The London Medical Gazette 1837-8 Vol 21 1053 pp
	
        p 693 27th January 1838
        Editorial - Another Death from Starvation.
        Case reported in the Times of 16th January 1838.
        Inquest held at the Plough Inn Clapham Common 12th - 15th Jan 1838
        Mary Stonard aged 61.
        On the 11th Charles Hughes a waiter at the Plough observed that
        the deceased and another woman came into the tap-room.
        The former could hardly walk, and her companion tried to give 
        her something to drink and eat, but she collapsed on the floor
        insensible.
        Mary Ann Stonard the daughter in law of the deceased deposed that
        the husband of the deceased was so lame and infirm as to be unable
        to work, that occasional relief obtained from the parish of Putney
        had been so trifling, as scarcely to keep them from starving.
        On Thursday morning the deceased applied for relief, but was refused
        the relieving officer observing that if she wanted any she must go
        to the Board of Guardians of the Wandsworth Union, at Clapham
        her mother started to go, although the distance was four miles.
        Daniel Stonard the husband stated that he had long been out of
        employ, that on the Saturday previous to the death of his wife,
        they obtained 1 pound of mutton, and 2 two-pound loaves. This 
        was the first relief for several weeks.
        A few months back himself and his wife were sent to the Board of
        Guardians at Clapham for relief; they waited from 9 o'clock in
        the morning until 6 o'clock in the evening, but obtained none.
        He also said that the parish of Putney consented to take him and
        his wife into the workhouse, but she refused, dreading the 
        regulations which are enforced by the new system.
        James Unwin, the relieving overseer said that the deceased applied
        for relief about a month ago, when he told her that he would give
        them an order to go into the workhouse, which she refused to 
        accept. 
        The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from exhaustion
        induced by the extreme severity of the weather acting on a frame
        very thinly clad, fatigued, an in want of the common necessaries
        of life.
        
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        Same Editorial -
        It appears from the severity of the weather, and the consequent
        suspension of labour, the distress among the poor of Maidstone
        has been most alarming.
        A meeting to take their state into consideration, was held in the 
        town on the 15th instant, with the senior churchwarden in the chair.
        He observed that representations had been made to the Commissioners
        on the subject, and their reply was "Fill all the workhouses, but 
        relieve no one" In consequence, at the last meeting of the Guardians
        orders had been made out for the admission of about 100 persons who
        had applied for relief, but with 2 or 3 exceptions, the poor refused
        to accept them.