Penistone, Stocksbridge and Hoyland Express – Saturday 02 February 1924
Tragedy Of Drink
Denaby Draper’s Dismal End
A verdict of death caused by excessive drinking was returned by Mr. Frank Allen, on Saturday, at an inquest held on Ernest Kirby, aged 41, draper, Stansforth Terrace, Denaby.
Harold Kirby, of 63, Bolton street, Denaby Main, a draper, identified the body as that of his brother, and said he last saw him alive on January 22. At that time his brother was “quite all right,” but had not been in the best of health of late, and had been taking too much to drink. He visited the house on the morning of the 25th after hearing from Mrs. Kirby that there had been some bother. Witness could see his brother through the kitchen window lying on the floor. He had fallen forward with his head resting on the fire guard. Witness knocked several times but received no answer, and a man, Wm. Humphries, entered the house by means of the cellar grate, and then opened the door. Witness entered and found his brother was dead.
John Arthur Smith, a miner, said he last saw Kirby alive about tea time on Thursday. He was in his own kitchen. Kirby was quite well. Smith had been invited with others to spend the afternoon with Kirby. Witness saw the deceased about 12.45 p.m. in the afternoon when they arranged for the purchase of a small bottle of rum. Four people assembled at Kirby’s house about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Some two hours later the four friends left, at which time Kirby was apparently quite sober. There was a little rum left in the bottle.
Dr. J. McArthur said he had known Kirby for many years. Kirby served in the war, and, as a result, his moral character was weakened, to which observation the Coroner remarked that the effects of the war were pretty general in that respect. The doctor acknowledged that Kirby was in the habit of taking too much alcohol. Dr. McArthur had visited deceased during the last three years, the last visit being made on December 27, 1923. Kirby had been suffering from a dilated heart, caused by excessive drinking.
The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.