HARRIET TAYLOR
DEATH FROM APOPLEXY ACCELERATED BY BURNING – An inquest was held last Friday evening at the “Old London Apprentice”, before Dr. Watson, J.P., Borough Coroner, upon the body of Miss Harriet Taylor, aged 70, who died on the day previous. Mr. Frost was elected foreman. From the evidence adduced by Harriet Sperring, the daughter of a neighbour of the deceased, and Elizabeth Perrett, who was engaged as nurse, it appeared that on the 11th of December last, Miss Taylor, whilst in the act of shutting her front door accidentally set fire to her cap and other portions of her dress with the lamp which he carried. She managed to release herself from her burning garments, and crawling up-stairs locked herself in her bedroom. On the following morning the suspicions of the neighbours becoming aroused, the door of deceased’s house, which was found to be fastened only with a chain, was entered, and burnt portions of a dress and human hair were found about the kitchen. Mr. Frost, another neighbour, having been called, the door leading upstairs was opened and the remaining portion of deceased’s dress was found just inside. Deceased was communicated with and said she could not stand to unlock the door, it was consequently broken open when they found her lying on the floor close to the window. She was very much burnt, a part of one ear having been destroyed and wounds caused by the burns were found upon her face and the back of her head. Mr. Hickman, her medical adviser, was apprised, and under his care deceased got very much better, the wounds gradually healing. But on the Saturday previous to her death, the nurse having returned from doing some duties down-stairs, found her to have undergone a great change, and that she had had an apoplectic seizure from which she never recovered. Mr. Hickman gave evidence to the effect that deceased died from apoplexy which was accelerated by the burning, and the jury found a verdict accordingly.
Newbury Weekly News 20 January 1881
Not in Mrs. P.
She was buried on 17 January 1881
Burial register has Harriett (2 T’s) |
