Inquest records, Monmouthshire (Abergavenny disrict) 1932

[trish18]

Not sure if I'm posting this query on the correct board.

I'm trying to locate a coroner's inquest record from 1932. The death certificate states the inquest was carried out in Monmouthshire, Abergavenny district, in November 1932.

Gwent archives only appear to hold inquest records up to 1883, so I'm not sure where I might find any information.

Would there be a public disclosure on them?

Is there also any information I could obtain as to the sentencing of the person who caused the death? The trial verdict was manslaughter but I would be interested to find out if I could find  where the sentence was served etc.

Any advice would be very welcome.

Regards

Trish

[cemetery friends]

Inquest records are "closed" to the public for 70 years but the Home Office allows coroners to weed out routine case files after a period of 15 years. Generally it is better to search local newspapers who may have reported the case at the time. Additionally if the case had major public interest the national dailies also pick up the reports. Certainly the 70 year closure has now ended but there is a chance that the case was weeded out under the 15 year rule.

British Newspaper Library have an online research through an agency called Gales [you purchase credits] but many libraries have a corporate subscription and allow library card holders access so discuss with your local library [you may need to go to a main library in a town].

Certain nationals are also available on microfilm at major libraries and usually there is an index book which you search first then order the film when you have the reference number. Keep in mind that a trial at the Assizes may have been some months after the death/inquest.

[trish18]

Thank you very much for your advice.

I did find a very small piece in the Times newspaper, via 'Gale', which reported the verdict of 'guilty of manslaughter under great provocation'.

 As this was a case of a husband stabbing his wife with a carving knife, I am curious to find out more details.

I will email Bargoed library to see if they can help with finding a newspaper article of the case.

I will also follow up your advice regarding major libraries holding national newspapers. I wasn't aware that there was an index book to order the film, so will try that also.

Thanks again,

Regards

Trish

[dawnsh]

Hi Trish

Although this London Metropolitan Archives leaflet isn't about records in the geographical area you are interested in, it does give some indication as to why coroners records do not survive in a lot of cases and may be interesting to others who stumble across this topic via an internet search engine.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ydv/

Dawn

[trish18]

Hi Dawn,

Thank you for the information.

It's interesting to learn that the inquest report actually belongs to the coroner, even when he has retired. 

Regards

Trish