'Death from Excessive Dancing' - Bermondsey 1903
From: South London Press, 3 January 1903: ' The Fatal Thirteen -Death from excessive dancing Dr Waldo held an inquest at the Southwark Coroner's Court on Wednesday on the body of Mary Ann Cocklin, aged 35 years, the wife of a Bermondsey labourer. John Cocklin, the husband, stated that he and the deceased went to a Christmas party at the house of a relative on Christmas Day, and kept on dancing until after midnight. Deceased then lay down to rest, but awoke in a fright, screaming that three men were after her. Dr Waldo: Had she been drinking any spirits? Witness: No, sir, only port wine. We had nothing but port wine, any of us. Dr Waldo: What happened when she came to herself again? Witness: She went down stairs and resumed dancing to the music of an automated piano organ we had in the house. I next heard she was very ill, and that she had again gone to rest, but had turned giddy and fallen down the stairs. Dr Waldo: How many? Witness: The fatal 13. Susan Poore, a neighbour, sta...