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This mortal coil BIZZARE AND UNEXPECTED DEATHS
COMPILED FROM THE COLUMNS OF OUR
LOCAL
1813: An inquest on Wednesday was taken before George White, gent., coroner, on the body of Joseph Measures, a youth of about 15 years of age, servant to Mr Robert Rosling, of Swinstead, near Bourne, who had the preceding Monday afternoon, June 28th, hanged himself with a leather neck band upon an elm tree, and when found, was quite dead. No reason being assigned for this desperate act, the jury returned a verdict of felo de se [suicide] and the body was interred at a nearby crossroads without the rights of a Christian burial.
1820: On Monday evening, a melancholy accident befell Mr Thomas Wilkinson, under-steward to the Marquess of Exeter. On his return about five o'clock (in company with two other persons) from Bourne, where he had been receiving rents, his horse stumbled over a sheep which lay on the roadside near Toft bridge, and falling upon Mr Wilkinson, injured his head and chest so severely as to occasion his death in a short time after he had been carried back to the house of Mr Nicholls, in Toft, at which he had called about two minutes before the accident. The deceased was a young man much respected by his noble employer, and by all who knew him; he was a native of Grimsby, and had been for some years instructed and much befriended by Mr Arden of Morton. He has perished in his 23rd year, at a time when the fairest prospect opened to his talents and excellent disposition, His remains were yesterday interred in St Martin's, Stamford Baron. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th May 1820.
1820: An inquest was held in Bourne on Friday 7th July by Mr Edwards, coroner, on the body of a child named William Topham, a year and a half old, whose death was occasioned by his drinking boiling water out of a tea kettle that stood upon the hob of the fire grate. Verdict, scalded to death by accident. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th July 1820.
1820: John Shepherd, aged 75, once a farmer, from Haconby, near Bourne, died from amputation of the right hand shiver'd [shattered] by the bursting of a gun. - from the Haconby Burials Register, 10th August 1820.
1821: An inquest was held at Bourne on Saturday by Mr Edwards, coroner, on a child who had been poisoned by eating arsenic which had been mixed with sugar for destroying rats. Another child was dangerously ill from having partaken of the same fatal mixture which had been incautiously placed within their finding. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 11th May 1821.
1822: An inquest was held at Bourne on Monday the 14th inst., by Mr Edwards, gent., coroner, on the body of William Phillips the elder, who died on the previous Saturday suddenly and by the visitations of God. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 18th October 1822.
1824: A dreadful accident happened to John Andrew, aged 33, the Bourne carrier, as he was returning to Stamford last Friday night. He was driving a waggon and two horses, and being much intoxicated, was riding in company with his wife and another passenger, although the waggon was heavily laden with goods. From the maddening effects of liquor, the wretched man urged the horses at a most furious rate down the hills until, in descending the hill near Manthorpe Cross, he himself became alarmed, and jumped off the shafts to endeavour to stop them: in the attempt, he unfortunately fell and both the wheels of the waggon passing over his body, he was so dreadfully crushed that he expired in consequence in a few minutes. His wife, although she jumped from the waggon, received no injury and the other passenger was equally fortunate. An inquest was held on the 6th inst. on the body of the deceased, by Mr Edwards, coroner; the verdict "killed by the wheels of a waggon passing over his body, he being at the time in a state of intoxication". The waggon and horses were found to be deodand [the cause of the person's death], and a fine of ten shillings put thereon. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 10th September 1824.
1825: John Drummond, aged 45, dealer in horses, killed by falling from the Express stage coach. - from the Bourne Burials Register, 1825.
1825: William Roberts, aged 53 years, died by a visitation of God. - from the Bourne Burials Register, 17th May 1825.
1825: A sudden death took place at Bourne on Tuesday se'nnight [a week ago]. A poor man in the employ of Mr Hugh Holland, farmer, of that place, while conversing with his master in the barn, fell down apparently in a fit, when Mr Holland humanely assisted him, and he for a few moments recovered; but on stepping some paces from the barn, he fell again and instantly expired. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th June 1825.
1825: A shocking accident occurred in Bourne Fen on Monday afternoon. Mr Whitfield and his wife and servants left home about two o'clock to make hay, and two of their children, Hannah, aged 9 years, and Charles, aged 4 years, remained about the home: the parents returned at four o'clock, when, awful to relate, the objects that first presented themselves were the bodies of the above two children floating upon the waters of the Weir Dyke, into which it is supposed the younger child had fallen, and that the elder in attempting to extricate the brother, also perished. Inquests were held on the bodies on Wednesday by S Edwards, Gent., coroner, and in each case a verdict of found drowned was recorded. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th July 1825.
1825: An inquest was held by Mr Samuel Edwards, Gent., coroner, at Bourne on the 21st inst. on view of the body of William Pridmore, aged two years, who whilst his father and mother were drinking their tea on Sunday afternoon, unobserved drank some hot tea out of the spout of the teapot, which so dreadfully scalded the mouth and throat of the deceased that he died about the same hour on the following afternoon, after lingering in great agony. Verdict, scolded to death accidentally. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 30th September 1825.
1825: On the 17th, an inquest was held at Bourne by Mr Mastin, coroner, on the body of Sarah Reed, who went to bed in her usual health, but was found dead by her husband's side in the morning. Verdict, by the visitation of God. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th November 1825.
1827: Stranger, name unknown, killed by Express coach passing over him, aged about 24 years. - from the Bourne Burials Register.
1829: A dreadful and fatal accident befell a poor old man named George Greasley in the market place at Bourne on Saturday the 11th last. A youth was riding through the town on a horse of Mr Hodgkin's, of Kirkby Underwood, and on the animal's arriving at the centre of the market place he became unmanageable, owing to a dog under a cart or stall barking at him; the youth was thrown and not materially hurt; the horse made off for Thurlby but was soon checked and turning back towards Morton, he in his way thither, in the market place went into contact with poor Greasley and forced him to the ground. In falling, the unfortunate man received such violent fractures and injury in the head from the hind foot of the horse as to occasion him almost instant death. A coroner's inquest was held on the body on the 13th inst. by Samuel Edwards, Gent., coroner, when the circumstances which led to the death were minutely investigated. The horse had been under the care of a horse-breaker for the purpose of being made up for sale and to break in for harness; it was quiet and free from vice; and the youth who was upon it on the Saturday was not showing the animal for sale nor to accustom it to be quiet in town. Verdict, "that the said George Greasley was killed by the horse accidentally" and a deodand of 5s. was set on the animal. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 24th July 1829.
1830: On Tuesday last an inquest was held at Bourne by Samuel Edwards, gent,. coroner, on the body of John Shaw, aged 72 years. The deceased was a parishioner of Edenham and left home on Sunday morning with the intention of walking to Thurlby but when he had proceeded nearly to where the Edenham turnpike road joins the Stamford road, he was seized with apoplexy and was found by a man of Bourne lying dead by the side of the road. His money and other property were safe in his pockets. Verdict, died by the visitation of God. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 11th June 1830.
1831: An accident attended by fatal consequences befell Mrs Walker, wife of Mr Walker, ironmonger, of Bourne, on Thursday the 15th inst. Mr W was gathering some pears from off a tree at the back of his house and at the bottom of the ladder on which he stood was placed a half-hundredweight. It appears that he was reaching over to a distant bough to obtain some fruit when the bough gave way and occasioned him to slip: his wife at the moment seeking to break his fall, threw herself underneath and was struck down with one of her legs across the weight which occasioned a most dreadful fracture. She died on Wednesday morning last from mortification. Mr Walker himself received only slight injury from the fall. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd September 1831.
1832: On Monday evening, a young man named Whitfield was drowned at Bourne whilst bathing in the River Glen between that place and Guthram. He was a son of Mr Whitfield, of Deeping Fen, and had just completed his apprenticeship with Mr Dewey, joiner. His very steady habits had induced his father to contemplate setting him up in business for which purpose he had purchased a large quantity of wood, when this fatal accident destroyed the hopes of his family. It is remarkable that Mr Whitfield, whilst residing at Bourne some years ago, lost two other children by drowning. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 10th August 1832. NOTE: See previous entry for 8th July 1825.
1833: An inquest was held at Bourne on the 18th inst., by Samuel Edwards, Gent, coroner, on the body of Marianne Spencer, aged 7 years, whose body had been found drowned in the Bourne Eau river. There being no evidence to show how the child had got into the water, a verdict of found drowned was returned. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st May 1833.
1833: An inquest was held on Monday last at Morton, near Bourne, on the body of Catherine Jarvis, aged 2 years, daughter of a cottager at that place, who came by her death on the previous day in the following manner. The father of the child had mixed some arsenic with paste to destroy rats, and had placed it in a cupboard on the floor without fastening the door. The child opened the cupboard and ate a considerable quantity before she was detected. This was at 10 o'clock in the morning but through the obstinacy of the grandmother (who had the care of the child, the mother being ill), no doctor was sent for till 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the grandmother having taken the child to a quack in the village who gave her antimonial wine [a popular but dangerous emetic]. At 4 o'clock the doctor arrived but the child was too much exhausted to bear the usual remedies and died in an hour. Verdict, accidental death, and the jury attached much blame to the grandmother for not sending for a surgeon in time. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th June 1833.
1833: An inquest was held on Saturday last by S Edwards, gent., coroner, on the body of a poor man named William Wass who lost his life the previous Friday morning whilst engaged in sinking a well where the new toll bar house is to be erected near Bourne on the Stamford road. The deceased had just descended for the purpose of commencing his labours when he called to his fellow labourers to pull him up again, feeling, it is supposed, the effects of the foul air: on nearly reaching the surface, he fell backwards and was precipitated to the bottom. Although the aperture was not more than 18 feet deep, it was upwards of two hours before the poor man was extricated. Verdict, accidental death. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 21st June 1833.
1833: At Langtoft, near Bourne, on Thursday the 8th inst., as a fine boy named Haynes, ten years old, was riding on the shafts of a waggon at harvest work, with another little boy in the waggon, and while the former was laying one hand upon the shaft horse's rump to reach forward to whip the fore horse, the former fell to kicking, and forcing him off, both the wheels ran over him. He lingered for 26 hours and then died. Great attention was paid to him by Mr Page, surgeon, of Deeping, and Mr Bellingham, of Bourne, but to no effect. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 16th August 1833.
1841: Mr George Jennings, coroner, held an inquest at Bourne on the 19th inst. on the body of Rebecca Bellamy, aged 54, who on the Friday previous was suddenly seized with illness and became insensible, and died within an hour and a half. Verdict, natural death. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 30th April 1841.
1841: On Wednesday last, an inquest was held at the Town Hall, Bourne, before George Jennings, Gent., coroner, on the body of John Pullen, aged 19, who was found dead hanging in the lock-up at Bourne on Monday last. The case excited considerable interest, from a rumour of foul play having been used by the companion of the deceased. It appeared that Pullen and another boy, a notorious character at Morton named Stokes, aged 18, were apprehended on Monday on suspicion of stealing a gun and a watch from Pullen's employer, Mr Charles Rogers, farmer, of Morton: they were taken to the lock-up at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and at 6 Stokes gave an alarm that his companion had hanged himself. Pullen was found suspended by his handkerchief: he was quite dead and cold, and Stokes was sitting quietly by him. The latter stated that Pullen had made several attempts to hang himself whilst in the lock-up, which he (Stokes) had prevented: but at last both parties determined to destroy themselves; in which he (Stokes) had failed through his neckcloth breaking. The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity, and the coroner severely censured Stokes for not preventing Pullen from committing self-destruction. The general impression is that the deceased was innocent of the charge of felony, in which Stokes is supposed to have implicated him, as the gun was found in Stokes' possession.- news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st October 1841.
1842: An inquest was held on Wednesday 11th May 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.
1842: An inquest was held at Bourne on Tuesday last
by George Jennings, Gent., coroner, on the body of a poor old woman named
Rouse who died suddenly in a fit of apoplexy.
1843: DIED: On Monday last, aged 73, Mr John Waters, plumber, of Bourne. The deceased was remarkable for his eccentric "sayings and doings" when under the influence of Sir John. - public notice in the Stamford Mercury, Friday 27th January 1843.
1843: On the 10th October 1843, while on board the Princess Royal of Liverpool in the Bay of Bengal during her voyage home, Edward son of Mr William Munton, of Bourne, aged 19 years, died. - news report from the Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, 2nd February 1844.
1843: Thomas Stimson, a pensioner, residing at Morton, near Bourne, was found hanging in a barn near his dwelling on Saturday last. The deceased had recently taken his pension and no cause has been assigned for the rash act other than that it was understood he was much in debt. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th July 1843.
1845: In inquest was held on Saturday last at the Wharf Inn, Eastgate, Bourne, by George Jennings, gent., coroner, on the body of Phoebe, the wife of Mr William Shaw, who had been discovered in a dying state by the servant at 8 o'clock the previous morning and expired soon after. Verdict, visitation of God. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th September 1845.
1848: A poor fellow, a sweep, belonging to Deeping, was found in Bourne Fen last week in a dying state. A messenger was dispatched for Mr G O Munton, the medical officer of the union, who, although present with alacrity, arrived too late. From the blackness of the face, little doubt remained that apoplexy was the cause of death. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st March 1848.
1849: At Cawthorpe, near Bourne, Mr Samuel Harvey, farmer, aged 66, on June 3rd, of erysipelas, having survived his son only ten days. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 15th June 1849.
1850: An inquest was held on November 25th before the coroner, Mr William Edwards, at Tongue End, near Bourne, on the body of Mr Dale Fisher, a resident of that place, whose death occurred the previous Friday almost instantaneously. He had arisen that day in his usual health and spirits and had partaken of his meals and while engaged in a cheerful conversation with his son-in-law, he fell to the ground and was immediately a corpse. The jury returned a verdict of “died by the visitation of God”. – news report from the Lincolnshire Free Press, Tuesday 3rd December 1850.
1854: Mr William Todd, aged 56, a tailor and woollen draper, of North Street, Bourne, died from cholera on Thursday evening, the 17th August 1854. He had been on a trip to Paris and London, leaving the latter place for Bourne on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was taken severely ill and within 24 hours, death ensued, which sad event caused a deep impression to prevail amongst the inhabitants of the locality.
1855: The four-year-old son of Charles Osgothorpe, a chimney sweeper, was left alone in the house on Friday morning, February 24th, 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.
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.
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 Monday morning, October 29th, 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.
1861: The little fellow, who was three years old, was playing with other children on the steps which lead down to the river near the Abbey Church in Bourne on June 19th when he fell in and was drowned. He has been named as Thomas Fletcher, son of Joseph Fletcher, a brazier. Another boy also fell in but was pulled out safely but there being a strong current at the time, Thomas was forced under the arch thence under the Abbey and a considerable distance along the river. The body was taken from the water by the Rev J P Sharpe and Mr George Nicholls, surgeon, promptly attended and did all in his power to restore animation but without avail. It is supposed that the child had been in the water between 15 and 20 minutes. Thomas Chamberlain, who came up shortly after the child was missed, went some distance under the arch, which runs under the Abbey premises, but was held back by the force of the stream that had carried the boy through into the river. The place where the accident occurred is a very dangerous one for children and should have the attention of the proper authorities.
1862: Deceased was housekeeper to Mr Edward Hardwicke, a wine and spirit merchant, of West Street, Bourne, where she had worked for almost five years, having previously been in service with his mother. She died suddenly on Sunday evening, May 18th, at the age of 31 and an inquest was held the following Tuesday at the New Inn, Eastgate, before the coroner, Mr William Edwards, when Mr Hardwicke said in evidence that she did not enjoy very good health and had been subject to fainting fits but during the past 12 months he had not noticed anything that might indicate failing health. On the day in question, she got up at about 6.30 am and attended to his daughter, who was under her care, and appeared well and cheerful as usual. After dining, he and his daughter went out, returning home at 6.30 pm when deceased furnished him with a candle to read some letters and she appeared to be as well as usual and made no complaint. He then went out again, returning at about 7.40 pm to find her lying face down on the landing leading from one of the sleeping apartments. Mr George Nicholls, surgeon, was sent for and applied the usual tests to discover whether any signs of life remained but without success although the body was still warm. He was of the opinion that deceased fell down in an apoplectic fit and died. The jury agreed and returned a verdict to the effect that death was occasioned by a fit of apoplexy and natural causes.
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 6th August and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.
1868: James Laxton told an inquest at the Mason's Arms, Bourne, on Monday 6th April that whilst going down the Tunnel Bank in Bourne South Fen at 8.15 on Sunday morning, he saw something in the drain which turned out to be the body of John Hazelgreave, an inmate of the bedehouse, aged 79. He was found about half a mile from his dwelling, lying in the water with his face downwards and his feet towards Bourne. There was not more than one or two feet of water where he lay but there was a great deal of mud and the bottom of the drain was very rotten. Witness went for assistance to Matthew Worsdale who was going shepherding and he helped fetch him out of the drain. There was not sufficient water to cover his coat but his face was in the mud and he was quite dead and appeared to have been there for some time. Worsdale said he had seen the deceased on Saturday night going down the long drove in that direction and it seemed as if he had had a little drink. Mrs Emma Mason, wife of William Mason who resided in Bourne South Fen, said that the deceased had come to their house on Saturday night and was very tipsy and she had cautioned him about the drain. Mr Thomas Presgrave said that on Saturday afternoon, he had sent the deceased to deliver a letter to Mr Mason containing a notice to quit with instructions to deliver it to either Mr or Mrs Mason but he seemed quite sober and in good spirits. The inquest was told that the deceased was somewhat eccentric in manner and was very fond of running errands and in this way, was useful to many of the inhabitants. The sum of 8d. was found on his person when taken out of the water and 7s. 6d. in his room at the bedehouse. The letter sent by Mr Presgrave to be delivered by the deceased to Mr Mason was not found. The jury returned a verdict of accidentally downed.
1868: An inquest was held at the Chequers Inn, Tongue End, near Bourne, on May 22nd 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.
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.
1871: A violent storm of hail and rain with vivid lightning and heavy peals of thunder, passed over Bourne shortly after twelve o'clock on Monday morning 19th June. William Dale Fisher, about twelve years of age, a son of Thomas Fisher, in Bourne Fen, was struck by the electric fluid and killed instantaneously. On Tuesday, an inquest was held upon the body before W Edwards Esq,, coroner, and a verdict of "killed by lightning" was returned. - news report from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 24th June 1871.
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.
1872: A bricklayer's labourer, William Norman, aged 64, was found dead on the floor of his house on Monday afternoon, June 3rd, 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.
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.
1872: Unpleasant rumours had circulated in Market Deeping following the death of Michael George Joyce, a youth aged 11 years, on October 26th. 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. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st November 1872.
1873: An inquest was held at the Crown Inn, Dyke, near Bourne, on Saturday 29th March 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.
1874: The deceased was engaged with others in blasting a tree root upon the farm premises of Mr Felix Wadsley at Haconby, near Bourne, when he incautiously remained too near the explosion and was struck with great violence by a fragment of the tree. Death took place in about 24 hours. An inquest held at Haconby on Friday 15th May before Mr William Edwards, coroner, returned a verdict of accidental death.
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, March 19th, 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.
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 on November 27th. 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.
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, March 17th. 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.
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.
1877: A VERY SAD MISHAP befell the Rev J J Hodgson, Vicar of Sempringham and Pointon. His children were practising gymnastics on August 26th 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.
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, November 15th. 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.
1879: The landlord of the Railway Inn [or Tavern, at No 15, Austerby, now closed and a private house], met his death on August 6th 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.
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.
1879: Another of those fearful events which show how uncertain life is, occurred in this place on Tuesday last. From the evidence adduced at the inquest, held at Guthram on Wednesday, it appears that a man named Frank Lank, a drover, had been found dead, lying upon a stone-heap on the road side in Bourne Fen. Nothing was known about him except his name. After hearing the evidence of the medical officer, a verdict of "Died from inflammation of the lungs" was returned. - news item from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 8th November 1879.
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."
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.
1880: 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 August 23rd 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.
1880: BAKER DROWNED BY FLOODS: Torrential rain caused severe flooding in the Bourne area and Mr Dring, a baker with Mrs Atter of Toft, had been as usual on his rounds with the horse and cart on October 5th and on returning in the evening, when close to home and about to pass over the bridge crossing a tributary of the River Glen which passes through Toft, in consequence of the darkness of the night, instead of going over the bridge he inadvertently drove by the side of the bridge and into the river, and horse and cart and man were carried away by the violence of the flood. The horse and cart were recovered the next day but efforts to find the body of Dring proved unsuccessful until a fortnight later when the corpse was discovered partially embedded in the sand more than a mile from the bridge where the horse and cart were washed away. An inquest held at the Butcher's Arms at Toft on Monday 25th October 1880 before Henry Beaumont Esq., coroner, was told that Dring was a journeyman baker and was 60 years of age. When he left his last customer at Witham-on-the-Hill at seven o'clock on 5th October, he said: "I am late tonight. It is very dark and cold." She also said that he was sober. The body of Dring was eventually found on Saturday morning, October 23rd, 300 yards below Manthorpe Bridge and about 1½ miles from where he had driven into the river. The deceased had £18 6s. 2½d. on him, including a £5 note, and a pocket book. The jury returned a verdict of accidental drowning.
1882: An inquest was held at the Angel Hotel before J G Calthrop Esq, coroner, touching the death on January 5th 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.
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.
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, April 11th. 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".
1884: On Friday afternoon, August 8th, 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.
1885: On Thursday week, a labourer named Thomas Shelton was working in the harvest field for Mr Naaman Edward Porter [farmer, Star Lane] when he fell down and expired immediately. The coroner was communicated with and after consultation with a medical man, an inquest was not deemed necessary, death being attributed to heart disease. The deceased was seventy-three years of age. - news report from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 22nd August 1885.
1885: An inquest was told that Thomas Smith, a labourer, of Eastgate, Bourne, died suddenly on October 3rd 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.
1886: A well know drover, named George Hardwick, died at the police station in Bourne on Sunday 25th April 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.
1888: About 1 pm on Friday, June 15th, 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.
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, who died on February 25th. 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.
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.
1890: The intelligence of death by drowning at Skegness of Hugh Arnold, second son of Mr Joseph Arnold, carriage builder, of Bourne, was received with the deepest regret. The utmost sympathy is expressed on all hands with the bereaved parents. Hugh Arnold, aged 19, was a youth of high moral rectitude, of bright intelligence and gentlemanly bearing, and had won the respect of all with whom he came into contact. He was a teacher at the Bourne Congregational Sunday School and a member of the church. The body arrived in Bourne on Friday evening. On Monday afternoon at the Bourne cemetery, the interment took place amid a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends, Sunday School teachers and scholars.
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.
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 on June 15th. 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".
1895: SUICIDE IN A PRISON CELL: The Spalding deputy coroner, Mr C E Bonner, held an inquest at Bourne police station on Saturday 3rd October on the body of Ernest Woodward Pocklington, a horse keeper, who had committed suicide in the prison cell the previous afternoon by cutting his throat, almost severing the head from the body. Robert James Pocklington identified the body as that of his son. He could not read or write and some years before he had suffered a stroke which partially paralysed his left arm and in hot weather he was at times mentally affected by sunstroke. Superintendent Willerton Brown said that the prisoner had been committed for trial at about four o'clock on Saturday afternoon and was placed in a cell. He did not show any signs of mental depression and did not appear to be excited in any way. Police Constable Haldenby told the hearing that he took the prisoner his dinner soon after four o'clock when he appeared to be quite cheerful and was reading a book. Shortly afterwards, he was found dead, having cut his throat with the knife given him at dinner. It was a regular thing to supply prisoners with a knife to cut their food with and it was the same kind of knife which was given to all prisoners. He had been fully dressed when put into the cell but had taken off his coat and vest before cutting his throat. The jury returned a verdict of "suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity".
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, October 4th, 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".
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.
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.
1897: The body of a boy was found in a barley field off North Road at about 2 pm on Wednesday 21st July 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.
1900: SUICIDE OF A BOURNE TRADESMAN: Quite a sensation was caused in the town on
Thursday morning when it became known that Mr Lewis Sardeson, a baker,
residing in North Street, had committed suicide. Just about eight o'clock
he was found hanging in an outhouse and, although the body was immediately
cut down, it was found that life was extinct. The police were at once
communicated with and the matter referred to the coroner. The inquest was
held at the police station on the same day, the deputy coroner, Mr C E
Bonner, conducting the enquiry. Mr J B Shilcock was the foreman of the
jury and after hearing the evidence, a verdict of "suicide during
temporary insanity" was returned. The cause of the sad affair is supposed
to have been the financial position of the deceased.
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, February 2nd, 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.
1901: DIED ON THE WAY TO CHURCH: The Spalding District coroner was notified on Thursday of the sudden death at Bourne of an old lady, aged 63, named Elizabeth Cook, who fell down dead on her way to church. The deceased was seized with sudden illness and died at the church door. The coroner decided it was not necessary to hold an inquest, death being attributed to heart disease.
1902: Motor car fatality in Lincolnshire - evidence at the inquest: Mr C E Bonner, deputy coroner for the Spalding district, held an inquest at Grimsthorpe, near Bourne, yesterday touching the death of Tom Willie Cunnington, of Edenham, near Bourne, motor car driver in the employ of Lord Willoughby de Eresby, M P, who met his death on May 25th in a motor car accident on Sunday. The deceased man was driving Lord Willoughby's car from Corby to Grimsthorpe and with him were three other men and a little girl. The witnesses stated that the deceased seemed to handle the car well but on coming to a hill at Swinstead he seemed to lose control of it and the car bounded from one side of the road to the other and at the bottom of the hill it turned over. The deceased received a severe wound on the head and died about two hours afterwards. One of the occupants of the car attributed the accident to the deceased putting on the brake too sharply. He said they were going at about 14 miles an hour at the top of the hill and another witness put the speed coming down the hill at 20 to 25 miles an hour. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death". - news item from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 28th May 1902.
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 on October 10th. 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.
1905: An eight-year-old girl who was knocked down and killed by a train on the Midland and Great Northern railway line crossing at Bourne was identified as May Victoria Stubley. Martha E Michelson told an inquest on Saturday 23rd September 1905 that she had been using the crossing with her sister and the deceased when she saw a goods train approaching from Bourne station. At the same time, she heard a passenger train coming from Spalding. She called to the girl to get out of the way and to wait until the goods train had passed but instead, she took no notice and stood on the inside rail of the line on which the passenger train was travelling. "The next thing, I saw that the child was under the passenger train", she said. "When the train had gone by, I rushed over and found that she was dead." The driver of the passenger train told the hearing that his view had been hidden by the goods train, the crossing being in the centre of a curve, and it was suggested by the jury that in future, instructions should be issued to drivers to sound their whistle on approaching the crossing from either direction but railway officials warned that whistling engines had in the past brought complaints from residents living in the vicinity and damages had been successfully claimed against the company in some instances. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and added that there was no blame attached to anyone concerning the girl's death.
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.
1907: A love tragedy has been reported from Bourne where Emily Lockwood, aged 24, of Long Eaton, Derbyshire, has died from poison. She was walking out with Richard Bean, aged 24, of London, and was seen on the banks of the river at Edenham when the man called out for assistance. Police Sergeant Smith found the woman lying on the bank with the man bending over her. Bean told the sergeant that they had both taken poison and had gone into the water together, having agreed to die. Miss Lockwood died shortly afterwards and Bean remains in a critical condition but it is thought he may recover. It is stated that the parties were lovers and were stranded. - news report from the Western Times, Saturday 27th July 1907.
1913: An inquest was held on the death of John Rix, aged 12, after his body had been found floating in the disused brickyard pits off West Road. The hearing was told that he had gone there for a swim with several other boys despite a warning from his mother that it was unsafe. When they arrived, the other boys refused to go into the water and went off to look for rabbit food but on their return ten minutes later their friend had disappeared. They went to a nearby cottage for help and the boy's body was eventually seen under the surface in about ten feet of water and was recovered with the help of a farm labourer and policeman who tried to restore breathing but to no avail. Evidence was also given that the pit was fenced off with barbed wire and the owner had posted notices around it warning about the dangers of swimming. The coroner, Dr Greenwood, said that no one seemed to blame and jury returned a verdict of accidental death. But at the suggestion of one juryman, Mr S S Baines, a rider was added saying: "The jury are of the opinion that some suitable bathing place should be provided for the teaching of the boys of Bourne to swim." - from a news report in the Grantham Journal, Saturday 16th August 1913.
1913: SAD DEATH OF YOUNG LADY: The death took place, under sad circumstances, on Friday morning, October 10th, 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.
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, December 15th, 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.
1915: SUDDEN DEATH AT SCOTTLETHORPE: An inquest was held on April 22nd 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.
1922: TRAMP'S SUICIDE - EARLY MORNING TRAGEDY IN CASUAL WARD: An inquest was held at the workhouse in Bourne into the death of a tramp named Maurice Jackson, aged 28, who was admitted on the evening of Wednesday 23rd February saying that he had come from Spalding. About seven o'clock the next morning, the bell from the tramps' or casual ward rang and the porter sent an inmate who returned and said that he had found a man dead in bed. An investigation revealed that a bottle was lying underneath his head that had contained carbolic acid but subsequent inquiries by the police at chemists' shops in Bourne and Spalding failed to establish who had supplied it. John Thomas Wand, an inmate who assisted the porter at the workhouse, told the inquest that the man in the next bed to the deceased had rung the bell because he had heard a gurgling from his throat. There were no signs of any struggle. Dr Galletly, the medical officer, stated that a post mortem examination revealed all the symptoms of carbolic acid poisoning. It was possible, he said, for a man to take the acid without calling out in pain as, though sharp at first, it acted as an anaesthetic. The coroner, Dr A C Greenwood, drew attention to the Board of Guardians [who ran the workhouse] that if the usual searching regulations for inmates being admitted to the tramp ward had not been relaxed, it would have been impossible for the man to have had the bottle in his possession. He recorded a verdict of suicide from carbolic acid poisoning.
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 haemorrhage 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.
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 on October 18th. 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.
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.
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, September 16th, 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.
1959: Less than three months after celebrating her golden wedding, Mrs Millie Asher, aged 71, was found drowned in the Car Dyke at the bottom of Harrington Street, Bourne. Her body was discovered by two schoolboys, Anthony Massam and Sandy Robertson, who fetched help and pulled it to the side of the waterway. She was dressed but a quantity of her clothing was found on the opposite bank including a red coat, cardigan, beret, shoes and a pair of glasses. A inquest held the following day was told that Mrs Asher, formerly Miss Millie Wand of Rippingale, had worked in service for a spell at Chesterfield, Derbyshire, but returned to the village to marry Mr Charles Asher, a farm horseman, on 17th May 1909. They later lived at Bulby and Cawthorpe before settling in Bourne and the couple now had seven daughters and two sons with 14 grandchildren, all of whom joined in the golden wedding celebrations in May. The coroner, Mr Horace Stanton, was told that Mrs Asher had been having treatment from her doctor for depression over her continued ill health but never said anything about taking her own life. He recorded a verdict that she had taken her own life while the balance of mind was disturbed.
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