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I beg to report for the information of the Superintendent that an old woman named Ann Sparks died suddenly in her home at Ascot about 9 o'clock, Monday 28th September. The cause of death is supposed to be deart disease or Apoplexy. The body is lying at the deceased's residence and the matter has been reported to the nearest magistrate. Deceased had not been attended by any medical man previous to her death. Doctor Lindsay of Creswick is the nearest medical practioner. Deceased has friends who are able and willing to defray the expense of the funeral. Mick Kennedy, Constable.

This Deponent Catherine Sparks saith as follows:
I am the wife of John Sparks and reside at the Wheatsheaf Ascot. I know the deceased who resided about 200 yards from me. I have known her for the last 24 years. She was a hard working woman and was very intemperate in her habits. I remember the 28th instance. I accompanied the deceased to Clunes that day and returned home about 9 o'clock that evening. The deceased on arriving home went inside and lit the fire and put the kettle on. Supper was laid for the deceased who apparently did not partake of any. She caught me by the arm and said "Kate, Kate, Kate" and never spoke more. She was quite dead in two minutes. She was slightly intoxicated at the time. There were two others present at the time, namely Mrs Armstrong and John Kirk. In the morning of that day in question she put her hand to her heart and said her heart was fair bother. Catherine Spark

This Deponent Rebekah Armstrong on her oath saith as follows:
I am the wife of Samuel Armstrong and reside at Sturt Street Ballarat. I have known the deceased for about four years and I accompanied her to Clunes on the 28th instance. We returned in the company of the last witness about 9 o'clock the same evening. She went inside and put on the fire. I saw her ask the last witness to get a little supper ready. I saw her sit down to supper but I did not see her take any. I heard the deceased call out to the last witness "Kate, Kate" and the last witness said "Granny what is the matter", but she made no reply. The deceased never spoke afterwards and died in a very short time. I went the next day and informed the police of what had occured. While in my company on the day in question I saw the deceased take two glasses of ale. Rebekah Armstrong.

This Deponent John Kirk on his oath saith as follows:
I am a coachsmith and reside at Talbot. I remember the 28th instance. While on the way from Clunes that day I fell in with the deceased and the two last witnesses and I accompanied them to the home of the deceased. On going inside supper was got ready. I did not see the deceased take any. I saw the deceased hold out her hand to the first witness Mrs Sparks and she said "Kate, Kate, Kate". I thought the deceased was choking as I saw her frothing at the mouth but presently I heard the death rattle and then I saw that she was dead. I then went for some neighbours. I saw the deceased take a glass of ale at Tourello but nothing more. John Kirk.

This Deponent Robert Charles Lindsay, a legally qualified medical practitioner residing at Creswick, on his oath saith as follows:
I have this day made a post mortem examination of the body of Ann Sparks at her house in Ascot. I found no marks of extreme violence. The body was sparsely nourished. The lungs were healthy but slightly congested. The pericardium contained a small teacup full of serous fluid. The walls of the heart were diseased and flabby and the valves were diseased. The other organs appeared healthy. I am of the opinion that the deceased died from debility the result of heart affection, mental excitment or intemperance might have hastened death. Robert Charles Lindsay.

I hearby certify that having heard the evidence as touching the death of Ann Sparks I am of the opinion that the deceased died of heart disease accelerated by mental excitment or intermperance at her house at Ascot on the 28th September 1878. Francis Edwards J.P.