EDWARD BERTIE COLES

NWNFEB 1906

Fatal Fall into a Fire.—An inquest was held at the Mission Hall, Wharf-road, on Friday evening, before Dr. John Watson, deputy borough coroner, concerning the death of Edward Bertie Coles, aged 1 year and 7 months, son of Edward William Coles, of 14_t Denmark court. Mrs. Coles, the mother, said that the child was playing with a chair before the fire, and while her back was turned it fell and it put its arm right between the bars of the grate. She bound up the arm and sent for Nurses Fisher, who not being able to come at the time, sent lint and oil to ease the pain. The nurse came later on and said the child was doing well. Becoming worse, she sent for a doctor, who said that it was suffering from convulsions, and on Thursday he did not give much hope. Dr. Heywood said he was called to the child on Wednesday, and found it suffering from a badly burnt arm, which appeared to be going on all right. Later on in the day he was called again, and found the child suffering from convulsions. He called again on Thursday morning and found the child worse. It died at eight-thirty on Thursday night. He should say that death was due to convulsions brought on by the shock to the nerves. This was all the evidence taken, and the Jury, of whom Mr. I Johnson was foreman, returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” expressing their condolences with the father and mother, who appeared to be much affected.

Sources:Newbury Weekly News - February 1906