Meatyard, Agnes 1907 July 5th Bishopstone
The city coroner, Mr S Buchanan Smith, held an inquest at the Salisbury Infirmary on Saturday evening to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of Mrs Meatyard, of Bishopstone, which took place at the institution on Thursday night.
Mr G Carter was appointed foreman of the jury.
Mary Ann Fayle said her husband was a shepherd, living at Lower Bishopstone, in a cottage adjoining the one occupied by Edward Meatyard. On Wednesday, June 5th, she was in her cottage at about 6.30am, when she heard the sound of a heavy footfall coming from next door. She also heard someone talking in an unusual way, so she went to see what it was, because she knew Mrs Meatyard was subject to fits, and she thought she might be in one then. When she got there she met Mrs Meatyard in the kitchen, fully dressed except for her dress, and she was walking about with her clothes on fire. There was a fire in the room and a kettle on it. Witness picked up a bag from the floor and tried to put it round her, but Mrs Meatyard prevented her doing it. She then went to the farm for assistance, and Mr Meatyard was sent home. The farm was within a stone’s throw of the cottage.
Edward Meatyard, dairyman, of Lower Bishopstone Farm, said that on Wednesday, June 5th, he left home at about a quarter past four in the morning, and was sent for between six and seven o’clock. When he got home he found his wife walking about with her clothes on fire. He pulled the clothing off as fast as he could, and the parish nurse was sent for and brought his wife to the Infirmary. His wife was thirty years old. She was subject to fits, but had not had one for some time. She was all right when he left there that morning. When he asked her how she got afire she said she could not remember anything beyond lighting the fire.
Dr B N Ash, house surgeon of the Infirmary, said that the deceased was brought to the Infirmary at about 9am on June 5th. She was examined, and found to be suffering from extensive burns on the trunk and arms, and minor burns on the whole body. She nearly recovered from the shock, but grew worse and died on Thursday night. The cause of death was exhaustion from the burns. He had not heard that she made any statement as to the cause of the accident. When he first saw her he did not think there was any chance of her recovery. She was epileptic and had two fits in the ward.
The Coroner said that there was no doubt in his mind that the deceased had a fit and tumbled into the fire, though there was no evidence to prove it.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death, caused by falling into the fire, probably in a fit.” They gave their fees to the widower.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 