This is the sad and shocking story of Arthur James who died from alcohol poisoning aged just 7 years old. We learn how 5 year old George Ockwell was called to give evidence at the inquest and how his mother, Emily Ockwell, had walked past the stricken boy who was vomitting and unable to stand or speak. And then we hear how his 14 year old sister Anne James arrived on the scene and picked up her brother. An unnamed man came to the girl’s assistance and carried her brother home where he died the following day.

More than 130 years later this story still shocks and saddens the reader.

Death from drinking spirits – An inquest was held on Monday morning, by Mr. Coroner Baker, at the Clifton Hotel, Clifton Street, New Swindon, on the body of Arthur James, aged 7, son of Simeon James, of 17 Kingshill Cottages, Swindon, who died on Friday afternoon from convulsions caused by drinking spirits which he obtained by forcibly entering a pavilion at the Ranger Cricket ground, Old Swindon.

Mr W.E. Morris was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr W.H. Kinneir and Mr E. Smith were present as representing the Ranger Cricket Club, and Mr. E.G. Lay, of Wood Street, Swindon, was also present.

George Ockwell, aged five years, son of Walter Ockwell, was called before the Coroner, and from him was elicited the information that the deceased, with the witness and another juvenile, were in the Ranger cricket field Thursday morning. The deceased entered the window of the pavilion and got out two bottles of spirits. With these the trio went down Lansdowne Road, and witness stated James drunk the contents of the bottles. After doing this he lay down, and the other boys left him, taking one of the empty bottles with them home. One of the bottles was now produced and also broken pieces of the other (found near the deceased by his father). From these it appeared that their contents were spirits.

Emily Ockwell, mother of the first witness, stated that on Thursday about two o’clock she was going to work along Lansdown Road, with her son, who had been with the deceased, when she found James in Vickery’s field. A lad was trying to hold him up, but he was insensible and could not stand or speak. Witness, understanding that deceased’s sister was coming to take him away, left him lying there. Whilst there he vomited a little, and had vomited a great deal before she arrived. He smelt strongly of spirits.

Anne James, deceased’s sister, stated that on Thursday, about 2.30 p.m., she found her brother lying in Vickery’s field, insensible. She picked him up, and he opened his eyes once. She carried him a short distance, and a man carried him the rest of the way. He told her that deceased was in a fit. He vomited after reaching home, and smelt strongly of spirits. He died on Friday afternoon, about half past three o’clock.

Dr. J.B. Fry deposed that on Thursday, about 4.30 p.m., he saw the deceased lad. He was then in a state of insensibility; his skin was cold and pale. The pupils of the eyes were very widely dilated, and insensible to light. Deceased was also in convulsions, which continued until his death. There was a bruise about the size of a pigeon’s egg on his forehead, and also a bruise on the right temple, which might have been caused by his falling. He could detect no smell of spirits either in the breath on on the clothes, and there was then no vomiting. From the history of the case it was probable that the convulsions were the result of an overdose of alcohol.

The Coroner, in summing up, said there was little doubt that the deceased got hold of the bottles of spirits, and through drinking too much of the spirit convulsion resulted, which caused death.

Before the jury gave their verdict, Mr. E.G. Lay stated that he had the management of the pavilion in the Ranger cricket ground. Two bottles, with some brandy and whisky in them, and a whole bottle of rum had been left in the pavilion, which he believed were securely fastened. The three bottles were missed on Thursday evening. An entrance had been effected into the pavilion, and then through an inner window into his compartment.

The jury returned a verdict of death from convulsions due to alcoholic poisoning.

The North Wilts Herald, Friday, September 17, 1886.

Arthur James, seven years old, of 17 Kingshill was buried on September 14, 1886 in a public grave plot A659. The following day a 5 month old baby, Ethel Maud Tilley was buried in the same plot.