Pearl Dawson

Pearl Dawson was taken ill at her home in Newsham Drive, Grimsby, and taken to hospital, but died on arrival.

An ambulance was called after her common-law husband found her unconscious on 12 April 1984.

He said that she had told him that she had taken a drugs overdose, but that he hadn't believed her. However, when he soon after found her unconscious he called for an ambulance.

However, a pathologist said that he could find no significant poisoning in her body, although he did find two red marks under her chin which could have been caused by her striking her throat when falling, or by a noose from behind, although he added that the latter possibility was not backed up by evidence of asphyxiation.

He said:

A detective noted that Pearl Dawson had been involved in an incident in which a window was broken in a nearby street. He added that Pearl Dawson and her husband had argued earlier in the day, but that nothing unusual or abnormal was heard or seen from the council flat in which they lived during the night.

The detective said:

Pearl Dawson was described as having been borderline subnormal and a schizophrenic, and having had often spoken of committing suicide to her husband.

An open verdict was returned at her inquest.