On Wednesday Evening,, at the Police-court, the Borough Coroner (Dr. H. Watson) held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of a child named Ellen Sturgess, aged five years and four months, which occurred on Tuesday morning. The jury, of whom Mr. Walford Poulton was foreman, having viewed the body, the following witnesses were examined:-
George Sturgess, a carman, in the employ of Mrs. Draper, cartage agent to the Great Western Railway Company, living in Golder’s Yard, Cheap Street, identified the body as that of his daughter, whom he last saw alive on Tuesday morning. About Midday he was sent for, and when he arrived home he found that the child was dead.
Fanny Sturgess, aged 14, sister of the deceased, stated that on Tuesday morning about half a dozen children were playing in Golding’s yard. There was a large tyre belonging to a timber carriage wheel leaning against the wall. The tyre fell forward and struck the deceased on the head. The other children were caught up in the tyre, but not hurt.
Mr. Richard Hickman, surgeon, stated that at a quarter to one on Tuesday he went to Golding’s yard but found that the child had just died. He afterwards examined the deceased, and found there was a slight abrasion on the left cheek, a bruise on the left forehead, and a slight depression of the bone, but no fracture. Directly after the child died blood poured from both ears, nostrils and mouth, and from that circumstance witness that death had resulted from a fracture at the base of the skull. The base was fractured right across, which was beyond doubt the cause of death. The force of the blow must have been transmitted form the forehead to the base of the skull.
The coroner, in summing up, observed that it was a dangerous practice to leave such heavy articles against a wall where there were young children playing, and he hoped the tyre would be removed immediately. It was a pure accident, and no one could be blamed. Addressing Sturgess, the Coroner said he was very sorry indeed that he should be so unfortunate to lose two of his children by accident. It was only two years ago that he held another inquest on another of his children.
A juror, to whom the tyre belonged, stated that it had been left in the same place for eleven months, but should be at once removed.
The hurry returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”. |
