Mystery surrounds the death of a Somerset husband

Mystery surrounds the death of a Somerset husband who was found
dead in London lodgings with a ‘do not disturb’ notice on his door,
an inquest heard today Monday.

The salesman, who had left his wife, lay dead for two days
before being discovered by his landlady’s son, Southwark Coroners
Court was told.

Pathologists carrying out a post mortem on 58-year-old Ronald
John Ventham, formerly of Poplar Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, could
not ascertain the cause of death.

His wife Elizabeth Ventham, a professional gardener, told the
inquest that her husband walked out on her in May 1991 but kept
in touch.

She said: ‘I spoke to him on the last night of the Proms, less
than a week before, and he was cheerful.

‘Over the years he had suffered from depression and had had a
nervous breakdown.

‘He had difficulty holding down a job and lost one, as a member
of an air crew, because they said he was a manic depressive,’ she
explained.

The court heard that Mr Ventham was discovered dead at his lodgings
in Richborne Terrace, South Lambeth, by the landlady’s son, Ludovic
Hunter-Tillney who ignored the ‘do not disturb’ notice.

Police say that there was nothing suspicious in his room to
suggest foul play but an empty pill box was discovered.

Pathologist Dr Vesna Djurovic said that only small traces of
medication were found in his blood but investigations into the
brain showed that he had multiple sclerosis in its early stages.

She explained to the family that this was unlikely to be the
cause of death but may have affected the way he walked.

‘Although he was only dead for two days there was a degree
of decomposition and this may have hidden the cause of death,’ she
said.

Recording an open verdict, Coroner Sir Montague Levine
extended his personal condolences to the family who were in court.

ENDS