Elkins, Frederick 1906 September 21st
An inquest was held on Saturday evening at the Duke of York Inn, York Road, by Mr S Buchanan-Smith, city coroner, touching the death of Frederick Thomas Elkins, who died the previous evening, aged 14 months. Mr Henry Drewett was chosen foreman of the jury.
Florence Emma Elkins, mother of the child, residing at 1, Middleton Road, said she was the wife of Arthur Henry Elkins, a plumber. On Friday she put her baby to bed about 6 o’clock, and he went off to sleep. She heard him crying at about half past seven, and went upstairs to bring him down. On returning she stepped on her skirt on the first of the stairs, and fell from top to bottom with the child in her arms. She found the child was hurt and at once sent for the doctor, and was present when it died. There was no handrail to the stairs, but if there had been she thought she could have saved herself.
Dr Wilks said that on Friday evening at about 8.30, he was called to 1, Middleton Road, and found a young baby quite unconcious, with a large bruise at the back of its head. He saw it again about an hour later, and was also called at 11.30, and informed they thought it was dead. The bruise at the back of the head was quite consistent with being caused by falling downstairs. He examined it but could not discover any fracture, there was no dislocation of the neck, and no other injuries than the bruise and concussion of the brain. It was the latter that was the cause of death.
The Coroner said he thought that was the evidence he intended to call, and he was sufficient for them to bring in a verdict of accidental death. There was no blame attaching to anyone.
A juryman asked if they could add to their verdict a rider to the effect that a handrail should be provided for the stairs.
The Coroner replied that he could not allow that, but if they liked they could make the suggestion to the landlord, and the Press could take a note of it.
Some discussion followed, in which it was stated that the stairs were steep and narrow, and very dangerous, but the Coroner remarked that he supposed the plans were passed by the Council.
The jury accepted the Coroners suggestion, and returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”. They gave their fees to the Salisbury Infirmary.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 