Worthing Gazette 13 November 1940
"Died After Taking 90 Aspirins"
A verdict of misadventure was recorded at an inquest at Worthing on Monday on Miss Kate Maria Kidd, 75 Forest Road, Worthing and formerly of Brunswick Road, who died on Friday after taking 90 aspirin tablets. The coroner Mr F W Butler said there was no evidence that it was her intention to take her life.
Miss Kidd 74, was the eldest daughter of Mr George Kidd who will be remembered by an older generation of Worthing residents as one of the best known bakers and confectioners in the town and founder of the business which he and his family carried on for many years at West Worthing.
A cousin Elsie May Jones Lucas, 75 Forest Road, Worthing said that Miss Kidd had been born without the sight of one eye and she had a cataract in the other. "She was always a very miserable woman" she continued. "She used to get distressed and worried about everything. She said she wished to die when her sister died, but she never threatened to take her life." Miss Kidd’s sister died last November, she added.
On Friday, the day of her death, her cousin seemed brighter than usual when witness went into her bedroom in the morning. "But when I and my sister went in again later" she continued, "Miss Kidd said she had taken 90 aspirin tablets. We at once sent for the doctor but despite efforts to treat her, she raved during the morning………in the evening she became unconscious and died." In reply to a question by the coroner as to what she thought was the deceased’s intention in taking the tablets, witness replied that her cousin suffered from sleeplessness and the loss of her sight seemed to prey on her mind. Dr W O Pitt who performed a post mortem examination, said the cause of death was due to taking an excessive quantity of aspirin.