaten almost the whole of four tea cakes he asked for more. She cut out nine and he made her cut more.
When she refused he threatened to kill her. Hearing her father shouting, witness’s daughter came downstairs and fetched Cole.
Smith continued to eat, and altogether witness cut 13 teacakes. There were no more so he made his daughter cut a loaf of bread.
In the meantime Cole went for Dr. Bell, and Cole’s son tried to dissuade Smith from eating. Witness said she could bear it no longer and went to a neighbour with whom she stayed. She had then cut thirteen teacakes and one loaf.
The Coroner: “Although he was getting worse during the last fortnight you did not think it was necessary to ask someone to inquire into his mental condition?”
“No, sir. He had been visiting Dr. Bell occasionally. He only acted like a child, and he never threatened to do anyone harm.”
Frantic
John Arthur Cole, miner, 25, Hope Avenue, Conisborough, said he had known Smith for three years. He had noticed Smith getting worse during the last few weeks.
On visiting the house on Sunday he found Smith frantically rushing about. Witness was again fetched later in the evening to try and stop Smith from overeating.
On returning with the doctor he found Smith in a state of collapse. Dr. Bell then sent for an ambulance, as no one could stop the man from eating. It was obvious that Smith did not realise what he was doing.
Ravenous
Dr. Daniel McDonald Bell said he attended Smith periodically. His chief complaint was of pains in the back. He had appeared to be quite normal up to Saturday.
He had then found Smith suffering from superficial scalp wounds. Visiting the house on Sunday evening he discovered Smith gorging himself with food; he was ravenous.
Smith complained of his stomach being empty. When witness felt it, it was greatly distended. So serious was his condition that he sent for an ambulance. Smith, however, died before its arrival.
Dr. Bell said a post-mortem examination showed lacerations to the scalp, and the larynx was blocked with food. The stomach was enormously distended with food and death was due to suffocation.
The Coroner said it was a most extraordinary case. There was no doubt that Smith had become mentally deficient and was unaware of what he was doing.
The jury returned a verdict of “Death by misadventure.”