Walter James Laurence (1883 - 1907)

Born 12 May 1883 in Hawthorn, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 18 Jun 1907 at age 24 in Unley, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karyn Homburg [send private message]

Biography

Walter Laurence was born in the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

Walter was born in 1883. He was the son of Walter Laurence and Martha Farr. ^[1]

He married Bessie Eardley Douglas on 29 November 1905 at the residence of Mr Hood, Malvern. ^[2]

LAURENCE - DOUGLAS. On the 29th November, at Hawthorn, by the Rev. A. Sutherland, Walter James, eldest son of the late Walter Laurence, of Hawthorn, to Bessie Eardley, third daughter of the late Donald Douglas, of Jamestown. ^[3]

He passed away age 24 ^[4] and was buried in West Terrace Cemetery. ^{[5] [6]}

Mr. Walter J. Laurence died at Unley Park on Tuesday afternoon after a short illness. The deceased, who was 24 years of age, was the eldest son of the late Mr. W. Laurence, of Hawthorne, and was engaged in farming pursuits for some years, but sold his farm some 12 months ago to take a position as traveller for Messrs. Clutterbuck Bros. He returned from one of his trips on Friday evening, seemingly in the best of health. After partaking of some potted meat on Saturday evening Mr. Laurence suddenly became ill, and Dr. Poulton on Sunday morning pronounced the symptoms to be those of ptomaine poisoning. The patient gradually sank, and died at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr. Laurence had only been married 18 months, and left a widow and one child. ^[7]

In the interest of public health and not with any intention to cast a doubt upon the methods of the medical gentleman who may have been consulted, can you tell me if it is a fact that a young man whose death occurred in one of the southern suburbs on Tuesday died from ptomaine poisoning as the result of eating polony? If so, do you know if there is to be an inquest, and if not, why not?
The City Coroner states that the report furnished to the City Coroner by the police shows that the deceased, Walter James Laurence, of Grove street, Unley Park, ate saveloys for tea on Saturday June 15, and at midnight was seized with diarrhoea and vomiting. Dr Poulton was called, and later on had a consultation with Dr J. C. Verco on the case, and they came to the conclusion that the patient was suffering from a kidney trouble, which eventually proved fatal, and that there was nothing to show that ptomaine poisoning had anything to do with the death. The maid at the deceased's house also partook of the saveloys without any ill effect to her. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ South Australia Birth Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 31 Aug 2023) database entry for Walter James LAURENCE (Birth date 12 May 1883, Father Walter LAURENCE, Mother Martha FARR, Birth Residence Hawthorn) Reference: District Adelaide, Book/Page 304/285
2. ↑ South Australia Marriage Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 3 Sep 2023) database entry for Walter James LAURENCE (Age 23, Marital status S, Father Walter LAURENCE) and Bessie Eardley DOUGLAS (Age 26, Marital status S, Father Donald DOUGLAS) 29 Nov 1905 at Res of Mr Hood Malvern. Reference: District Adelaide, Book/Page 225/1041
3. ↑ "Family Notices" Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) 20 December 1905: 1. Web. 3 Sep 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208602539>.
4. ↑ South Australia Death Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 3 Sep 2023) database entry for Walter James LAURENCE (Death date 18 Jun 1907, Age 24, Marital status N, Place of death Unley Park, Residence Unley Park) Reference: District Adelaide, Book/Page 325/480
5. ↑ Burial Record (Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, http://www.aca.sa.gov.au/Records : accessed 3 Sep 2023) database entry for Walter James Laurence (Date of service 19 Jun 1907, Cemetery West Terrace, Location Road 1 South, Path 3, Aspect W, Site Number 45)
6. ↑ Memorial Inscription. West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia.
   Front: In Affectionate Remembrance Of, Walter Laurence, Died Oct 20 1889, Aged 41 years, Also, Martha Laurence, Died July 1 1929, Aged 80 years. Thy Will Be Done.
   Left side: Eva Martha, Died March 6 1880, Aged 4 years, Also, Walter James Laurence, Died June 18 1907, Aged 24 years, Also, Sophia Farr Laurence, Died Sept 5 1954, Aged 77 years.
   Right side: Also, Ethel E Laurence, Died 15th Nov 1938, Aged 59 years. Photographed by Karyn Homburg 3 Sep 2023
7. ↑ "OBITUARY." Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) 22 June 1907: 41. Web. 3 Sep 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88139281>.
8. ↑ "ALLEGED HEATH FROM PTCMANINE POISONING." The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) 21 June 1907: 3. Web. 3 Sep 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57512314>.