Evidence Type: Newspaper Report > Coronial Inquest
20 November 1841
PARRAMATTA
NOVEMBER 17.— On Tuesday last, an Inquest was held in this town, before CHARLES BETHEL LYONS, Esq., Coroner, upon view of the body of a woman named JANE CASTELLO* [sic]. It appeared that the deceased had always been an habitual drunkard, and that when laboring [sic] under the effects of her dreadful propensity, she was subject to fits, and was at such times totally unconscious of her acts; she had been confined in the Factory for a month previous, and had hardly been liberated a day, when she returned to her old habits. The excessive use of raw rum, added to the heat of the weather, and the circumstance of her having been deprived of all stimulants for a month, entirely deprived her of reason, and proved conducive to turn her mental faculties so far, as to lead her to plunge herself into the river close to the town. HORSEBROOK, a private in the 80th Regt., stationed at Parramatta, saw her commit the rash act, and used every praiseworthy exertion to save her, but without effect. His conduct deserves a favorable [sic] notice from his superiors. The Jury were satisfied that the deceased met with no ill-treatment, but was acting under a temporary deprivation of reason, and returned a verdict accordingly.
* JANE COSTELLO aka JANE HAMMOND per Thomas Harrison (1836).
CITATION
Female Factory Online (femalefactoryonline.org), “Coronial Inquest: Jane COSTELLO aka JANE HAMMOND,” https://femalefactoryonline.org/coronial-inquests/c18411120/, accessed [insert current date].
RELATED CONTENT
See Original
Burial Register: JANE COSTELLO aka JANE HAMMOND
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