WINIFRED WALTON

INQUEST AT NEWBURY

MOTHER DIES IN HER CHAIR

A distressing fatality occurred on Sunday afternoon, when a comparatively young married woman, the mother of three children, died with startling suddenness whilst reading a newspaper.  The deceased was Winifred Walton, wife of the landlord of the Two Brewers, West Mills, and it was the more distressing that ill health should have occasioned his absence from home at the time.  The eldest of the three children, a lad of nine, was the chief witness at the inquest, held on Monday evening by Dr. Heywood, Borough Coroner, at the Magistrates’ Court.

Having viewed the body, which was lying at the Mortuary, to which it had been removed for the purpose of the post mortem examination, the Jury returned and the first witness to be examined was Louisa Mary Grimes, of St. John’s Post Office, who identified the body as that of her sister-in-law, Winifred Walton, living at the Two Brewers.  Deceased was 28 years of age, and witness last saw her alive on Wednesday, when she appeared in her usual good health.

Edward Walton, a lad nine years of age, said, in answer to the Coroner, that deceased was his mother and he saw her just before she died.  About half-past three on Sunday afternoon, his mother, who was reading the paper, made a noise and then died.   He was in the room; she was sitting in a chair; she made a noise and fell-back in the chair, and did not speak.  There was nobody besides him in the house, so he ran up to St. John’s and told his Auntie.

The Foreman : Did your mother ask you to run and fetch Auntie?

Witness : No, I ran myself.

Dr. Thompson, who was next sworn, said he was called in to see the deceased on Sunday afternoon, at a quarter-to-five, and found her lying in a chair dead.  There were no signs of external injury, and she couldn’t have been dead long, as the body was still warm.  He held a post mortem examination that morning, and found a valve of the heart ruptured, causing sudden death.

A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned and the Foreman,(Mr. L. Cleeves) said he should like on the behalf of the Jury, to express their deep sympathy with Mr. Walton, the husband, in his heavy bereavement.  The Coroner intimated his acquiescence.

Also -   Frank Walton died 03/09/1914 aged 38 years

Mrs. P p.96 Ch NW41

d. 10/05/14 aged 28 years

Book 1899 page 285 No. 9264