| Husband: | Albert READHEAD (1862- ) | |
| Wife: | Alice Mary JAMES (1863- ) | |
| Children: | Albert Ernest READHEAD (1887-1929) | |
| Marriage | 1882 | South Stoneham, Hampshire, England |
| Name: | Albert READHEAD1 | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 1862 | Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England |
| Occupation | 29 Mar 1914 (age 51-52) | sawyer1 |
| Name: | Alice Mary JAMES | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 1863 | Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England |
| Name: | Albert Ernest READHEAD | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Spouse: | Florence MADGE (1891-1977) | |
| Birth | 1887 | Wimborne, Dorset, England |
| Baptism | 1 May 1887 (age 0) | Colehill, Dorset, England |
| Residence | 29 Mar 1914 (age 26-27) | Crediton , Devon, England1 |
| Tolleys | ||
| Occupation | 29 Mar 1914 (age 26-27) | Sawyer; Crediton , Devon, England1 |
| Enlisted (Military) | 31 Dec 1914 (age 27 yrs 9 mns) | Exeter, Devon, England |
| Discharged (Military) | 17 May 1915 (age 27-28) | |
| Discharged "Not likely to become an efficient soldier" under para 392 (iii)(cc) Kings Regulations. He was diagnosed with valvular disease of the heart. | ||
| Census | 19 Jun 1921 (age 34 yrs 3 mns) | Honiton, Devon, England2 |
| Queen Street | ||
| Occupation | 19 Jun 1921 (age 33-34) | Sawyer; Honiton, Devon, England2 |
| Employment: George Blay, Timber Merchant Place of Work: Honiton |
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| Military Regiment | Devonshire Regt | |
| Military Service No. | 15124 | |
| Residence - Enlistment | -; Crediton , Devon, England | |
| 2 Tolleys | ||
| Occupation - Enlistment | sawyer | |
| Next of Kin (Military) | Florence Readhead; Crediton , Devon, England | |
| 2 Tolleys wife |
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| Military Rank | Private | |
| Death | 11 Aug 1929 (age 41-42) | Exeter, Devon, England |
| Cause: Suicide whilst of unsound mind Address: Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter THE WESTERN MORNING NEWS AND MERCURY Thursday August 15 1929. STORY OF EXETER MAN’S DEATH INQUEST ADJOURNED FOR ANALYSIS The inquest which was opened yesterday at Exeter on Albert Ernest Readhead, a sawyer, of Queen Street, Exeter, who died in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on Sunday, was adjourned by the deputy-coroner, Mr. Hamilton Brown, was adjourned until September 3, in order that the man’s organs could be analysed. The widow stated that her husband was discharged from the Army for valvular disease of the heart, and last Christmas he gave up his work as a sawyer through ill-health. He was under the doctor who prescribed some tablets for epileptic fits. He had enough of these in the house at a time to last three months. He ceased to take them just before Christmas, and she thought there was half a box left. After Christmas he went to another doctor, who tried him with medicine first. He had tablets from him off and on the last lot being on Wednesday last. SUFFERED FROM DELUSIONS On Saturday her husband became depressed after breakfast and started crying. She fetched hot water and milk for him. Later returning to the kitchen she found he had a delusion. He had had delusions for about three months. Following that he dozed off. He did not wake, and as he was foaming at the mouth she sent for a doctor, who said he thought he had taken a drug. Witness showed the doctor the box of tablets, and he said her husband had probably taken two of them, and would sleep for two or three hours, but if he did not come round in that time, she had better call him again. As he had not moved she sent for the doctor again, and her husband was ordered to hospital. She had searched for the first box of tablets, but could not find it. She found one tablet on the floor, which she was positive was one of the first prescription. During the last three months he had said if he could make a good job of it he would cut his throat, or if he could get something to make him sleep off he would do so. He worried because he had so little money coming in. Dr. P.H. Fox, house physician at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, said the man was admitted on Saturday evening, unconscious, and in a serious condition. Witness was present at a post-mortem examination, which confirmed his diagnosis that the man died of some kind of narcotic poison. The Deputy-Coroner (Mr. Hamilton Brown), in adjourning the enquiry for three weeks, said in the meantime he would have enquiries made at Honiton, as the chemist could probably tell them the doctor’s prescription, and say when the tablets were supplied. THE WESTERN TIMES Friday September 6 1929 HONITON SUICIDE Overdose of Phenylethyl Barbituric Acid WANTED A “LONG SLEEP” “This is a case in which I am finding that the deceased died from poisoning, self-administered, whilst of unsound mind, and therefore it becomes a case of suicide whilst of unsound mind,” said the Deputy Coroner (Mr. H. Linford Brown) when at the Court House, Exeter, on Tuesday, he closed the inquiry into the death of Albert Ernest Readhead, 44, Queen Street, Honiton, a sawyer. The inquest had been adjourned for three weeks in order that certain organs of the body might be analysed. At the first hearing evidence was given by Mrs. Readhead, the widow, that deceased had worked as a sawyer until Christmas, when he gave up on account of ill-health; that previously he had been under treatment by Dr. Steele-Perkins, of Honiton, who had prescribed some tablets for epileptic fits; that there weresome of these tablets in a box on the top of a kitchen cupboard, and that at the time of the tragedy, there would have been about half a box of the tablets left. After Christmas, Mrs. Readhead stated, her husband was treated by Dr. Hope Gill, who had prescribed medicine first, and then tablets, one tablet to be taken each day. Two or three of these tablets were missing. Lately the deceased had been very depressed and subject to delusions. Mrs. Readhead then described in detail her husband’s conduct and illness on Saturday, August 10th, before his removal to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital suffering from narcotic poisoning, death taking place at the hospital on the Sunday evening. She added that she had since searched for the first box of tablets, which had been kept on the kitchen cupboard, but had been unable to find it, although she found one of the tablets on the floor. The proceedings of the adjourned inquest yesterday lasted only twenty minutes. Dr. Thomas S. McManus, locum tenens for Dr. Hope Gill, Honiton, at the time of the occurrence, said he was called to the deceased’s house at about 2 p.m. on August 10th and saw him seated in a chair and unconscious. His condition suggested that he was drugged. Witness came to the conclusion, from the condition that he found him in, that he had taken two or three tablets. He treated deceased for this and asked that a watch be kept on his condition so that he (witness) could be informed. He went to the house again between 5 and 6 o’clock and found him practically in the same condition and ordered his removal to hospital. The Coroner handed to the witness a prescription which he said was given by Dr. Hope Gill, dated 2nd August and asked, “No overdose of this would have caused any throuble?” Witness: No. I should not think that that would have anything to do with the man’s condition. There is no narcotic in this, is there? -- No. The Coroner: There was a post-mortem made on the deceased at the hospital by Dr.Hamilton Fox, and they came to the conclusion that the deceased died from some kind of poisoning, and some of the contents of the intestines were sent to Mr. Tickle, the Public Analyst. Mr. Tickle says the body must have contained a total of not less than 20 grains of phenylethyl barbituric acid. “The ordinary dose,” proceeded the Coroner, “ does not exceed 5 grains, and ten grains might have a toxic effect. Now in the box which was lost there might have been many tablets left, containing many grains?” Witness: Twenty grains, I should, think would constitute a fatal dose. Deceased had every indication when you examined him, that he had taken something of that sort? – That is so. Mrs. Beatrice Skinner, of 10 Queen Street, Honiton, said she went over to Mrs. Readhead’s at 10.45 o’clock on the morning of 10th August, and saw Mr. Readhead taking some medicine from a bottle. The bottle was similar to one now produced by the Coroner. Witness said she went to Mrs. Readhead’s again at about half-past twelve o’clock, just to call in, and she saw Mr. Readhead sitting in an armchair. The Coroner: Did he seem depressed then? Witness: He looked different. Sleepy he was, then. Did he say “I wish I could have a long sleep and know that I would be dead by 5 o’clock tonight?” – Yes. Witness added that she had never heard him threaten his life. Mrs. Readhead, the widow, was then called to the witness box, and in reply to the Coroner said that she had made a further search for the box containing the tablets, but had not been able to find it. The Coroner: There was every opportunity for him to have put it in the fire? – Yes, sir. Do you remember his taking this medicine? –Yes, that in the bottle. P.C.Pittkin then produced a certificate from Mr. Thomas Tickle, the Analyst, who stated that he had examined certain organs which the witness had submitted to him on August 13th, and he had to report that they contained phenylethyl barbituric acid in quantities indicating that the body a total of not less than 20 grains. This concluded the evidence, and the Coroner returned a verdict as stated. |
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| 1 | Text From Source: 1914, Marriage solemnized at Parish Church of the Holy Cross in the Parish of Crediton in the County of Devon Marriage No: South West Heritage Trust Archive Ref:2935A/PR/1/40 Devon Marriages and banns, parish marriages. When Married: 29 Mar 1914 Name and Surname: Albert Ernest Readhead and Florence Madge Age: 27 and 22 Condition: Bachelor and Spinster Rank or Profession: Sawyer and - Residence at the time of Marriage: Tolleys, Crediton and Tolleys, Crediton Fathers' Names and Surnames: Albert Readhead and James Madge Rank or Professions of Fathers: sawyer and labourer Married in the church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, After Banns by me, Walter M Smith-Dorrien. This Marriage was solemnized between us, Ernest Readhead and Florence Madge in the Presence of us, James Madge, Reginald Madge |
| 2 | Text From Source: Census England 1921 Address: Queen Street Place: Honiton, Devon, England Name,Relation,Age,Sex,Marr/Orph'd,Birthplace,Nationality,Education,Occupation,Employment,Place of Work,Chd <16,Children's Ages Ernest Readhead,Head,34y 3m,M,Married,Wimborne, Dorset, England,,,Sawyer,George Blay, Timber Merchant,Honiton,3,1,4,6 Florence Readhead,Wife,29y 8m,F,Married,Crediton, Devon, England,,,Home duties,,,, William Readhead,Son,6y 1m,M,Both Alive,Crediton, Devon, England,,Whole Time,,,,, Edith Readhead,Daughter,4y 2m,F,Both Alive,Crediton, Devon, England,,,,,,, Jack Readhead,Son,1y 5m,M,Both Alive,Crediton, Devon, England,,,,,,, James Madge,Father-in-law,67y 7m,M,Widowed,Crediton, Devon, England,,,labourer, retired,,,, |