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Fortunato Marchesini

Age: 58

Sex: male

Date: 23 Oct 1907

Place: Chiswell Street, Finsbury, London

Fortunato Marchesini was hit on the head in Chiswell Street, Finsbury, London.

He was an Italian organ grinder.

He was hit on the head in the course of a disturbance in Chiswell Street, but the police did not hold out any hope of finding his assailant.

He had been playing his organ in Chiswell Street in the company of a friend when they were disturbed by a band of rowdy youths who came from the direction of Whitecross Street. Fortunato Marchesini had commenced to move away but almost immediately was struck behind his head with a missile.

He had a 2.5 inch deep wound in his head.

He later died at St Bartholomews Hospital where an operation was performed on him. The doctor said that he had been suffering from a severe wound at the back of his left ear and the operation, which was required, was carried out to stop the excessive haemorrhage and that only chloroform could be used. He said that during the administration of the anaesthetic Fortunato Marchesini suddenly expired as a result of his tongue which was excessive in size stopping up his air passage.

After Fortunato Marchesini died an incision was made in his abdomen and a doctor passed his hand through his diaphragm and massaged his heart. The doctor said that that had only been tried once before at St Bartholomews Hospital but it had been attempted with success in other institutions.

The doctor said that he believed the wound behind the ear had been caused with a knife, a bayonet, or some sharp curved instrument.


*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.

see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

see London Daily News - Wednesday 23 October 1907

see Shoreditch Observer - Saturday 26 October 1907

see Hull Daily Mail - Wednesday 16 October 1907

see Lincolnshire Echo - Wednesday 23 October 1907

see London Metropolitan Archives City Of London Coroners Court - CLA/041/IQ/04/01/007/155/01