MARY BELCHER

SAD DEATH OF AN AGED WOMAN

At the beginning of September an aged woman named Mary Belcher, aged 78, of Kennet-road, went to visit some friends in Raymond's Almshouses. As she came out, and was crossing the road against Dr. Birch's surgery, a cyclist rode down the incline. The old lady was flurried and tried to get out of the way. She stumbled and fell in the gutter, which was rather deep at that point. A dealer named William Westall was coming down the road, and noticed the accident. He ran to help her up, and as he did so she cried out "Oh, don't, my hip's broken." With the help of Rev. R. Dunn, he got her across to the Almshouses on a chair, which one of the alms women had brought out. From thence she was eventually taken to the Hospital, where she was tended by Dr. Birch, who found the injuries to be serious, the thigh-bone being broken. She remained in the Hospital for six weeks, and on October the 20th she was taken to the home of her daughter at Wellington Terrace, where the sufferer died on Monday morning.

An inquest was held last (Wednesday) evening at the Police Court, before Dr. Henry Watson, J.P., coroner for the borough. Evidence was given by Westall, and the daughter, Mrs. Ball, while Dr Birch said in his opinion death was caused by exhaustion through the breaking of the thigh bone and senile decay. She was in a very weak condition when brought to the Hospital, and he had no hope of her recovery from the beginning.  Westall, in the course of his evidence, said the bicycle did not touch the old lady, although it was doubtful whether the rider rang his bell.

The jury, of whom Mr. A. Whittington was the foreman, returned a verdict of accidental death, adding that they thought no blame was attached to anybody.

Newbury Weekly News 27 October 1898

Missing years In account book — buried 28 October 1898 Not in Mrs P