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This mortal coil BIZZARE AND UNEXPECTED DEATHS COMPILED FROM THE COLUMNS OF OUR LOCAL
ARDEN, Henrietta - died 25th February 1855 On Saturday evening, Henrietta Arden, the six-year-old daughter of Mr William Arden, a wine and spirits merchant, of West Street, Bourne, with two other children, was left in her bed gown in the nursery, which is upstairs, whilst the servant went below for a few minutes and notwithstanding the fire was protected by a guard, her clothes ignited and before the flames could be extinguished, the upper part of her body was so severely burned that death resulted the next morning. A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner, Mr William Edwards, when an inquest was held at the Golden Lion, the following Monday.
BARWISS, Miss Jane - died 19th July 1870 FATAL FALL DOWNSTAIRS: An inquest at the Bull Inn, Bourne, before W Edwards Esq., coroner, was told that Miss Jane Barwiss, a maiden lady about 63 years of age, lived alone, having no servant. A neighbour, Mrs Banton, who saw her on the Monday, said that she had had a dreadful fall against the water tub and hurt her neck and arms. Witness took her some dinner but considered that when she was under the influence, she was not fit to be alone and recommended her to have someone in the house with her but she objected. Mrs Banton called again at half-past four and as the doors were still locked and she could not hear anything, she affected an entrance by the back window and found deceased lying upon the staircase quite dead and cold. She had, on other occasions, found her lying on the staircase in a helpless state. Mrs Banton said that ten days before, Miss Barwiss had informed her that she had received a cheque for about £20 and that she had paid several bills out of it. Dr Burn attended the deceased at about 5 o'clock on Tuesday evening and found her lying on the landing on her back, inclined to the right side, the head against the wall and the legs drawn towards the body. There was no dislocation of the neck and he found no marks of violence about her person, nor was there any indication of the presence of poison. He had known Miss Barwiss professionally for some years and had warned her of the probable consequences of taking too much strong drink. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had come by her death accidentally, occasioned by falling down upon the landing.
BAINS, Rebecca - died 14th November 1877 Rebecca Bains, wife of George Bains, a labourer, of Dyke village, had only recently returned from a lunatic asylum and had since shown a tendency to mental depression. About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 14th, she went into a neighbour's house saying that she had taken poison from the effects of which, notwithstanding that medical aid was immediately sent for, she expired about 11 o'clock the same morning. An inquest was held at the Crown Inn, Dyke, on the 16th inst. when the jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity.
BELLAMY, Mrs Frances Sarah - died 23rd April 1880 PUB LANDLADY TOOK HER OWN LIFE: A few hours after being found guilty by Bourne magistrates for permitting drunkenness in her public house, Mrs Frances Sarah Bellamy, aged 42, landlady of the Indian Queen [now the Crown and Anchor] in Bridge Street, Deeping St James, was so distressed that she hanged herself in her bedroom. She had been convicted on the unsupported testimony of one witness and fined £3 with costs and her licence endorsed. An inquest at the Bell Inn on April 24th was told that Mrs Bellamy had been deeply troubled by the case and had declared herself totally innocent. She became unwell and distressed after the court hearing and was later found hanging by the neck from a silk handkerchief tied to the handle of a cupboard door. The jury returned a verdict of "temporary insanity". The case was subsequently raised in the House of Commons when the Secretary of State for the Home Department was asked that, in view of the fact that Mrs Bellamy had no previous convictions, he thought that the sentence was unnecessarily severe. Sir William Harcourt, in reply, said: "It appears that Mrs Bellamy's case was heard before a bench of five magistrates, of which Lord Aveland was the chairman. I have seen the evidence and it seems to have perfectly justified the sentence given by the magistrates. It was not a severe one under the statute, the fact being that the premises were entered by a man who was notoriously drunk and was served with liquor there. I cannot see how the magistrates could have given any other sentence. It is true that Mrs Bellamy committed suicide next day, but it would be most invidious and unfair to attribute any blame to the magistrates for the suicide of the woman because she had been fined £3 and her licence endorsed, a sentence which in any reasonable probability would not have led to so unhappy a conclusion."
BIGLEY, John - died 22nd February 1884 SUICIDE IN CHURCH: An inquest was held on Tuesday 26th February at the Robin Hood Inn, Aslackby, near Bourne, by J C Eaton Esq., coroner, on the body of John Bigley, aged 73, a grocer, of that place, who hanged himself in the belfry of Aslackby church on Friday. Deceased had been helping his son to kill a pig in the morning when he appeared in his usual health and spirits and though missing after dinner, no alarm was felt as it was thought he had gone over to Billingborough to see his daughter. As he had not returned by 10 pm, and the keys of the church were missing, a search was made which resulted in finding deceased, dead and cold, hanging by the neck from a ladder which he had taken into the belfry. The evidence showed that nothing had occurred likely to cause deceased to make away with himself; nor was he, as far as could be ascertained, in any monetary difficulties. The jury returned a verdict of "suicide whilst of unsound mind". The sad event has caused considerable commotion in Aslackby, deceased being so well known and respected. He was parish clerk and constable.
BOOTH, Thomas - died 14th May 1874
BOYER, John - died 11th September 1874
BROMLEY, Sarah - died 6th August 1864 Deceased was the wife of William Bromley, a pig jobber, residing in Eastgate, Bourne, and for some time past had been unwell and had occasionally given indications of her mind having been affected. An inquest at the Woolpack, Eastgate, on Saturday was told that she hanged herself on the previous Thursday and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.
BULLYMORE, Emma - died 8th November 1880 ENVELOPED IN FLAMES: On Tuesday, an inquest was held by Mr Henry Beaumont Esq., coroner, at the Plough Inn, Horbling, on the body of Emma Bullymore, aged 7 years, daughter of William Bullymore, a labourer. It appeared from the evidence that Bullymore's housekeeper (he being a widower), on Monday morning left the deceased in charge of several other children whilst she went to milk for a neighbour, and during her absence the poor girl, it is supposed, attempted to dress one of the younger children, when her frock caught fire and she was quickly enveloped in flames. Her cries rapidly drew the attention of a person residing near who rendered all the aid in her power. Surgical assistance was sought but the child died before it arrived. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
BURTON, Mary - died 25th February 1889 An inquest was held at the Crown Hotel [in West Street] before the coroner, Mr Joe G Calthrop Esq., on the body of Mary, the infant daughter of Mrs Florence Burton of Eastgate. Mrs Burton said that the child was three months old. On the previous afternoon, she had it on her knee when it was well, but had a slight cold. It went to sleep on her knee. She wrapped it in a blanket and took it to her mother who was lying down in the bedroom. In half an hour, her mother went down and said she thought the child was in a fit. Witness went upstairs and found it dead. She had given it 10 or 12 drops of gripe mixture at about eight o'clock in the morning. Other evidence having been given, Dr Tom Harker deposed: "I have attended the child twice before, once for a cold and again for spasms and colic. I never saw anything that was suspicious about the child in any way. The cause of death, so far as I can judge, was convulsions." The coroner recorded a verdict that the child had died of convulsions.
DARNES, Ethel - died 10th October 1913 SAD DEATH OF YOUNG LADY: The death took place, under sad circumstances, on Friday morning, at the home of her mother in Abbey road, Bourne, of Miss Ethel Darnes, aged 26. Deceased had been at home for two or three months, having hurt her back. Her mother at that time was, and is now seriously ill, and Miss Ethel Darnes assisted her other sisters in the nursing. It is thought that in this way she added to the injuries to her back, and about a fortnight ago, she suddenly fell down in the yard adjoining the house and had to be assisted to bed. Dr Gilpin pronounced it a serious case, giving no hopes of her recovery. Deceased was the fourth daughter of the late Mr John Darnes. The deepest sympathy has been expressed on all hands.
EASON, Joseph - died 15th November 1877 An inquest was held on the 17th inst. at the Horse and Groom Inn, before J G Calthrop Esq., coroner, upon the body of Joseph Eason, who died very suddenly on the previous Thursday afternoon. Robert Wilcox, labourer, said that he knew deceased who was horse-keeper for Mr John Dawson, a farmer and grazier, of West Street, Bourne, and on Thursday afternoon about 4 o'clock, he (witness) was feeding chaff to some horses when he saw that Eason had fallen on the floor, on his sieve, in the chaff house: he spoke to him but got no answer and he only lived about five minutes. He had not complained to him that he was worse than usual. A man named Parker, who also worked for Mr Dawson, said deceased had been unwell for the last week and was very bad early in the week. He used to put his hand to his side and lean over as if he had a nipping pain. Dr Henry Ashworth said he was sent for about ten minutes before 5 pm when he was quite dead. He was about 44 years of age. He was not able, without a post mortem examination, to come to an absolute conclusion as to what the cause of death was but he thought it was from natural causes. The jury, after a short consultation, thought a post mortem unnecessary and returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
ELSTON, William - died 11th April 1884 An inquest was held at the Butcher's Arms, Bourne, on Saturday, before T Selby Esq., deputy coroner, on the body of William Elston, higgler, of Eastgate, who hanged himself on Good Friday morning. It appeared from the evidence that deceased had, up to about a week before his death, been a teetotaller for five months, but in consequence of the loss of a horse and pecuniary and other troubles, he had taken to drinking heavily and this had affected his mind. About 4.15 am on Good Friday morning, he got up and his wife heard him go into the stable and feed his horse. Not hearing anything of him afterwards, she got up and called out his name several times but received no reply. Noticing that the stable door was fastened on the inside, and that the gate of the yard was also fastened on the inside, she raised the alarm. John Collins, for whom Elston had arranged to cart some potatoes on the morning in question, came to the house and hearing the circumstances, took steps to get the stable door open and having done so, found the body of the deceased suspended to a roof beam by a rope round the neck. Although the body was warm, he was quite dead. In the course of Mrs Elston's evidence, it transpired that deceased had been very restless at times and it was her opinion that he had not been at all times in his right mind during the week previous to his death. The jury returned a verdict of "suicide while in a state of temporary insanity".
FLETCHER, Thomas - died 19th June 1861
FOULDS, George - died 3rd January 1929 THROAT CUT WHILST WAITING FOR BREAKFAST: An inquest touching the death of George Foulds of Morton was conducted by Major Bell at the Wellhead House on Saturday (January 5th). Deceased was 86 years of age, was formerly a porter at Morton railway station, and had been living with his daughter, who on Thursday morning, took part of his breakfast to his bedroom. When taking the remainder a few minutes later, she found her father bleeding from the throat. Assistance was obtained and Foulds was removed to the Wellhead institution [the workhouse] but despite medical attention, he passed away the following evening. Dr Galletly stated that deceased told him that if he had known what he was doing, he would not have done it. A man of deceased's age might commit suicide during a sudden state of mental instability. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.
GEDNEY, Rachel - died 15th June 1895 A SAD STORY: The body of an unclothed woman was found floating in a dyke in Bourne Fen on the farm of John Rawlinson. She was wearing only a single boot and a shawl was lying nearby. An inquest at Tongue End was told that the woman, who was poorly clad, had probably wandered about in the fen, perhaps making her way to an old untenanted decoy house nearby, and fallen into the dyke. The accident must have happened sometime ago because the surrounding weeds and nettles had attained a great height. The body was in a pitiable condition after its long exposure and there were signs of it being attacked by rats. John Hudson, a farm labourer, identified the body as that of Rachel Gedney, a single woman, aged about 70. He did not know where she lived but she had stayed with him for about six weeks before leaving on April 19th and he never saw her after that. He had identified her by her clothing, a pair of scissors and by a piece of paper with his address written on it. She did not appear to be a tramp when she came to him and when she left, she said she would write to him when she got to her son's house at Grantham. The jury returned a verdict of "found drowned".
GILLSON, Elizabeth - died 18th October 1927 KILLED BY CAR - ELDERLY WOMAN'S TRAGIC DEATH AT DEEPING: The custom of taking a newspaper every night to a friend who lived on the opposite side of the street resulted in the death of Miss Elizabeth Gillson, aged 74, of Church Street, Market Deeping, when she was knocked down by a motor car. At an inquest conducted by the District Coroner (Major C W Bell of Bourne), who sat with a jury, Frederick William Drury, motor engineer of Brigg and the driver of the car, stated that he had passed a horse and van, after sounding his hooter four times, when he saw deceased cross the road. She was only two yards away and the car lights were full on, but the women seemed to walk into the car and although he stopped within six yards, he could not avoid hitting her. His speed was about 15 m p h. A passenger in the car, Richard Mundy of Brigg, corroborated this evidence, and Harry Bowes, of Deeping St James, the driver of the van, agreed as to the speed of the car. Dr W E Stanton said the most serious of the woman's injuries was a fractured skull. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death" and exonerated the driver of the car from blame.
GREEN, Mary - died 18th April 1856 An accident of a fatal character occurred in the Union house [workhouse] at Bourne on Thursday evening. A little girl about 13 years of age, Mary Green, was awfully burnt, the flames having seized her clothes whilst she was kneeling before the fire, and such was the nature of the injuries that she died the following morning. The little girl had been employed for several months in the master and matron's apartments, in consequence of her general good conduct, and for the purpose of training her to such habits of usefulness and industry as would fit her for service. An inquest was held in the boardroom on Saturday the 19th, before Mr William Edwards, coroner. Verdict: accidentally burnt.
GRUMMITT, Naomi - died 27th March 1897 ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED: At the Golden Lion Inn, Bourne, on Saturday afternoon, 28th March 1897, Mr J G Calthrop, the Spalding district coroner, held an inquest touching the death of Naomi Grummitt, wife of a Bourne joiner, whose body was found in a stream which ran at the back of her house in Union-row on the previous afternoon. Deceased was 59 years of age and had been in the habit of taking water from the stream for household purposes. It was supposed that in reaching for water, she fell in and, being rather weak, could not get out. No cries were heard during the day and her body was later discovered floating in the river face downwards. A kettle was also found in the water near deceased's house. A verdict of "accidentally drowned" was returned.
HARDWICK, George - died 25th April 1886 A well know drover, named George Hardwick, died at the police station in Bourne on Sunday under most singular circumstances. He was fined 2s. 6d. and costs for drunkenness, but being unable to pay, was taken into custody by a police constable and removed to the police station, and although apparently in his usual health, expired after having been there about an hour.
HAZELGREAVE, John Meredith - died 4th April 1868
HEWITT, A - died Monday 10th October 1902 Mr C E Bonner, deputy coroner for the district, held an inquest at Morton, near Bourne, touching the death of a farm labourer named A Hewitt, in the employ of Mr E Baker, who died from injuries sustained through being run over. The deceased was in charge of a young horse and cart in Haconby Lane when the horse was startled by a drove of pigs and also by the rattling of some implements in the cart. He attempted to stop the animal but was thrown down and one of the wheels of the cart passed over his foot and leg, bursting his boot and causing severe wounds. Dr Galletly of Bourne was called for and promptly dressed the same, but mortification set in and little hope was entertained for his recovery and he died some hours later. Verdict: Death from the effects of an accident.
A VERY SAD MISHAP befell the Rev J J Hodgson, Vicar of Sempringham and Pointon. His children were practising gymnastics and while Mr Hodgson was illustrating a feat on a crossbar, the bar sprang from its lodgment between the uprights and Mr Hodgson fell heavily to the ground upon his back. The shock caused concussion of the spine and immediate paralysis of the lower extremities. The mishap subsequently resulted fatally and the rev gentleman died on Sunday morning last having lain in a very critical state for nearly a fortnight. The unfortunate gentleman, who leaves a widow and six children, has resided at Pointon only a few years and has won the esteem and respect of parishioners who express deep sympathy for the family and friends.
HUBBARD, Charlotte - died 12th September 1872 An accident after harvesting lead to the death of Charlotte Hubbard, aged 31, daughter of William Hubbard, of Morton, an inquest at the Lord Nelson Inn at Morton, near Bourne, was told on September 13th. On the previous day, she had been gleaning and when returning home, she, with two other women, got upon the shafts of a waggon drawn by three horses belonging to Mr Sands of Dyke. Deceased was standing between the other two women and when she got near her sister-in-law's house, said she would get down and at once jumped off backwards. Her clothes, it is supposed, caught somewhere and dragged her under the wheel and though the wheel did not pass over her, she was so severely injured about the breast and chest that she died almost immediately and before medical aid could be procured. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
An inquest was held on Wednesday the 11th inst. at the New Inn, Bourne, on the body of John Hudson, labourer, aged 39. It was given in evidence that the deceased was in a state of intoxication the whole of the day on Monday, and in that condition went to the New Inn about 7 o'clock in the evening where Mr John Beasley of Dyke and other company were sitting at the time. He asked of Mr B to give him a quart of ale, which he consented to do, if he would drink the whole himself and in the space of seven minutes. After drinking that quantity, he begged of Mr B to allow him another quart, which was given to him and which he drank. He then became very drunk and fell upon the floor quite helpless and in that state, was carried into the yard and laid upon some cloths under an open shed where he soon fell asleep and in that situation was left for the night. On the following morning, he was found there quite dead. It also appeared in evidence that the deceased was an habitual drunkard. After a very attentive inquiry, the jury recorded their verdict: "Died by excessive drinking" and that the jurors could not abstain from expressing their strongest condemnation of the conduct of Mr John Beasley in supplying the deceased with ale when in a state of intoxication.
JACKSON, Edward - died 14th August 1924 A rat was the indirect cause of a farm labourer's death at Morton, near Bourne, the coroner was told at an inquest on Friday 15th August. Edward Jackson, aged 75, a widower, was riding on top of a cart loaded with beans being driven through the village when the accident occurred. A labourer named William Stokes was in charge of the cart and he was riding on a five-year-old horse which was pulling it and when they got near to Morton church, he noticed a rat running alongside the road. He got off the horse's back and chased the rat, striking it with a stick but this caused the horse to swerve and one of the wheels mounted the side of the road, tilting the cart some 18 inches, resulting in Jackson being thrown on to the road where he was subsequently struck by a grass reaper that was following behind, causing a fatal injury to his head. Frank Gray, a local farmer, who witnessed the accident said that Jackson had fallen on to a sheaf of reeds which also fell from the cart but his injury was caused by the reaper. Dr Johnson, who responded immediately to a telephone call, arrived within 15 minutes and found Jackson breathing in gasps and he died seven minutes later from hemorrhage of the brain consistent with an injury to his head which had a wound two inches long and a quarter of an inch deep. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death and said that Stokes should not be blamed for striking the rat and not imagining that the horse might take fright.
Unpleasant rumours had circulated in Market Deeping following the death of Michael George Joyce, a youth aged 11 years. The coroner, Mr William Edwards, told the inquest it had been alleged that he had been severely ill treated by his master about five weeks since and had died from the effects of the chastisement. But this had been entirely disproved by the medical evidence, a post mortem examination being made by Mr Deacon and Dr Capperton who traced the cause of death to haemorrhage from ulcerated bowels arising from typhoid fever and a verdict to that effect was recorded.
KITCHEN, Thomas - died 19th March 1875 An inmate of the Bourne Union [the workhouse], Thomas Kitchen, aged 70, formerly working as a bricklayer, was at about 7 pm on Friday night, taking a letter to the post office in North Street, Bourne, when he fell down and expired almost immediately. An inquest was held at the Union House the following day and upon the evidence of a medical gentleman, Dr J Henry Ashworth, the jury returned a verdict of death from heart disease.
MAKINGS, Rose Ellen - died 23rd February 1895 An inquest at the Crown Hotel, Bourne, on February 24th was told that a three-year-old child, Rose Ellen Makings, had died from burns sustained at her home the day before. Her mother, Kate Makings, of Dyke, told the hearing that she had gone to her next door neighbour's house to wash the stairs, leaving the girl in the house with another child. They were playing in the front room. There was a fire in the kitchen with no guard and they could get into the kitchen. Somebody told her the house was on fire and on going round, she found it full of smoke. The child was lying on the floor in the front room with her clothes nearly burnt off and she had burns all over her body. She died at 3.30 pm. Verdict: death from burns accidentally received.
MARSH, Digby - died 10th February 1892 The death of a boy, aged 10, was the subject of an inquest at the Butcher's Arms, Bourne, on Thursday 11th February when his father, Mr Walter Marsh, gave his evidence with some emotion. He said that his son had died at about 5 o'clock on Wednesday morning after feeling sick and complaining of his throat. They had killed a pig and he had eaten heartily of it but had been in bed since Sunday. He suggested fetching a doctor whereupon the boy said he felt better. Mr Marsh said that he looked in at his children every night before he went to bed and on the Tuesday night, the boy was sleeping soundly but on entering the room on Wednesday morning, which was his custom before going to work, he found the little boy on the floor. He rubbed his body and throat and put him into bed where he died. Questioned by the coroner, Mr Joe Calthrop, who asked if there had been any illness in the house, witness said that his little girl had been ill with scarlet fever but he had not called the doctor, thinking that it was only a cold and therefore unnecessary. "If I had thought there was any danger, I would have called him", he said. Dr James Watson-Burdwood told the hearing that he had been called out to attend the boy but found him dead. The thighs were mottled and peeling and his mother supposed it was a rash fever but he concluded that it was scarlet fever. The jury returned a verdict of syncope following suppressed scarlet fever.
MUSSON, Mary Ann - died 10th May 1880 GIRL BURNED TO DEATH: An inquest was held at the Union-house [workhouse], Bourne, by Mr Jennings, coroner, on the body of Mary Ann Musson, aged 13 years, who had been accidentally burnt in the fever ward on the 3rd. inst., so that she died on the Sunday week following. A very close examination as to the accident took place before the Board of Guardians on the 9th inst, respecting the culpability of the officers: the board were unanimous in exonerating all parties. The surgeon reported that the attention of the matron and the schoolmistress to the poor sufferer was exemplary. Verdict, accidentally burnt to death.
NICHOLLS, Mary Elizabeth - died 6th June 1939 DUNSBY BURNING DRAMA - POSTMISTRESS IN FLAMES IN GARDEN: Neighbours told an inquest how they saw the 72-year-old postmistress at Dunsby running around screaming in her garden in a mass of flames 15 feet high. A neighbour, Ellen Hunt, said that Miss Nicholls managed the post office by herself although her nephew called occasionally. Thomas Henry Adams, who lived opposite, said that he was going to bed at about 10.45 pm when he looked out of the window and saw the light in the post office being switched on and off. An hour later, he heard screams and saw a human being on fire. "The flames were very high, about 15 feet", he said, and he ran as quickly a possible to the deceased's garden and put a rug around her but she appeared to be dead. Walter B Creasey, a Post Office official, said that during the past ten years that he had known Miss Nicholls, he had found her a very conscientious worker. The telephone system was to be altered on Thursday morning and Miss Nicholls was upset about the new automatic system that was to replace it. She had already sent in her resignation due to ill-health. The accounts were in perfect order. Police Constable Linguard of Morton, who arrived soon after 12.10 am, said that the body badly burned from the hip upwards. He subsequently found the deceased's clothes in the house and in the garden was a tin of paraffin, practically empty, and a half empty box of matches. He also found an envelope containing a card lying on the table in the room at the rear of the post office but the coroner, Major C W Bell of Bourne, said that he did not propose to read the message written on the card because he did not think it was in any way conclusive or could help the matter further. He returned a verdict that Miss Nicholls died from shock caused by multiple burns accidentally sustained.
FATAL FALL FROM SCAFFOLDING: A verdict of accidental death was returned by a jury officiating at the inquest on the body of Joseph Norman, aged 64, a builder of Bourne, held at the Angel Hotel on the 23rd. inst. before Joe G Calthrop Esq., coroner. The deceased was accidentally killed on the Saturday previous by the fall of some scaffolding upon which he was standing. His son, Joseph Harvey Norman, of Star Lane, said that his father had been employed by Mr Shippey to build some houses in South Street and about half-past 12 o'clock on Saturday, he was on the scaffolding engaged in fixing the spouting round the house, and was trying to fix the downright. "My brother and I were slating on the roof of the house at this time and my father called for one of us to go and help him fix the downright and I went down and lifted the spout ready for fixing when the scaffolding fell and both he and I fell to the ground. He was very badly injured. The cause of the scaffolding falling, as far as I know, was the lifting the spout up which pushed the scaffold poles from the binding and so loosened the stays." Dr James Watson-Burdwood, a registered surgeon of Bourne, said that the deceased had broken his skull and several ribs in the fall. There was a large external wound on the side of the head and several internal injuries. Deceased died at 9 o'clock that night, caused by concussion of the brain.
NORMAN, William - died 3rd June 1872 A bricklayer's labourer, William Norman, aged 64, was found dead on the floor of his house on Monday afternoon, according to evidence given at the inquest held at the Bull Hotel, Bourne, the following day. He was a bachelor who lived alone in a little house of his own in what was called "The Alley" in Eastgate. Some months before, he had been very ill and was attended by Dr James Watson-Burdwood but recovered and had been out and about again for the past ten weeks. On April 6th, he paid Dr Watson's bill and about that time he was known to have in his possession, £26 in gold in a small bag drawn round with string which had not been found since his death and this circumstance had given rise to some gossip. Deceased was at church on the Sunday night and returned home at 8 pm and was not afterwards seen alive. Mary Ann Lunn, a little girl whose mother lived next door, told the inquest that she saw deceased go to church and return and when he passed, he bid her goodnight and she told her mother that he had looked very ill. Frederick Norman, nephew of the deceased, said he had gone to see his uncle about dinner time on Monday and found his body lying on the floor in some blood. He raised the alarm at about 2 pm and Sarah Clark, a lodging house keeper, who resided four doors away, said that she went into the house and found Norman lying flat on his face near the fireplace and was quite dead. He was stiff and cold and was wearing his Sunday clothes. He appeared to have been sitting in a chair and fell out of it upon his face with his hat on. Mr Atkinson, surgeon, from Dr Watson-Burdwood's practice, said that Norman had been dead for several hours. There were no marks of violence upon his person. It was his opinion that he died from apoplexy and a verdict was returned accordingly.
NORTHERN, John - died 8th July 1872 Children playing on the railway crossing in South Street, Bourne, were frequently cautioned and sent away, an inquest held by the coroner, William Edwards Esq, at the New Inn, was told on Wednesday 19th July. The previous Monday, John Northern, aged six years, son of John Northern, a labourer of Eastgate, was killed on the crossing at about 6.10 pm. Samuel Davis, the crossing gatekeeper, and John Nichols, who lived nearby, told the hearing that there had been a great deal of trouble from children playing about the crossing. When the gates were opened to allow a train pass through, there was a space of 8½ inches between the gate and the gatepost. On this occasion, Davis had opened the gate and the train had passed through and he was about to shut it again when he felt an obstruction. The deceased, who had been standing between the gate and the gate post, it is supposed to look at the train, fell upon the ground and was dead instantly. Dr Robert Watson told the hearing that the boy's skull was fractured, the internal blood vessels lacerated, and that death had ensued within a minute or two. Mr R Armstrong of Dyke, railway superintendent, said that the gates and gatepost were the same as all others on the line and that no similar accident had ever occurred before. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and while expressing that no blame could be attached to either the gatekeeper or the railway company, hoped that something might be done to prevent a recurrence. In consequence of the needy circumstances of the parents, it being stated that they had not the means to bury the child, the jury recommended the case for the consideration of the railway company and the jurymen each left one shilling towards a similar objective.
OSGOTHORPE, John - died 24th February 1855 The four-year-old son of Charles Osgothorpe, a chimney sweeper, was left alone in the house on Friday morning while his mother went to feed the pig and in her absence, drank some boiling water out of the tea kettle which terminated fatally the next morning. A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner, Mr William Edwards, when an inquest was held at the Golden Lion, the following Monday.
PARKER, James Arthur - died 28th March 1890 A young boy who drowned in the Bourne Eau in Eastgate was identified by his mother, Caroline Parker, as her 17-month-old son James. She told an inquest held at the Anchor Inn that she had last seen him alive at 4 pm on Friday, 28th March. He was then with his brother, John William, and at half past four, she heard he was drowned. William Parker, aged 11, told the district coroner, Mr Joe Calthrop, that he and his brother were out for a walk and were looking through Mr Kettle's window. After some time, he missed his brother and could not find him. He did not notice him go and only his sister, four years of age, was with him. Joe Wilcox, of the Anchor Inn, that on the Friday afternoon, about half past four, he was throwing some water in the river at the back of his house and noticed a child floating on its back. He got it out but to the best of his knowledge, it was dead. The jury returned a verdict of "accidentally drowned" and recommended that the parish be compelled to erect a fence along the side of the quay.
PICK, Charles - died 21st July 1897 The body of a boy was found in a barley field off North Road at about 2 pm on Wednesday and was identified as that of Charles Pick, aged 15. An old pistol was also found lying nearby which had belonged to a man who had been using it for bird scaring and had left it there during the dinner hour. The boy had found it and, it is supposed, in ramming the charge, the weapon exploded, the contents penetrating his breast. Death was probably almost instantaneous. The body lay face downwards, about 20 yards from the pistol, so that the poor lad had, immediately he met with the accident, apparently run forward in the direction of home. No cry of any kind had been heard and on returning to his work after the dinner hour, the owner of the firearm found the lad dead. He had left the pistol in a tree close by, from where it had been removed. Deceased was a bright and intelligent boy who had been hoeing turnips in an adjoining field. He was the only son of Mr C Pick, a roadman employed by the county council.
PICK, William "Jerry" - died Friday 8th August 1884 On Friday afternoon, the heat was very oppressive and William Pick, alias "Jerry" Pick, was sweeping the road leading to the Union [workhouse] when he complained of being unwell. He walked into the taproom of the Crown Hotel [in West Street] where a friend ordered him a glass of drink but before he could be served, Pick appeared to faint and was assisted to the stable. He sat down for a few minutes and said: "I must die." Dr James Watson Burdwood, the medical officer, was summoned and ordered the man to be removed to the Union House but before this could be affected, he died. Deceased was 74 years of age.
PICKERING, Robert - died 27th November 1875 A search party was sent out to look for Robert Pickering, aged 76, a labourer living at Cawthorpe, near Bourne, when he disappeared in Bourne Wood. The inquest held at the police station the following Monday was told that on Saturday morning, he was sent on an errand to Grimsthorpe Castle where he had some refreshment. On his way home, he passed through Edenham at about 3 pm and on attempting to get over a stile, he staggered and fell, but was helped up again and proceeded on his journey homewards, intending, it appears, to go through Bourne Wood. In the wood, it is supposed that he missed his way and, darkness coming on, was lost. The night was very dark, wet and cold. Inquiries were instituted and a search made in the wood on Saturday night but without effect. On Sunday morning, a further search was made and at about 10 am, Mr John Burchnall found the body of the deceased not far from a riding in the wood. It appeared from the medical testimony that the unfortunate man had been dead several hours when found and that he lost his life from exposure. The jury accordingly returned a verdict to that effect.
REDMILE, Campain - died 28th March 1873 An inquest was held at the Crown Inn, Dyke, near Bourne, on Saturday 29th ult. before William Edwards Esq., coroner, upon the body of Mr Campain Redmile who was accidentally killed by being run over by a wagon the previous day. The deceased, who was 71 years of age, had been a successful farmer at Dyke and had recently given up business, having realised a considerable competency. William Kendall, a servant to Mr Redmile's son Edwin, told the hearing that on the day of the accident he went to Bourne with a wagon and two horses loaded with barley and returned with a load of manure. Mr Campain Redmile went with him. When he was starting from Bourne to go home he asked Mr Redmile if he would get on the wagon and ride and he said "No" but when they had almost reached the end of town, he turned round and saw him holding up his stick and beckoning him to stop. He did so and Mr Redmile climbed on. When they had almost reached the toll bar [at the mill in North Road], he pulled the wagon into the side to allow Mr Edlin pass by in his gig and on turning round, he saw Mr Redmile lying under the back wheel of the wagon and with the help of Mr Edlin, his groom and the toll bar keeper, they took him into the toll bar house. George Hanger, keeper of the Bourne Mill toll bar, said he saw the wagon approaching with Mr Redmile standing on the shafts, perhaps intending to get down, but he fell with his head under the wagon. The far side fore wheel passed over his body and the hind wheel stopped on his back. Mr E H Edlin, surgeon, said he saw Mr Redmile fall from the shafts and the wheels pass over him, breaking his back and crushing several ribs on his right side. The jury at once returned a verdict of accidental death.
REED, William - died 3rd January 1892 A boy who was in the habit of lighting the fire in the mornings at his home in Bourne accidentally set light to himself and burned to death, an inquest at the Crown Hotel was told on Wednesday afternooon. He was William Reed, aged 9, and his mother said that on the Sunday before, he had come down as usual dressed in his shirt with a cotton undershirt beneath. Between 7.30 and 8 am, she heard screams of "Fire" and at once ran downstairs and found the boy in flames which she tried to extinguish, badly burning both of her hands. Paraffin oil was not used to light the far, in her knowledge, she said, but admitted that the can in which is was kept was not in its usual place by the fender. Ellen M Tabor, wife of George Tabor, a bricklayer's labourer, who lived next door, said that she heard the screams of "Fire" and Mrs Reed crying out: "Oh! Willie is burnt! I am sure he is dead!" She ran into the house and met Willie running upstairs in flames but she stopped him and extinguished the flames. He was burnt all over and she applied lard to his wounds but the skin peeled off whenever she did so. The boy told her that a piece of stick had flown out of the fire and caught his shirt while he was sitting on the fender. He had used paraffin to make the fire blaze, even though he had promised his father never to meddle with it. Dr Brown, of Bourne, told the hearing that the boy was put under his care suffering from extensive burns such as would result from a burning, clinging garment. He had noticed the smell of paraffin but this may have been the pungent odour of the oil he used for dressing the wounds. The boy was not in a fit state to give any explanation as to what had happened and he died from congestion of the internal organs arising from shock to the system. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.
RICE, James - died Friday 17th March 1876 The body of an elderly man found lying in Bourne Wood was identified as that of James Rice, aged 71. He was generally known and much respected in the neighbourhood and his very sad death under the circumstances caused a painful feeling to pervade the town on Saturday. For many years he was the owner of, and travelled with, a celebrated satire [performing] horse in the district. Albert Skinner, landlord of the Nag's Head Inn, Bourne, told an inquest held at the public house on Saturday, before the coroner, Joseph Calthrop, that Rice was his father-in-law. About five years ago, he had a paralytic stroke from which he had never fully recovered and sometimes one arm and leg failed him although he had not complained of being worse than usual. On the day of his death, he had been visiting Mr George Hill, a farmer, of Edenham Lodge, and left to return home through Bourne Wood, Hill accompanying him across two fields before leaving him. Rice made no complaint and went straight on. His body was later found by James Featherstone, overlooker [overseer] of Bourne and Morton Woods for the Marquess of Exeter. As he was going through Bourne Wood at about half past twelve on Friday morning, he spoke to Rice and he appeared quite well and cheerful. Later, when returning the same way, he saw him lying across the riding with his face downwards, quite dead, grasping his walking stick in his right hand. His hat was about 40 yards away and he supposed it had been blown there by the wind. There were no marks upon the ground and no sign that any struggle had taken place. Dr J Henry Ashworth said in evidence that he was called to the wood about 3 pm and found Rice lying on the ground, quite dead, but still warm. There were no marks of any violence and he had no doubt whatever that death was caused by natural causes, most probably heart disease and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.
ROBINSON, Edward - died 25th December 1906 On Christmas morning, an inmate of the Bourne workhouse, Edward Robinson, committed suicide by cutting his throat. His mother, Mrs Ann Robinson, told an inquest the following Thursday, that her son had suffered from rheumatism for eight or nine years and had been an inmate of the Peterborough Infirmary before entering the Bourne Union. She had visited her son a few days before and he had told her that he was out of his mind and that the pain was more than he could bear. He had been unable to work for 20 years but she had never before heard him threaten to take his life. Daniel Keys, an inmate at the workhouse, said in evidence that he was on duty in the sick ward on Christmas Eve and early in the morning, Robinson said: "Dan, I've done it" and when he got out of bed to investigate, found that he had cut his throat with a razor. The nurse came immediately and Dr James Watson-Burdwood was sent for but deceased was dead before he arrived. The doctor told the inquest: "No human skill could have saved his life." Verdict: Suicide during temporary insanity.
RODGERS, William - died 2nd February 1901 On Friday morning, an agricultural labourer named William Rodgers, aged 57, of Eastgate, Bourne, fell from a stack on Mr S F Grummitt's farm in the South Fen. On hearing of the accident, Mrs Grummitt rendered all possible aid and had him taken home in a trap. Medical assistance was immediately summoned and the injuries attended to and during the evening, he conversed with his family, but soon after 4 am the following morning, death took place. Great sympathy is felt for the widow and family in their sudden bereavement. An inquest touching on the tragedy was held at the Town Hall on the following Monday when medical evidence showed that death was due to shock following dislocation of the shoulder and a verdict was returned accordingly.
ROSE, Eleanor - died 18th May 1862
SANDALL, John - died 29th October 1860 An inquest was held before Mr William Edwards, coroner, at the Six Bells Inn, Bourne, upon the body of John Sandall, senior, carpenter, of Morton. It appears that deceased, who was about 73 years of age, left Morton on the Monday morning in his normal health and walked to Bourne, carrying with him some shovel handles, which he intended to offer for sale at Bourne Fair. When at Bourne, he complained of being unwell and requested permission to lie down underneath a covered gateway in the North-street, between the premise of Mr J B Roberts and Messrs Wherry's warehouse. About half an hour afterwards, the lad in the employ of Mr Roberts passed under the gateway, and on return to the shop, informed his master that he thought the man was dead; whereupon Mr G O Munton, surgeon, was sent for, and he having just reached home was immediately in attendance, but found the unfortunate man quite dead. Mr Munton was of opinion that deceased's death was occasioned by disease of the heart, and a verdict in accordance therewith was returned.
SUDDEN DEATH AT SCOTTLETHORPE: An inquest was held on the 22nd inst. by Dr A Greenwood, district coroner, relative to the death of Mr Albert Saxby, 27, farmer. Mabel Saxby, sister, said deceased was brought into the house by Albert Whiles and dropped down on the couch. Witness asked deceased what was the matter and he replied: "O Mabel, I am dying." Witness got some brandy but deceased died almost immediately. Deceased had always been in good health. Dr John Galletly of Bourne, as the result of a post mortem examination, came to the conclusion that death was due to failure of the heart's action owing to valvular disease, probably brought on by a cycle ride to Hawthorpe. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. The funeral took place at Edenham on Saturday (April 24th) amid many signs of respect. The coffin was deposited in a grave decorated with primroses and evergreen. There were about a dozen beautiful floral tributes.
SCOTNEY, John - died 5th January 1882 An inquest was held at the Angel Hotel before J G Calthrop Esq, coroner, touching the death of John Scotney, aged 71, a retired inspector of police, who was found drowned in the Bourne Eau. Emma Bramley, of North Back Lane, Bourne, said that the deceased was living on his pension and had lodged with her for about six months but had been away for six weeks until three weeks ago when he returned. "I last saw him about 11 am on Thursday", she said. "He was going to get his pension forms signed. He had been poorly and was taking medicine; he was cheerful but his memory failed him at times, particularly the last few days. Two nights before, he had been very excited, wandering up and down the house, and was troubled about his soul and money. He had relations in Bourne. I expected him to dinner but he did not come home." Thomas Gillson, of Bourne Fen, gave evidence of finding the body in the river near Tar Ends. It was dressed and lying face downwards. A road ran alongside the river and the bank was rather steep. John Tippler, of Eastgate, told the coroner that he had seen Scotney going along the bank on the north side at about 12.30 pm. "He was looking around him and when he was nearly opposite to me he slipped and almost fell in the river. He went down the bank further and looked about him as though he wanted to get rid of me. He did not speak." Police Sergeant Cabourn who recovered the body said that a search of the clothing revealed a purse containing six sovereigns, 6s. 6d. in silver and 6d. in coppers, a knife, a bunch of keys, a pair of spectacles in a case, and a pair of gloves. His clothing was disarranged. "I had seen him the previous day when he complained about his head", said the sergeant. "He had broken very much recently and seemed very different from the time I first knew him." The jury returned a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind.
SHARPE, Josiah - died 15th January 1850: THE MELANCHOLY EXPLOSION AT Bourne: The town was under most painful excitement on Tuesday evening from the circumstances of an awful explosion which took place on the premises of Mr William Sharpe, watchmaker, of South Street. He had just returned home and was in the kitchen preparing his camphine lamp for the night, and had for his assistance his son Josiah, a youth of 13 years of age. He had poured a quantity of naptha into the lamp and the poor boy was looking with a candle in his hand to ascertain whether the lamp was nearly full when it would appear that the flames of the candle came into contact with the fiery liquid and immediately a scene the most awful and confusing was exhibited. It is supposed that the naptha spilled over the youth as the flames adhered to him with surprising pertinacity. Mr Sharpe succeeded in forcing his way out but immediately returned to rescue his children. He succeeded in dragging Josiah into the street but only as a burning mass of fire. Two other children were taken through a window without injury. Mrs Sharpe too escaped, but with her apron on fire which was speedily extinguished without her suffering much and the youngest child, who was still in the blazing labyrinth, for by this time the flames had spread over the lower part of the house, was saved miraculously by a neighbour who broke a window to get in. The alarm brought all the neighbours to the aid of the sufferers and the engine was promptly on the scene and the fire soon extinguished. The poor boy, an intelligent and respected youth, was conveyed to the Nag's Head Inn where, notwithstanding the most attentive medical aid, he lingered for a few hours in the most intense pain and then found a refuge in death from his sufferings. An inquest the following Thursday returned a verdict of accidental death when the jury said that all vendors of similar inflammable liquids should place on the vessels a caution to the public against the dangers of its use.
SMITH, Charles - died 4th November 1879 A very sad accident happened to Charles Smith, butcher and cottager, of Essendine, on Tuesday night, which resulted fatally. Deceased had been with his horse and cart to Spalding market and was returning about 7 pm and when approaching the Greyhound Inn in Bourne Fen [now demolished], he appears to have turned round, seemingly with the intention of returning to Spalding, as he was met going in that direction by Mr Tipler, the Spalding and Bourne carrier. Not far from the place where Tipler met him, he drove into the ditch by the roadside where the cart was overturned and Smith was thrown into the water. The body was not found until Wednesday morning when some labourers going to work lifted it out of the ditch. Superintendent Willerton Brown of Bourne, was quickly on the spot and the person of the deceased was searched and it is singular that no money was found in his possession. A pig which deceased had bought at Spalding market and which was in the cart at the time of the accident, was found about half a mile off. An inquest was held at the Greyhound Inn on Thursday 6th November when the coroner, Mr J G Calthrop, decided that Smith had been drowned by the overturning of his cart and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. It was subsequently learned that two men had been taken into custody on suspicion of having robbed the deceased upon whose clothing no money was found although it is probable that when he started from Spalding he had a considerable sum in his possession.
SMITH, Miss Clara Jane - died 16th September 1933 DOG MOUNTS GUARD OVER DEAD MISTRESS: A pathetic story of a dog, which, on seeing his mistress drown herself, mounted guard over her hat and handbag nearby and would not allow anyone to come near, was told at an inquest upon the body of Miss Clara Jane Smith, aged 67, of North-street, Bourne. The hearing was told that Miss Smith worked as a book-keeper for the family grocery firm of Smith's in North Street, Her nephew, John Charles Smith, said that she had always been very quiet and retiring but had been run down lately. She went for her regular morning walk on the Saturday morning but did not return at her usual time about 10.30 to 11 o'clock and he was informed by the police at 12.30 that she had been found drowned. John Rawlinson, of North Street, Bourne, said that he knew Miss Smith well and had seen her at about 9.30 a m near the workhouse gates and going towards the Wellhead. Leonard Sandall, who was employed by Mr Smith, was sent out to find her at about 11 a m and after calling at two houses where she might have gone, and searching the railway station and the spoil bank, he went to the Wellhead and halfway down the backwater, he saw Miss Smith's dog but it resented him approaching and started barking, although he knew the dog well and ordinarily could go close to it. He could see a hat and a bag on the bank which the dog was watching. There was someone in the water two or three yards away, face downwards. The body was subsequently recovered from four feet of water by the police who applied artificial respiration but without success. The coroner returned a verdict of suicide by drowning during a period of mental instability.
SMITH, Helen Phyllis - died 15th December 1913 LADY'S FATAL SEIZURE IN CHURCH: We regret to record the death of Mrs Helen Phyllis Smith, aged 50, wife of Mr George Smith, solicitor, which occurred on Monday morning after an apoplectic seizure on Sunday afternoon. The deceased lady, who was apparently in her accustomed health, attended divine service in the parish church at Horbling on Sunday morning and in the afternoon was conducting a Sunday School class when she was seized with a sudden illness and immediately became unconscious. Assistance was speedily forthcoming and Mrs Smith was removed to her own residence but despite the attendance of two doctors, she expired on Monday morning without recovering consciousness. She leaves a family of three sons and one daughter. The suddenness of her demise has caused a profound sensation in the village. Being of a particularly amiable disposition, the late Mrs Smith was greatly respected, taking a deep interest in church work and associated herself with many things, having for their object the welfare of the parishioners. Amidst many manifestations of sorrow and regard, the funeral took place at Horbling on Wednesday afternoon.
SMITH, Thomas - died 3rd October 1885 An inquest was told that Thomas Smith, a labourer, of Eastgate, Bourne, died suddenly in the Woolpack Inn at Eastgate [now demolished]. It appears that he went into the inn on Saturday afternoon and called for half a pint of beer. The landlord went out of the room to execute the order and on returning, found Smith on the floor dead. The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
STEVENSON, Thomas - died 4th July 1896 Mr J G Calthrop, coroner, held an inquiry at the Chequers Inn, Tongue End, on Monday 6th July, touching the death of a child named Thomas Stevenson who was blown into a fen drain and drowned on his second birthday on the previous Saturday. Annie Stevenson, the wife of Henry Stevenson, horse keeper, of Bourne Fen, identified the deceased as her child. Her was two years old on the previous Saturday. Whilst at work about the house, she missed him and asked her next door neighbour whether she had seen him but she had not and so she went to look for him on the Bourne Eau Bank but could not find him. There was a dyke running at the bottom of her garden with a plank over it but there was no stile in front of the plank. When she got to the dyke, which was called the Weir Dyke, she saw her son in the water and got him out with the help of a neighbour. He was quite dead. The water was about two feet deep in the middle of the dyke. She had not left him for more than three or four minutes but it was a stormy afternoon with a high wind. Her son was fond of going to the plank and she had fetched him back from it several times, evidence that was corroborated by her neighbour, Mary Wilson who had also warned the boy that it was dangerous. The jury returned a verdict that the boy was accidentally drowned.
STUBLEY, Henry - died 6th August 1879 The landlord of the Railway Inn [or Tavern, at No 15, Austerby, now closed and a private house], met his death while helping a farmer friend, Mr H Ward, of Manthorpe, get in the hay. Mr Henry Stubley, aged 61, left home in the best of health and at about half past three in the afternoon, he was sitting on top of a load and as the waggon was being taken near to the stack, he lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground, landing on his head. Assistance was instantly given and in a little while, consciousness returned when the poor fellow looked up and said: "I am done for now." Dr James Watson-Burdwood was brought to the spot as speedily as possible but all help was unavailing. The sufferer was removed to a house near and lingered semi-conscious till the following morning when he died. It appeared that the spinal chord was seriously injured and there was a copious effusion of blood on the brain. An inquest was held next day when the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
THURLBY, Ann - died 8th April 1872 An inquest at the Horse and Groom public house in Bourne was told on Tuesday 9th April that the deceased, Mrs Ann Thurlby, aged 60, was a very stout person, the widow of Samuel Thurlby, who was commonly called "Salt Sam". Her daughter, Emma Thurlby, aged, 20, said in evidence that she went to the railway station with her mother the day before to buy a ticket. She was going to Elton to see her brother by the 8.05 am Bourne to Essendine train but someone told her to make haste or she would be too late. The engine driver, Mr William Marsden, said that after the train was in motion, he saw Mrs Thurlby running along the platform. Someone from inside one of the carriages opened the door and she attempted to get in but fell down and was crushed to death between the carriage and the platform. Dr James Watson-Burdwood, surgeon for the company, was immediately called for but she had suffered terrible injuries and her body was mangled. Subsequent evidence from railway staff revealed that the train was not leaving the station on its scheduled journey but merely moving away from the platform for the purpose of shunting some wagons to be attached to the rear of the train. Driver Marsden said that he had called out loudly to Mrs Thurlby to this effect but the inquest was told that she was somewhat hard of hearing. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
TWITCHELL, Mary - died 25th November 1856 A young woman died while using a stove in her room to keep warm during a cold spell, an inquest at the Nag's Head Inn was told on Friday 27th December 1856. Mary Twitchell was employed as housekeeper to Mr Henry Osborn, ironmonger, of South Street, Bourne, who told the hearing that on the previous Wednesday, on not seeing his servant when he got up at 8 am, he inquired as to her whereabouts and was told that there was no answer from her room. He knocked on the door but there was no reply and, with the assistance of his porter, Thomas Topham, and Mr Frances Bellingham, surgeon, they broke it down and found her dead in bed. John Strickson, assistant shop boy for Mr Osborn, said in evidence that, unknown to their master, it had been their habit to burn one of the stoves from the shop to heat their rooms before going to bed when it was very cold but the girl must have left it on all night, although he had warned her about this because it could be very dangerous. The fumes from her room, which was next door, also affected him and he had felt ill and had been sick during the night and when he went to her room to call her about 7 am, there was no reply and he raised the alarm. After some deliberation, the jury returned the following verdict: "That the deceased was suffocated and poisoned by carbolic acid gas produced by burning charcoal in a stove called Nash's or Joyce's patent apparatus and which she had, in ignorance of its effects, introduced for warmth into her bedroom." The coroner, Mr William Edwards, expressed his intention of communicating the painful event to the patentees of the stove with a view of obviating, as far as possible, similar catastrophes.
USHER, John - died 4th October 1895 DEATH FROM THE KICK OF A HORSE: An incident in which a man died after being kicked by a horse was related to the deputy coroner, Mr C E Bonner, during an inquest held on Saturday at the house of Mr Samuel Hodgkin in Bourne Fen. John Usher, aged 45, an agricultural labourer, of Bourne Fen, had died from the injury the previous day and his body was identified by James Ward, a labourer of Bourne, and who lodged with him. He said that on the Tuesday before, between five and six o'clock in the evening, he saw Usher go into the stable where the horses were kept and he saw him going up to them. A few minutes afterwards, he went into the stable and saw Usher lying on the floor behind the horses. He was raising himself up and he helped him out of the stable but he died on the following Friday. Dr John Gilpin said that he was sent for to attend Usher on Tuesday and an examination revealed a large wound over his right eye, underneath which the skull was smashed and the brain protruded. He said that the horse had kicked him up against the wall. The doctor attended Usher until his death which was due to inflammation of the brain. The jury returned a verdict "that Usher died from injuries, the result of an accidental kick from a horse".
WILSON, James - died 21st May 1868 An inquest was held at the Chequers Inn, Tongue End, near Bourne, on the 22nd inst. before William Edwards Esq., coroner, upon the body of James Wilson, a labourer, aged 50, who had hanged himself the previous morning. Deceased, who was of intemperate habits, occupied part of his time in fishing. It appears that the day before his death, his son was 21, and that there had been some rejoicing in consequence. He left his house next morning at about 6 o'clock and was afterwards found dead, hanging upon a tree in Bourne Fen. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned.
WOOLLEY, Albert - died 17th January 1880 COLLAPSED AT PLAY: An inquest was held at the Royal Oak Inn on Monday last, January 19th, on the body of Albert Woolley, aged 10 years, son of Mr Joseph Woolley, wheelwright. It appeared from the evidence of two children named Corney and Barnett that they were playing with deceased in the Stone-pit close on Saturday. They missed him and on going to look, found him lying on his face on the ground. They immediately fetched his brother, Walter Joseph Woolley, who saw he was dead. Walter Joseph Woolley also said that deceased had often complained of a fluttering and jumping of the heart. Dr J Henry Ashworth said he was of the opinion that deceased was suffering from heart disease and that this was the cause of death. A verdict to that effect was accordingly returned.
YOUNG, James - died 15th June 1888 About 1 pm on Friday, James Young, aged 73, who resided near the Greyhound Inn [now demolished] on the Spalding Road, Bourne, was found dead in his house. His wife was out on a visit to some relatives and deceased was living alone. A neighbour, Mrs Mason, last saw him alive on the previous day about 5 pm. About dinner-time on Friday, Mrs Mason, not having seen him as usual, knocked on the door. Receiving no answer, she entered the kitchen and found the old man lying on his face across the hearth dead. His shoes were off and it therefore appears probable that, either just before retiring to bed or after coming down, he was seized with a fit and died. The coroner did not deem an inquest necessary.
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