Annie Elizabeth Bowen

Annie Elizabeth Bowen died from peritonitis following an abortion.

An open verdict was returned.

She had been the wife of a chemist and had lived at 37 Golborne Road in North Kensington.

A woman who lived in Chippenham Road who was the mother of a woman that lodged in the same house as Annie Bowen said that her daughter sent for her to nurse Annie Bowen. She said that she had had a prior engagement however, but later went and saw Annie Bowen who she said told her that she had had a miscarriage, but didn't tell her the cause.

A doctor that lived at 20 Golborne Road said that he knew Annie Bowen before she was married. He said that on 4 January 1904 that she came to him, and looked run down and he prescribed for her anaemia. He noted that he had no reason then to suspect anything. However, he said that she called the next day or so and seemed very uneasy about herself. He said that he questioned her and concluded that she was pregnant, noting that there were all the signs of it.

He said that he then advised her to get married.

He said that he saw her again after the abortion and asked her husband what he had given her, and that in consequence of him telling him that he had given her some ergot in November, and of having asked on this later occasion if ergotine would do her any harm, he said that he advised him seriously against giving her anything at all.

He added that there was no reason either, for it to be given.

He said that when another man was called in in consultation that he asked Annie Bowen's husband what he had given her, and said that he replied, 'Nothing, except what I told the doctor about'. The doctor noted that the drug was an abortive, and no use for anaemia. However, he added that ergot given at the time stated would have had no effect, and said that he could assign no cause for the abortion.

He noted that when he prescribed for Annie Bowen's anaemia that the drugs were made up by her husband.

Another doctor agreed that the action of ergot would have been no use for anaemia.

After hearing the evidence, the jury said that they were agreed that Annie Bowen's death was the result of an abortion, but said that they could not say the cause of it, and an open verdict was returned.

The coroner described the circumstances of Annie Bowen's death as strange.

The location where 37 Golborne Road would have been has since been redeveloped into flats.