THOMAS NORTH

FATAL FALL – A accident, which was attended with fatal results, occurred last Thursday to Mr Thomas North, an elderly townsman living at No. 1, Castle View, Old Newtown Road.  It appears that deceased was in the act of coming down stairs when he fell.  His niece, Mrs Bannister, living next door, hearing a loud noise, ran into the house of her uncle and found him lying at the foot of the stairs in a cramped position.  He seemed stunned, but afterwards recovered somewhat, and said “I’m going home! Goodbye everybody”  Mr James Baverstock, a neighbour, came and rendered assistance, and deceased was put to bed  On the following day he was removed by the doctor’s orders to the hospital, where he passed away on Sunday afternoon.

An inquest was held on the following day by Dr. Henry Watson, |J.P., and a jury of whom Mr J C Sight was foreman.  Evidence was given by Mrs Bannister and Mr Baverstock, and it was stated that a carpet rod was loose on the stairs. Dr Hickman also stated that the deceased whilst in hospital was quite sensible, and could talk, but was completely paralysed, the injury being a fracture of the spinal vertebrae. He suffered very little, and said that he had fallen down stairs. The jury returned a verdict that death was accidental, being caused by falling down the stairs.

The deceased was well known, he was a native of Newbury, where he had lived throughout a lengthened life, and was 76 years of age.  A plasterer by trade, he was held in high esteem as a good and reliable workman.  His father, Thomas North, was also a well known Newburian, and died some 14 years ago, at the age of 89, the closing years of his life having been spent in the Church Almshouses.  The wife of the deceased was a Miss Justice, also a member of an old Newbury family, and she passed away about four years ago.

The funeral took place in the Cemetery, yesterday afternoon, the Rev. F Halliday, Wesleyan Minister, officiating.  The mourners were Mr and Mrs B North (son an