Sarah Lofts

Sydney Morning Herald, 2 May 1859

INQUEST- On Saturday, at Petersham, the City Coroner instituted an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of a woman named Sarah Lofts, aged thirty seven years, who had died suddenly on Friday evening. From the evidence of the husband (who is a brickmaker) and daughter of the deceased it appears that, on Friday evening, she being then in good health, ate a hearty supper as usual, after which she went into the yard to wash her hands; on return- ing indoors, her daughter observed that she looked very pale, and inquired what was the matter, when the deceased fell to the ground. The daughter ran and called her stepfather (who had gone into the house of a neighbour) who at once hastened into the house, and found his wife lying on the floor. He lifted her on to a chair, where she immediately expired, without uttering a word. On examining the yard blood marks were observed, extending from the place where she had just washed her hand to the spot on which she fell. From the medical testimony it appeared that the deceased must have ruptured a blood vessel internally. The deceased had been twice married, and was the mother of six children; at the time of her death she was enceinte, and within a month of her accouchement. Verdict, "Died by the visitation of God."