Widnes Examiner. — 1909-01-02 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

LAMP TRAGEDY AT RUNCORN. SORDID STORY.  An extraordinary story was revealed at an inquest, held by Mr. T. Ridgway, coroner, at Runcorn on Tuesday evening. The victim was Annie Grindley, aged twenty-six years, single, living with her parents in Surrey-street. She died in the Cottage Hospital on Sunday night from burns caused by a paraffiu lamp explosion three weeks ago. Elizabeth Grindley, the mother, deposed that her daughter had been keeping company three years with a young man named William Whitlow. The girl never said a word against her sweetheart, but said that she was in trouble, and that he was " going to have her." Witness understood that he was going to marry her. Witness told her daughter that something would have to `.,e done, as she was keeping one child, five years old, by another man. On Saturday night, the 12th inst., Annie went into Whitlow's house, which was next door. She was sober, but more jolly than usual, as see was going to make the children a kissing bush. Once before she tried to commit suicide when she was led astray. After her daughter had entered Whitlow's house witness heard a row, and went to fetch her home. Ant,i. said, " No, I'll have my revenge for what they have raid to me." Witness understood her to mean that Whitlow had said he would not marry her. The girl picked up the lamp, and witness said " Oh, Annie, don't ! Come home." The next thing witness saw was her daughter iu flames. She did not see the lamp thrown. They all helped to put out the fire. Witness said that her daughter was a sober girl, but bad once been in court for being drunk and disorderly. Witness was reluctant to answer some questions, and the coroner told her she was trying to hide something. William Whitlow, chemical labourer, said that he had kept company with Annie Grindley for three years. When she entered his parents' house on December 12th she and he had a few words. The girl said, " Will you marry me ? " and he replied, " No, I shan't," and then the accident occurred. lie had said that many a time to her. They had bad many a quarrel in friendship. The Coroner : Funny to quarrel in Friendship. What did she do ?—She picked up the lamp to her shoulder. She threw the lamp, and the stand hit me on the top of the left ear, fled the lamp went back on her and exploded, and a drop of oil came on me. She got the " wick part." A drop splashed on my head and set my hair on fire. I did not get seriously hurt. Grindley's mother put her jacket over me and put out the fire. I went to the tap and put water over my head. The Coroner : As soon as she caught fire you ran away ?—Yes, there were three more in the house. [lad you been drinking that afternoon ?—I had been drinking a drop, not much. Was she sober ?—I don't know. I didn't see her more than five minutes. She was in a fit of tamper. I know that somebody must have been" narking " her before she came into the house.  The Coroner : I suppose you think it is a clever thing to keep company with a girl and then get her into trouble ?—No.  Are you ashamed of it ?—T might have married her later on.  Sarah Whitlow, mother of the last witness, said that her son and the girl were talking so quietly that she took no notice until she thought the lamp had gone out, and she was going to get a light when she saw the girl on fire. Annie Vra`i not quite sober. The Groner : It is an extraordinary thing that Grindley's mother could hear the row next door, while you sat there quietly, not hearing any row.—lt was an argument between themselves. Peter IVhitlow, the father, gave evidence of a similar character to last witness, and Dr. Brunton described the severe nature of the burns sustained by the girl. She was in great agoey, and said " It is all through Mrs. Whitlow." Ile thought she meant that Mrs. Whitlow was against the marriage. Ho thought the lamp had exploded. 'The Coroner said that the evidence was most unsatisfactory. Ile believed that the witnesses had arranged what to say, and were not telling the whole truth. It appeared certain that th,se two had quarelled, and that the young woman took up the lamp and an explosion oecured. The behaviour of several of the witnesses was most callous and reprehensible. • The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death," and asked the coroner to censure the witnesses, which he did.