William Humphries Wheatley

William Humphries Wheatley died from natural causes accelerated by being assaulted.

He was a consulting engineer and a patent agent and had lived in Loraine Mansions in Widdenham Park, Caledonian Road.

He had not been in good health for the previous four months.

His housekeeper said that when she arrived on the morning of 30 January 1915 she found that his dining room was in great disorder and that William Wheatley had a black eye.

She said that she next saw him in his night attire on the Tuesday morning in a dazed condition in his bathroom and then found him later in the day dead in his bed.

A pathologist that carried out his post-mortem said that his death was due to diseases of the heart, liver and kidneys, accelerated by shock from the injuries that he had received. He said that William Wheatley also had fractured ribs on his right side and bruises to the back of his head.

It was also stated that a gold presentation watch and chain with a £2 gold piece that belonged to William Wheatley was also missing. However, it was later heard that the watch and chain were later returned anonymously to the police.

An open verdict was returned.