DISTRESSING ACCIDENT TO THE THATCHAM CARRIER
About one o clock on Friday a serious accident befel Mr. Daniel Hopton, who has only just taken over the carrying business between Newbury and Thatcham from Mr. Stillman.

He was leaving the town for his 12 30 journey and had arrived at the Broadway, where he called upon Mr. Deacon, harness maker, with a view of making some alteration in the horse's collar. Mr. Hopton appears to have misunderstood Mr. Deacon's instruction, probably because he is somewhat deaf, and removed the bridle before the latter was quite ready, and the horse becoming frightened started off. Mr. Deacon grasped the nose of the horse. which reared up and threw him off, and dashed away along Northbrook-street. with Mr. Hopton hanging on to the halter. He stuck to it nearly as far as West-street, when it appears that the wheel caught his shoe and threw him under the conveyance, the wheels of which passed over him, the horse continuing its career as far as Mr. Johnson's the jeweller, where the van collided with a brewer's cart, belonging to Mr. Platt, of Hungerford. The wheel of the cart was smashed, and the carrier's horse was thrown on the pavement, but neither the horse nor the van was in any way injured. 

Mrs. Hopton and a Mrs. Harris were in the van, the latter jumped out, but Mrs Hopton retained her seat and escaped beyond anything more serious than a fright. 

The unfortunate man Hopton was picked up in a semi-conscious state. suffering great agony, and was conveyed to Dr. Watson's, where he received attention at the hands of Dr. Watson and his son, Dr John Watson, who at once saw that it was a case for the hospital, and directed him to be taken thither. Two zealous members of the Y.M.C.A. hurried off and procured their ambulance, on which the injured man was placed and he was conveyed forthwith to the hospital. He was found to have sustained a compound fracture of the bone just above the right knee, with severe laceration of the face and head, and injury to the stomach, and was moreover in a condition of extreme collapse. 

The bone was duly set by Drs Watson and Birch. On inquiry yesterday we learnt that the patient was still in an exhausted condition, but showed some improvement, as much indeed as could be expected considering the terrible shock to his system. Great sympathy is expressed for Mr. Hopton and his wife in their calamity. 

A good deal of sympathy is felt for Hopton, who met with such an unfortunate accident on Friday. He is a worthy, industrious man, and had only just taken over the carrying business between Newbury and Thatcham, carried on so many years by the veteran Stillman. He had scarcely got into the ways of the new concern, ere he was placed on the invalid list. The carrying business is meanwhile being looked after by Mr. Stillman.
TATLER

THE ACCIDENT TO THE THATCHAM CARRIER.
FATAL RESULT.
Mr. Daniel Hopton, the successor to Mr. William Stillman in the carrying business between Newbury and Thatcham, died about two o'clock Saturday morning, a week after the occurrenee of the distressing accident, particulars of which were given in last Thursday's Newbury Weekly News. The death arising from violence, an inquiry became necessary,

THE INQUEST taking place on Saturday evening at the "London Apprentice," a licensed house in close contiguity to the Hospital, where the body lay. Dr. Watson. J.P.. was the coroner, and the jury consisted of Messrs. J. W. Castle (foreman), Slight, W. Stillman, R. Jarvis, W. Pullen, E C. James, C. James, J. Pyke, D. Challis, W. Whitington, W. Yalden. and Lawson.

William C. Deacon, the first witness to be examined, stated that he was brother-in-law to deceased, and also a harness maker of the Broadway. On Friday December 6, at about 12.45, the deceased called respecting a collar for his mare. Witness explained that It was not usual to fit It on In the street as there would be a danger In taking the bridle off, and asked twice whether the animal was quiet. Deceased assured him the mare would stand anywhere. Witness added, "I don't think you had better try the collar on." Deceased seemed desirous, and witness asked if he had a strong halter, and he replied there was one In the van. Witness got it, but before he could get quite to the horse’s head deceased had taken the bridle off. Witness at once caught hold of the horse's nose for she had become very restive. She then reared but be succeeded in getting the halter on but could not hold her, and she reared again and threw him on one side and be lost his hold. The deceased at once caught the halter rein. and the mare starting off he ran with her trying to stop her. The mare galloped off up Northbrook-street. Witness did not see the deceased again till he was outside the doctor's house, and Dr. John Watson came out immediately and attended him.

Mr. Pyke asked witness whether he had ever before taken a bridle off a horse which was In a cart.

Witness: I did not take this bridle off. Once before a carrier took a bridle off outside my shop.
The Coroner : It is pretty certain for a horse to bolt when the bridle is taken off. The quietest horse would invariably bolt directly the bridle was taken off for It sees persons behind, which frightens it. He could have wished witness had been more peremptory, and had not allowed the bridle to be taken off. It would be a lesson to him for the future. The deceased had told him (the Coroner) In the hospital several times, that be had only himself to blame, for he took the bridle off himself. Nevertheless he thought it was a great pity, as this act of Indiscretion had undoubtedly cost deceased his life.

The Coroner himself then gave evidence as to the cause of death. He said the deceased was brought outside his house, and he assisted his son to fasten up the thigh. and then he was removed at once to the Newbury District Hospital, witness following. The case came under his charge, and on reaching the hospital be found the man in bed in a very exhausted and collapsed state. He made an examination in company with Mr. Birch, and found that the man had got a fracture of the right thigh just above the knee joint, and a large clean cut in the ham. This cut was doubtless caused by the edge of the wheel, as there was a lot of grit on it. It was a very serious cut, four inches long and going right down to the bone. The left thigh was terribly bruised. His back was also bruised, and there was an abrasion on the nose and the cheek. The limb was set by Mr. Birch and himself, and they did all they could for deceased, who was in a state of great collapse. He revived a little the next day, and the following day be was somewhat better.

However, the next day be collapsed again; he was also sick and could not take his nourishment, and gradually went from bad to worse, and sunk that at two o'clock. He had the advantage of several members of the staff to see him, and everything that could be done was done. But the shock was so great that he sank from it. Deceased was sensible most of the time, and repeatedly assured him that no one was to blame except himself. He thought the evidence he had given was sufficient to show the cause of death.

One of the Jurors (Mr. Jarvis) said that Mr. Deacon's evidence did not lead up to the accident, and the doctor's evidence was subsequent to the accident. He suggested whether they ought not to have evidence of the accident itself.

The Coroner said It was a question of less that one minute from the incident testified to by Mr. Deacon to when deceased was run over.

Mr. Jarvis said the only actual knowledge be bad of the accident itself was that gleaned from the account given in the Newbury Weekly News. He had no doubt but that deceased was knocked down and the wheels of the van passed over him, but he thought as a matter of form they ought to have had direct evidence to show that be was actually run over .

The Coroner—The man told me in the hospital himself that be was run over. I think it would be needless, multiplying evidence to have summoned a witness to prove that of which there was no shadow of doubt that the deceased was run over.

Mr. Slight asked whether It was absolutely necessary to have an inquest at all, seeing that there was not a particle of mystery about it.

The Coroner—You are bound to have an inquiry where the death Is by accident.

After further convereation,the Jury intimated they were agreed in their verdict, which was that the deceased came by his death as the result of an accident.

The deceased was stated to be 50 years of age. He came to Newbury some 7 years ago from Gloucesterahire to work at Mr. Hopson's as a painter. He subsequently abandoned his trade and entered the service of the late Rev. T. Barton, of Donnington-square, with whom be remained until after his death, a period of nearly twenty-five years. On leaving Donnington-square Hopton took a dairy at Stroud Green, which he gave up a short time previous to his death to take to the carrying business of Mr. Barker, and then acquired that of Mr. Stillman, thus Incorporating the whole of the carrying business between Thatcham and Newbury. We believe it is the intention of the widow to continue the carrying business.

1895 : Mr Daniel Hopton, a carrier between Newbury and Thatcham, had stopped at Speenhamland to have a new collar fitted to his horse.  Mr William Deacon, a saddler and harness maker and also Hopton’s brother-in-law, removed the bridle from the horse in the street.  Upon doing this the horse, still harnessed to the van, made a run for Northbrook Street.  Hopton grabbed a rope and ran for a while in an attempt to stop the animal.  He however fell under the wheels of the van which broke bones and caused head injuries.  The horse eventually collided with another belonging to Platt and Son ,brewers from Hungerford.  No serious injury was caused to the animals or Mrs Hopton who was in the van.  However Hopton was rushed to Dr Watson where Hopton noted that the accident was entirely his fault and no one else was to blame.  Hopton was then moved to the Newbury District Hospital where he remained until a week later when he died.

Reading Mercury - December 1895