Life story written by Yota Dimitriadi
Frederick George GUTBRODT (reported as GUDBRODT in the newspaper) was the first son on Margaret and Frederick GUTBRODT. The family lived at 141, Great Knollys Street, Reading. Frederick was a butcher. Frederick was found dead by his mum in the morning of Saturday 8 March 1890. During his inquest on the same day before the coroner Mr William Weedon, Frederick’s mum testified:
“I the wife of Frederick Gutbrodt, a butcher, living here, and mother of the deceased child, who was nearly three months’ old. He was very healthy and had nothing the matter with him that I knew of. I went to bed this morning between twelve and one o’clock, and then gave the child the bottle. He went to sleep while taking it. He slept in my bed in the middle, not on arm. I put a shawl over his face. This morning about seven o’clock I found him dead in the same position I had left him. He had not disturbed me during the night. His food condensed milk in bottle and some milk with a little flour a spoon. I can’t account for the child’s death. This is first child. His life was not insured.”
Berkshire Chronicle – Saturday 15 March 1890, page 6
The last statement was indicative of the time of Frederick’s death when sometimes poor families were accused of infanticide in order to collect the funeral insurance money.
The bottle and shawl were produced by the wish of the jury.
A neighbour, living opposite the Gutbrodt family, Helen Paner wife wife of Jacob Paner, also a butcher, testified that she had known the Gutbrodts some time, and have often seen the baby. His mother took every care of him and there was no neglect on her part.
In the same inquest Mr Charles fl. Tench, M.D., said : “I saw the child for the first time this morning and it was then dead. I examined the body carefully. I found no marks of violence, and the child was well nourished and clean. The hands were firmly clenched and the mouth contorted and I think therefore the child probably had a fit. I saw no signs of suffocation, and have no reason whatever think there bad been any unfair treatment. I think fit the cause of death.”
Berkshire Chronicle – Saturday 15 March 1890, page 6
The verdict was ” Died from natural causes.”
Frederick was buried on 12 March 1890 in the consecrated part of the cemetery.
Unmarked grave-position unknown at the time