Bachelors’ Arms

4 May 1901, Inquest at the Bachelors Arms

SUDDEN DEATH.
THE INFIRMARY HOUSE SURGEON AND URGENT CASES.

An inquest was held at the Bachelors Arms, Victoria-street, on Monday, before H. A. Marlin, Esq. (Borough Coroner), on the body of Mrs Sarah Ann Bornay, aged 7s, who died suddenly on Sunday morning. Mr Charles Gravatt was chosen foreman of the jury. After the body had been viewed, the following evidence was given.

Mr Andrew Burnay said he lived at No. 2 Bachelors-place, and was a painter by trade. The body the jury had viewed was that of his wife, aged 76. Deceased had been ill for some years, but she had not had a doctor for seven years. Dr Gooch then told her he could not do any more for her. During the last fortnight she had suffered more than usual. She suffered from paralysis and enlarged liver. On Sunday morning, the witness was doing the cooking as usual, and deceased was lying on a bed in the room. He had got all the dinner ready, and he called to her to have some, but he got no answer. He felt her face and found it was cold. He then put his hand on her heart, and found it did not beat. He thought she was dead, and in a distracted state he called for assistance. Dr Paramore, house surgeon at the Infirmary, was fetched. Witness said something during the morning which caused the deceased to laugh, and he thought she was in her usual health.

Dr R. H. Paramore deposed that a message came to the Infirmary between half past one and a quarter to two on Sunday to say that Mrs Burnay was very ill. He was having his dinner, and he did not go then. A second message came to say that she was dead, and he went at once. It was then almost twenty minutes to three. He found the deceased lying in bed, and quite dead. She appeared to have died naturally without any struggling. He made a superficial examination of the body that morning, and he was of the opinion that the deceased died from natural causes. Death was probably due to natural failure of the heart’s action.

The Coroner asked the doctor how it was that he did not go to see the deceased until twenty minutes to three, when he was called between 1.30 and two o’clock.

Dr Paramore said he had an appointment at the time, and he did not see that the delay was unreasonable, seeing that he was not obliged to attend such cases at all.

The Coroner said this matter had often been discussed, and he thought it could not be too widely known that the house surgeon at the Infirmary was not obliged to attend nd such cases. If he could not go, however, he thought the doctor should tell the messenger so, in order that he might go for other assistance. In this case it did not matter, as nothing would probably have saved the poor woman’s life, but in cases of urgency, he thought the Infirmary people should tell the messenger that he must go for another medical man, if the house surgeon could not go at once.
Dr Paramore said he told the nurse to tell the messenger that he would come, but not at once. The rule was that if a ticket came before ten in the morning for him to go and see a patient it was his duty to go, but not after.

A Juryman: I think there should be a printed notice in the Infirmary that the house surgeon is not compelled to attend these cases. Dr Paramore said it was so stated on the tickets.

The Jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes.

3 Jan 1936, Missing Woman

A MISSING WOMAN.

On 17th December Mrs Mary Mitchell, of The Batchelors’ Arms, Victoria Street, Windsor, who is the wife of the landlord’s son. Mr T. Mitchell, went into the bar and told the customers that she was just going out for a few minutes to post a letter. Mrs Mitchell then walked out of the house wearing a black coat with fur collar, and from that time nothing more has been seen or heard of her. Mr Mitchell is at a complete loss to understand what has become of her. He says she went upstairs and said good-night to her two children, a boy and girl, and then called out that she was going to the post and would be back in a minute or two. The Windsor Police would be grateful if any carters or taxi drivers in the district who received instructions to pick up any luggage or a fare from The Batchelors Arms on or before 17th December would communicate with the Police Station immediately.

[[ED: she was subsequently found and charged, with Leslie William Hewitt of the 2nd Batn Grenadier Guards, with the theft £42 10s 2d from the Christmas Club. She pleaded guilty, he innocent. After trial and repaying the money, she was fined £5 and he £6.]]

Sat 20 Aug 1853

James Myers was charged with attempting to pick pockets at the Bachelors Arms, on the 17th inst. The case was proved by police constable Noble, and the prisoner was committed to the borough gaol for 21 days’ hard labour as a rogue and a vagabond.

Feb 1872

Theft of glasses from the pub by sneaking them out in a horse’s nose bag. William Lipscomb was caught and committed for trial. He was found guilty, as the glasses were found at his mother’s house. When other cases were taken into account, he got seven years’ penal servitude.

21 May 1875

William Smith, the landlord, hit a customer, Thomas White, over 5s 3d. The barmaid, his sister-in-law, had asked White for it, but he claimed it was already paid. White made some “unappreciative comments” which Smith took objection to. The case was dismissed.

May 1912

Mr Mason, auctioneer, was to see by auction the freehold of the Bachelors Arms on 29 May 1912. It was let on lease at £36 a year

Sun 13th April 1913

The newspaper reported the sad death of Maud Florence Carder, the second daughter of Alfred and Frances Carder, landlords. She died at the pub, just 13 years old.