Obituary NWN 20/12/1883 DISTRESSING DEATH OF AN ALMSWOMAN .

- An inquiry was held at the "London Apprentice" by Dr. H. Watson, J.P., Borough Coroner, on Thursday evening, respecting the death of Sarah Kimber an old lady 87 years of age. Deceased was an inmate of St. Bartholomew's New Almshouses and on the 5th inst., Richard Hall who lives near, was told that Mrs Kimber's house was on fire. He jumped up and went there as soon as possible. On his arrival he saw flames and smoke issuing from the window, and just as he got to the door deceased opened it, and he noticed that the upper part of her body was enveloped in flames. There was snow on the ground, and he prevailed upon deceased to lie down. He then extinguished the flames by rolling her in the snow and putting it upon her. Other neighbours came and saw to the deceased while Hall went into the house and extinguished the flames.
After the house had been cleared of the smoke deceased was got indoors but she would not go to bed. The evidence of Mr. Richard Hickman went to show that the deceased, whom he saw between eight and nine o'clock on Thursday night, was a good deal burnt about the head, face, and hands. He had been in constant attendance until the following Thursday when she expired.
The burns were not severe to a person of ordinary age; owing however to the advanced age of deceased the shock was too much for her system. Deceased was alone during the day, but at night a person usually slept with her. Mr. Hickman was further of opinion, from what he heard of deceased, that she must have had softening of the brain. He understood she was always playing with the fire. She had been quite delirious from the time of the accident. No evidence could be addressed as to how the accident occurred, deceased being alone at the time.

The jury, of whom Mr, William Knight was foreman, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death".