NEVILLE HARRISON

SAD DEATH OF AN OLD MAN INQUEST AT THE WORKHOUSE

A sad death occurred at the Newbury Workhouse, on Thursday last, of an old man named Neville Harrison, aged 77, of Union Court, Newbury, who was found a fortnight since lying in the road by Shaw Church, with his thigh bone broken, and suffering from bronchitis and pneumonia. An inquest was held at the Workhouse on Friday afternoon, by the Borough Coroner (Dr. Watson, J.P.) and a jury, of whom Mr. W. J. Dike was foreman. Frederick Cannon, a watercress grower living at Shaw, identified the body as that of Neville Harrison, whom he last saw alive a fortnight ago, leaning against some railings in the Shaw Church-road. The first time he saw the deceased he was 500 yards away, and a dairy woman was giving him a glass of milk. On returning from dinner, some little boys came to him, and asked him to see the deceased, who had dragged himself about 20 yards. Deceased asked him to take him away, as he was ill, and cold. Witness tried to get a horse and cart but, being unable to do so, reported the case to Superintendent Robotham. The relieving officer removed deceased to the
infirmary.
P. C. Walter Wooldridge said on January 22nd he received instructions from the Superintendent to inform Mr. Bland, the relieving officer, that a man was lying in the Shaw-road, very ill. Witness then walked up to Shaw, and saw deceased sitting inside the entrance gate to the church, in great pain, and complaining that his leg was broken. Mr. Bland arrived with a cab, and deceased was taken to the Infirmary. Dr Arthur Thompson said deceased was admitted to the Infirmary on 22nd January, and was under his care. He was suffering from a fractured thigh bone, bronchitis, and general collapse. Deceased said that he had slipped up on the path and broken his leg, but blamed nobody. Deceased gradually got worse, and subsequently died on Thursday.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

Newbury Weekly News 11 February 1904 Not in Mrs. P. Buried 8 February 1904 Bk 1899 page 079 no. 7829