Burden, Harriett 1900 July 20th
A Caution to Cyclists – Elderly Woman Killed at Tisbury
After living four years beyond the alotted span of life, Mrs Harriett Burden, a widow residing at Tucking Mill Hill, Tisbury, came to an untimely end through being knocked down by a cyclist. It happened in this way. On Saturday afternoon a young man named Walter Brown was in one of the numerous inns at Tisbury. Another young man, a native of the place, had his bicycle outside, and this, Brown, who was practically a stranger, borrowed to take a short spin in order, as he said, to see the beauties – natural and otherwise – of the town. He proceeded up the new road by the Union, and turned into the old road which leads down by Tucking Mill. A little way along the road becomes tremendously steep. Brown was not aware of this and rode on. A short distance in front he saw two females coming towards him, Mrs Turner (a young woman) and Mrs Burden above referred to. The cyclist rang his bell and shouted. Mrs Turner remained by the wall on the side of the road, but Mrs Burden suddenly became bewildered and made a rush to the opposite side. Before she could get across, however, she was run into by the cyclist, with the result that she was knocked backwards upon her head. Brown was thrown into the hedge, and the machine went into an adjoining brook. As soon as he could raise himself Brown turned his attention to the poor woman who had been rendered insensible, and from whose head blood was freely flowing. He held her up while Mrs Turner bathed her face and head. He also sent for brandy and a doctor. After help had been procured the old lady was taken to her cottage where she lingered until Monday night, where she died without having regained consciousness, death being due to concussion of the brain.
Inquest
An inquest was held at Tucking Mill on Wednesday evening, by Mr R A Wilson (coroner for the district). Mr G Langdon was chosen foreman of the jury.
George Burden, labourer, Tucking Mill, said deceased was his step-mother. He resided with her. She was 74 years of age, and was the widow of William Burden. He heard of the accident on Saturday evening at 5.30, a quarter of an hour after it happened, and he helped to move the deceased to her house. She was insensible, and continued so until her death at eleven o’clock on Monday night.
Annie Turner, wife of Walter Turner, a mason, residing at Tisbury, deposed that on Saturday she was with deceased walking from Tisbury towards Tucking Mill. They saw a man coming down the hill on a bicycle. Witness kept on under the wall, and deceased ran across the road. Witness thought deceased was close behind her until she heard a fall. On looking round she saw Mrs Burden and the cyclist on the ground. The man had fallen across the deceased. It was very steep where he had ridden down. She did not notice whether he had control over his bicycle, or whether he was riding at a rapid rate. As soon as possible the cyclist raised deceased, and witness bathed her temples. She was insensible and bleeding from the head. If deceased had stayed by witness the accident would not have happened. She thought the deceased became flurried.
Walter Brown (the cyclist), residing temporarily at Winscombe, bricklayer, who expressed a desire to give evidence, deposed that he was engaged on a job at Wardour on Saturday. He came into Tisbury and was at the Crown Inn about 4 o’clock. He asked a young man named Albert Ball to lend him his bicycle to have a spin. He took the bicycle and went up by the Workhouse and down Tucking Mill Hill. He had never been down the hill before. When he got to the bend of the road he saw two women. He rang the bell and saw one of the women wavering in the road. The bicycle had a brake which he was using at the time, and he had not lost control of the machine. When he saw the woman wavering he did his best to get out of the way. He shouted to her, but she ran right into his right shoulder and was thrown on her back. Witness was thrown off, but as soon as he possibly could he went to her assistance. He sent for brandy and the doctor. He was not aware that the hill was so steep. He had been a cyclist for 16 years and that was his first accident. He did not fall across the deceased. He fell into the hedge and his machine went into the brook.
Dr C A Ensor deposed that he saw deceased on Saturday evening at her home. She was insensible. There were three wounds on her head, two being over the left eye, and one on the back of the head which laid bare the bone. She never recovered consciousness and died on Monday night from concussion of the brain.
This was all the evidence, and the coroner in summing up said the case was one which required a little more consideration than was general at coroner’s inquests. It was clear the deceased came by her death through being knocked down by a man. The question was how far he was responsible. It was not unlawful to ride a cycle, but if a person rode it in such a way as not to exercise reasonable care, or was grossly negligent, it became a serious question if an accident occurred. They had to rely upon the evidence of Mrs Turner, who had made her statement very fairly, not exaggerating the matter one way or the other. From that statement it was clear that the poor woman lost her head, and instead of standing still went across the road. If she had stayed with Mrs Turner the accident would not have happened. The man Brown appeared to have gone as far to the other side of the road as he could, and it did not appear to him that he had been guilty of gross negligence.
Mr Wastfield (a juryman) said the hill was very dangerous and there should be notice boards at the top.
The coroner and the other jurymen agreed, and Mr Wilson said he would bring the matter under the notice of the Rural District Council. He should recommend the jury to return a verdict of “Homicide by misadventure.”
Mr Supt. Fox, in reply to the Coroner, said Brown had acted in a very fair and straight-forward way throughout.
The Jury having returned a verdict in accordance with the Coroner’s recommendation, Brown was called into the room and informed of the verdict. The Coroner also expressed the hope that the sad accident would be a warning to him to be careful when riding.
Brown (who apparently felt his position acutely) thanked the coroner and jury and left the room.
The jury gave their fees to the son-in-law to help defray the funeral expenses.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 