Village History

Burning Fatality

On Monday evening, Dr. G. H. DeAth, District Coroner, held an enquiry at Steeple Claydoa, touching the death of Harriett Beckett, wife of Joseph Beckett, who died at 12.35 a.m. on Monday, the 25th inst-, aged 67 years.—.Joseph Beckett, the husband, said he went to bed about 8.20, and left his wife sitting downstairs with a little girl named Ellen Beckett. He heard noise and went downstairs, when he saw the deceased on the floor in flames. He picked her and threw some water over her. He did nothing else, except tearing hor clothes off her quickly as he could.—Dr. Benson said deceased died from shock, the result of the severe burns. —Ellen Beckett, aged 13 years, said her grandmother was mending stockings. She was wearing glasses, and she pulled the lamp a little nearer to her. It set fire of its own accord and blev,- the top off. She called to her grandfather once. The oil set her grandmother’s clothes on fire. The lamp did not fall over. The lamp had caught fire once before, and on that occasion witness threw out of the house and threw a bucket of water ever it.—The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased met her death from shock resulting from burns accidentally received.

Northampton Mercury – Friday 01 March 1901