Newbury Weekly News

dated 27^th December 1900

DEATH OF A CHILD FROM BURNS: - Dr Watson, the borough coroner, held an enquiry on Thursday evening, at St John’s Schoolroom, into the circumstances attending the death of a boy named Frederick George Shave, aged two and a half years, the son of Mr Joseph Shave, a dealer, living at Stroud Green, which occurred at the Newbury District Hospital on the previous evening. Mr L Cleeves was chosen foreman of the jury, who having viewed the body, heard the following evidence: Mrs Emily Shave stated that between three and four o’clock on Monday afternoon she left two of her children of whom the deceased was one, playing in the kitchen, while she went out to feed some ducks. While doing this, she heard screams and ran indoors directly, and saw the deceased in flames. Mrs Hazell, a neighbour, came to her assistance and together they got the clothes off as quickly as possible. Some portions of it were burnt away. Linseed oil was then rubbed on the child’s body, and a doctor sent for. It appeared that the child had tried to open the door of the kitchen range, and in doing so the corner of his pinafore caught fire. - Mrs Hazell, the neighbour referred to, corroborated. - Mr Richard Hickman, surgeon, stated that on Monday afternoon he went to the Newbury District Hospital, and saw the deceased child there. He was very much burned about both arms, the face, head and back, but these were superficial burns. The whole of the skin on both arms was burned off. The child was attended to and dressed each day, but died on Wednesday night from shock. - The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and the Coroner recommended Mrs Shave to procure a guard for use on the kitchen range, to prevent future occurrences of this sad character.