The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-01-18 00:00:00

BTOITZPAINIL

DEATH HT BURNING.—On Monday afternoon an
inquest was held before Mr. W. H. Atkinson, coroner,
at Stourpaine, on the body of Emma Green, aged 48,
wife of Frederick, who travels with two IIt•AM
thrashing machines, and resides near the uchoolrooms
at Stourpaine. Henry Barret wag foreman of the jury.
—Susan Groen, aged 11, daughter of the deceased,
deposed : I lived with my mother. I last SAW her
alive yesterday (Sunday) afternoon about five minutes
vast three. She was sitting downstairs by the bra. I
left her to go to I werne Minster. She has been
subject to fits for many. years, and has several times
fallen, and on one occasion burnt her hands. She was
not usually left alone, but yesterday she seemed so well,
so bright and cheerful. that I left her, thinking no
harm. My father was not far off; I expected him in
loon. I left service about twelve months ago to come
home and attend to my mother, in consequence of her
having fits. She had sometimes two or three fits a
day • and sometimes none for a month together. Sarah
Blai;dford, wife of George Bbuntford, shepherd to Mr.
Warren: I live next door to the deoeased. Yesterday
(Sunday), about half-past four in the afternoon,
I heard some low m mining sounds coming from
the house of the deceased. I went to the door and
found the downstair room fail of smoke. I went in
and got a light, and then saw Emma Green on the floor
on her back almost naked and fearfully burnt. I
saw some of her clothes in one corner of the room
burning. It teemed as though she had torn them off
and flung them in the corner. She had only her
stockings and boot., n and a little clothing round her
waist where it was tied by the pettioaat string. Her
breants were almost imitated. She appeared conscious.
I asked her kow it happened, she did not appear to
have the least idea. There was a sheet lying
floor

_
partly on the stove and partly on the
am if she had been airing it. I took it and
laid it over her, and my husband went for her
husband and for Assistance. Emmanuel Wedmore and
P.C. Smackling came first. Her husband also came
and got a bed, and we laid her on it and covered her
with blankets, and sent for a doctor. Dr. Bacot came
about six o'clock,. She lingered until about eight
o'clock, and then died. She Appeared quite conscious
until within a few minutes of her death. She knew me,
but could give no account of how it happened. I knew
she suffered greatly from fit.. The Coroner, in summing
up the evidence, dwelt on the very painful nature of the
case, having previously severely eee„ered the daughter
of deceased for leaving her mother ....attended. Ho
said he did not wish to harrow her feelings ; she had a
great trial to bear, but he must say her conduct was not
such as it ought to have been in going*. far (nun home,
especially no she knew her mother was liable to be
seize.' with a fit at any time. The jury retunied as their
verdict "That the deceased Wag accidentally burned,
and sustained injuries from which she soon after died."
They also appended to it the following rider :—" The
jury wish to add to their verdict their opinion that
'real neglect has been shown by the members of the
deceseed's family in allowing her to be left so long
alone, knowing she was so subject to fita. "