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Note: Bridget was a 24 year old house maid when she married Patrick O'Sullivan at Beaufort in June 1883.One of the 4 bridesmaids was the bride's sister. Patrick O'Sullivan was an hotel-keeper, he had the'Lady of the Lake Hotel' at Wooroonooke.In April 1885,Bridget died suddenly in her sleep at the hotel.
The East Charlton Tribune was published each Wednesday & Saturday mornings.
East Charlton Tribune Weds. April 22, 1885 Wooroonook Sale - O'Sullivan's Yards Adjourned till Monday, 27th April 1885 Glowrey, Danaher & Co, beg to announce that, owing to the sad death of Mrs O'Sullivan, their Monthly Sale has been adjourned till the above date, when they will have yarded 200 first-class Store Bullocks and Heifers, 50 Fat Cattle, A large quantity of Fat and Store Sheep, Horses, light and heavy, 1 Spring Waggon and 2 Horses A good turn out for a skin dealer
East Charlton Tribune Wed April 22, 1885 We regret to record the sudden death of the wife of Mr Patrick O'Sullivan of the Lady of the Lake Hotel, at Wooroonooke. The event, when it became known, created a profound sensation in the neighbourhood, owing to its unexpectedness, and furnishes a striking illustration of the appositeness of the adage, "In the midst of life we are in death!" Mrs O'Sullivan, to all appearance, was in the enjoyment of robust health, so much so that a brief, passing remark made by her, complaining of a slight pain in the region of her left chest, during the evening, attracted little or no attention, and certainly awakened no special anxiety or surprise. She went to bed about 10 o'clock, but Mr O'Sullivan did not retire to rest until an hour or two afterwards, when his wife appeared to be all right as usual. When he awoke in the morning his astonishment may be better imagined than described on discovering his wife cold and stiff beside him. He immediately called upon Mr Rutter and Mrs Nesbitt, and informed them of the portentous fact. It was only a few months ago that she successfully passed a medical examination, and became a beneficial member, it is stated, of the Australian' Widows Life Assurance Society. The sad event was at once reported to police, and a telegram was dispatched to Mr R. Strickland, the coroner at Sandhurst, who, however it appeared by subsequent telegram, was absent in Melbourne. Under the circumstances, the deputy coroner was communicated with, and an enquiry will be conducted this morning.
East Charlton Tribune Sat. April 25, 1885 Sudden Death At Wooroonooke Considerable excitement was occassioned in the neighbourhood of Wooroonooke on Tuesday morning last, when it became known that Mrs Bridget O'Sullivan, wife of the landlord of the Lady Of The Lake Hotel, had died suddenly in sleep during the previous night. A magisterial enquiry was conducted by Mr J. Sutherland, J.P., on Wednesday morning, and as the evidence Dr Jee, who had made a "post mortem" examination of the body, and the testimony of the other witnesses taken together, pointed to the fact that the deceased was a healthy woman, the contents of her stomach were secured, placed in sealed jars, and transmitted to Melbourne for analysis. The inquest, pending the result of the investigation by this Government Analyist, was adjourned to a future date. The following evidence was adduced, the Magistrate having made an order for the interment of the body on Thursday :- Samuel Rutter deposed - I reside at the Wooroonooke Hotel. I knew the deceased. The last time I saw her alive was on Monday evening, April 20. I spoke to her and afterwards saw her again when she was passing through the hall about half past 7 o'clock in the evening. She was discharging her ordinary duties about the house. In the morning, the 21st instant, I was awakened by some one crying very bitterly. I recognised the voice as that of Mr O'Sullivan. He called very loudly, "Rutter, get up ; my wife is dead." I thought at first he was only dreaming, but as he kept repeating these cries, I soon became convinced it was a reality. I came out of my own room and woke up Thomas Richardson, who works about the hotel, and is employed by Mr O'Sullivan. I asked him to go for a doctor, still hoping there might be some mistake. I then met Mr O'Sullivan in the passage, and together with him went into the room where the deceased was lying. A single glance at the face showed me Mrs O'Sullivan was dead. I placed my hand on her forehead, but it was quite cold. I have been living in the hotel about 14 months. By the way I do not think the deceased lived very happily with her husband. Thomas Richardson deposed - I am a carpenter, and reside at the Lady Of The Lake Hotel, Wooroonooke. I know Mrs O'Sullivan. I last saw Mrs O'Sullivan alive at 8 o'clock on the evening of the 20th April. She appeared to be in her usual health. About 7 o'clock of the morning of the 21st inst, Mr O'Sullivan called me saying, "Tom, get up; my wife is dead." I went to her bedroom with him, and saw the deceased lying dead on the bed. The body was lying on its back as if the deceased had died without a struggle. I have been living in the hotel about three months. I have heard Mrs O'Sullivan complain occassionally of being a little sick. I fancied that it was biliousness that caused her to complain. Examined by the Police - So far as I know the deceased lived happily with her husband. I never heard any serious quarrel between them. Ida Milverton, servant girl, residing at The Lady of the Lake Hotel, said - I Know the deceased, and last saw her alive between 9 and 10 o'clock on Monday night. I only took my situation on Friday, 17th instant, when Mrs O'Sullivan was complaining of a pain in the chest. She was, however, able to perform her ordinary domestic duties. She went to bed on Monday night in good health and spirits, and though complaining, seemed to be in better health than she was the day previous. I next saw Mrs O'Sullivan on the following morning, when I was called by Mr O'Sullivan, who was screaming "My wife is dead ; my wife is dead." He called me up, and I went into the room where Mrs O'Sullivan was lying. She was lying on her back with her hands on her breast. She did not seem as if she had been struggling ; but was very composed, apparently having died without a struggle. Examined by Police - So far as I know they lived happily together. I never heard any dispute between them. Mrs O'Sullivan seemed very fond of her husband. Patrick O'Sullivan said - I am a licensed victualler, and keep the Lady of the Lake Hotel, Wooroonooke. On the 20th April I went to Charlton, and returned home about half past 7 o'clock on the evening of the same day. My wife appeared in her usual health, but had been complaining some time previously. She went to bed about one hour afterwards. I slept very soundly until 7 o'clock in the morning, when I woke and found my wife dead alongside me. She could not have struggled without waking me. I then rose and called Mr Rutter, a lodger in the house. We woke the girl up, Ida Milverton. We afterwards called the neighbours together. To the Police - The body, I think, was lying in the same position it was in when I first saw my wife dead. I noticed no signs of bleeding at the mouth when I awoke. Her face was cold, but her body was warm. My wife often complained of being unwell, but I put it off by saying "It is like all you women," never thinking there was anything the matter with her. William Dwyer, deposed - I am a mounted-constable stationed at Charlton. On the morning of the 21st April I received information from Mr Lynas, J.P. stating that the wife of Mr P. O'Sullivan of the Lake Hotel, Wooroonooke, had died suddenly during the previous night. I reported the death to the Deputy Coroner, who instructed the police to hold a magesterial enquiry into the cause of death of the deceased. I examined the body and found no marks of violence upon it, the body presenting the appearance of death occuring during sleep. In the room in which the deceased was lying, I found a small tumbler containing crystals in a semi-liquid state, and also a soda-water bottle half full of a liquid as well as two other bottles containing liquids. Henry Christian Jee deposed - I am a legally qualified medical practitioner, residing at Charlton. On April 22, 1885 I was ordered by the coroner to make a "post mortem" examination of the body of Bridget O'Sullivan. On examination, I found her to be well nourished, and presenting no marks of violence or otherwise about the body. The brain and other organs were quite healthy, but the stomach and some parts of the intestines showed signs of inflammation. The stomach also contained a small quantity of fluid. Decomposition had advanced too far to allow me to form any conclusion as to the cause of the inflammation, and I therefore consider it necessary that the contents should be forwarded to the Government Analyst for examination. For that purpose I have sealed in a jar the parts required. The investigation was adjourned to a future date. The remains of the deceased were interred in the Charlton Cemetery on Thursday afternoon. The funeral was very largely attended, the burial service being celebrated by the Rev Father Costello of Charlton.
East Charlton Tribune Wed. April 29, 1885 We have received a note from Mr Rutter, who gave evidence at the recent inquest on the body of the late Mrs O'Sullivan, who died suddenly at the Lady of the Lake Hotel last week. He asks us to make a correction, denying that his last answer in his evidence was given in reply to a question submitted to him "by the police," which was the fact. The evidence as published by us was an exact copy of the depositions as sworn to by the several witnesses and signed by them ; and if there is any error in them, that error should have been corrected in the presence of the Court when the evidence was read over to the various deponents.
East Charlton Tribune Wed. May 1885 The magisterial enquiry which was commenced on the 22nd of April into the circumstances attending the sudden death of Mrs Bridget O'Sullivan, wife of the landlord of the Lady of the Lake Hotel at Wooroonooke, was resumed by Mr J. Sutherland, J.P., at the Charlton Court House yesterday. It will be remembered that the contents of the stomach of the deceased had been forwarded to the Government Analyst for examination, and Mr Sutherland now stated that he had received that official's report, which was as follows:- St Kilda, April 30, 1885. Memo - I have carefully examined the stomach's contents referred to herein and find nothing more than a little mercury, probably administered medicinally. No poison of any kind found in the four packages accompanying the stomach. If death was caused by poison such poison must have been removed by absorption from the stomach before death." Dr Jee, in answer to a question by the magistrate as to why he had considered it necessary that the stomach and it's contents should be forwarded to Melbourne for analysis, stated that he had done so in consequence of the rumours to the effect that the deceased had died by poison, supposed to have been taken intentionally. The doctor added that he took this course to allay suspicion in regard to the rumours which had found currency in the district. The Magistrate said that he considered the doctor's action was characterised by kindness to the husband of the deceased, that it fully dispelled all doubts, and set the matter at rest. The finding of the Court, therefore, was that death had been due to natural causes.
From death certificate - "Bridget O'Sullivan,Married Woman,died at Wooroonooke,April 21 1885.Natural causes from inflammation of stomach.Female 27 years. Parents-Michael & Ellen Normoyle.Professions not known. Buried April 22 1885,West Charlton cemetery. She was born in Cork,Ireland and had been 7 years in Victoria. At the age of 24 she had married Patrick O'Sullivan at Beaufort,Victoria." Verdict of Magisterial Enquiry adjourned from the 22nd of April held by J.Sutherland Esq.JP May 6th 1885.
Digger - Inquest Index. Victoria 1840 - 1985 Surname: OSULLIVAN Given Names: Bridget Age: Place: Wooroonook Year: 1885 Reference: 491 Sex: Cause: Inflammation Stomach Occupation: Inq Date: Nationality: Ship: Notes:
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