The West Kent Guardian of 24th September 1836 reported an inquest  held on 19th September 1836 at the Royal Paper Mill, Tovil, before the coroner F.F. Dally, on the body of Ann Covus, who had died on the evening of Saturday 17th September, by falling down the stairs of her house. Evidence was conflicting and it was queried whether she was pushed by her husband down the stairs, as her husband was known to have previously ill treated her or possibly fallen, due to being slightly intoxicated. Anne Covus, was fifty three years of age, and had been married some seven years to William Covus, prior to their marriage, she was a widow. They were married at Boxley Church on 2nd November 1829. The inquest was adjoined to 27th September 1836.
The following edition of the West Kent Guardian of Saturday 1 October 1836, reported that there had been considerable excitement amongst the residents of Tovil, after it was reported that Ann Covus had been murdered by her husband. Cries of murder had been heard from the house, and a crowd of inhabitants had pushed open the house door to find Ann Covus’ lifeless body at the foot of the stairs. William Covus was immediately charged with the murder of his wife. William Covus stated that on the night of  the alleged murder, he and his wife had, had words about her being out late, they had prepared to go to bed when, he heard a shuffling, which sounded like a fall and cry. He went downstairs and found his wife lying at the bottom of the steps, with her head upwards. There was still room for him to pass by her, without interfering with her! Several of the neighbours came in to the house and he did not interfere. The neighbours stated he had pushed her, down the stairs, which he denied. The neighbours carried her upstairs and were uncertain, if she was sober or had suffered a fit. She was subject to fits and had fallen during a fit on the friday before. She had remarked at the time, that if she had another fit, it would be her last. Two years ago, she had been confined for six months in the lunatic asylum. William Covus, the son of William, reported that he had been sent for, on the Saturday afternoon, as Ann had been taken ill on her way home, she was scarcely able to walk, and he had held her up. He had taken supper with her, and she was tipsy at supper. He said his father and the deceased, often argued but he had never seen his father hit her. Two other witnesses Esther Quinnell and Jane Baker, both spoke against William Covus. William Covus, the son, stated he had challenged his father, after he had broke the door open, and accused him of killing Ann, which he had denied. His father had not replied but struck him. On witnessing a female neighbour attending to Ann Covus, his father had stated “Let the _ die, and her son along with her.” Sophia Tugwell, a married woman, who was close to the Covus’ back premises, on the Saturday night, stated she had heard them, quarrelling, he had threatened her and stated that “if she came upstairs he would break her neck down again. She saw Ann go upstairs, followed by William, and heard Ann exclaim “Oh,Oh Covus do not” She was gasping for breath and she screamed out “murder” and fell with a great force. She had shouted to William Covus to open the door, and William said “bring me a light, let me see where she is – she is dead – I shall die tomorrow” The door was forced open by W. Susans. Sophia Tugwell stated she had known the deceased twenty years and had never seen her tipsy, her daughter corroborated her mother’s evidence. After the second day of the inquest, the jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder against William Covus” The coroner issued a warrant for the committal of William Covus to the Maidstone Gaol, he was apprehended the next day after a “stout” resistance and lodged in the gaol.

At the trail on 13th March 1837, William Covus was found not guilty, the cause of death for Ann was given as simple apoplexy. Mr Bodkin, stated he had examined the deceased Ann Covus, and found a fracture in the second vertebrae of the neck and a dislocation of the first. He stated she may have had apoplexy and fallen down the stairs afterwards, and it was difficult to find the exact cause of death. Esther Quinnell, stated she lived next door to the neighbour and had heard William and Anne Covus, arguing about money. She had heard William, use some very bad language and run upstairs. She went to the Covus’ door and asked William, what he was doing. He stated it was nothing to do with her and she then alarmed the neighbours. Sophia Tugwell and her husband Phillip stated they lived next door, but one to the Covus’ and heard them arguing, and Sophia stated she heard William threatening to kill Ann, on account of her spending 10 shillings. She had heard Ann, callout “murder” and heard a gurgling noise and tumbling down the stairs. Mahala Tugwell corroborated her mother’s statement. Another witness Mary McCoy stated that Ann was at her house about 9 o’clock and had something to drink, and she was very much given to drink. Another witness Jane Baker stated she had worked with Ann at the paper mill and had known her for many years and that on friday 16th September, she had fainted and fallen down, bruising her face and she was not given to drink! Ruth Holloway and Eliza Baker, shop keepers at Tovil, stated Ann had visited their shops on Saturday night and she was not tipsy. Several other witness spoke for William Covus, who described him as being of a most exemplary character for humanity and Mr Clarkson made a good defence case for him, and he was acquitted.

I think this case is interesting, as there seems to be much contradictory evidence, I personally think William Covus was guilty, how could his wife Ann have shouted out “murder” if she was having a fit or stroke? The lack of concern and indifference by William, to his wife laying at the bottom of the stairs, also seems alarming.

From the late 14th to the late 19th century, apoplexy referred to any sudden death that began with a sudden loss of consciousness, especially one in which the victim died within a matter of seconds after losing consciousness. The word apoplexy was sometimes used to refer to the symptom of sudden loss of consciousness immediately preceding death. Ruptured aortic aneurysms, and even heart attacks and strokes were referred to as apoplexy in the past, because before the advent of medical science, there was limited ability to differentiate between abnormal conditions and diseased states.

Interestingly both the Quinnell and Tugwell families were still living in Tovil in 1841, and are recorded on 1841 census. Ruth Holloway was a baker in Church Street, Tovil. The census also reveals that the majority of residents were employed at the paper factory.

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