Cox, Percy 1911 March 24th
Another warning against the use of flannelette for children’s clothing was given at an inquest held at the Infirmary on Monday evening, when the circumstances attending the sad death of a little Salisbury boy named Percy Cox, aged six, were enquired into. The child, whose widowed mother lives at West End, Wilton Road, had been left alone for a few minutes on Saturday morning and in some way or other got into contact with an unguarded fire, the result being that his clothing was ignited and he received injuries from burning from which he died at the Infirmary the following day. The jury gave their fees to the widow with an expression of the hope that she would use a portion of them in the purchase of a fireguard, and that she would discontinue the use of flannelette for her children’s garments.
Mrs Cox, the mother, stated that she was a widow, and resided at No 1, West End Road, Wilton Road. On Saturday morning, she said, she lighted a fire in the kitchen just before nine o’clock, and then went into her mother’s house, next door, to get some milk for breakfast. She left Percy in the kitchen alone, but her elder boy Herbert, who was twelve years of age, was coming downstairs as she went out. The elder boy had not had his breakfast, and she did not think he would go out, so that she did not tell him she was going out. She was absent for about four or five minutes, and as she was returning from her father’s house she met the little boy Percy at the door with his shirt on fire. The shirt was made of flannelette.
The Coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith):- Where did the flames appear to have begun? I don’t think I noticed ; it was such a fearful shock.
Was your son, Herbert, there at the time? No.
Had he gone out? Yes, he must have gone out behind me. Continuing, the mother stated that she took the child into her mother’s house and wrapped it in a counterpane, and her father went for Dr Thornton, who came immediately. The doctor dressed the wounds, and made arrangements for the little boy to be taken to the Infirmary. She brought him to the Infirmary in a cab just before ten o’clock. She saw the little fellow at two o’clock that day, and remained with him till four, and she saw him frequently afterwards, and was with him on Sunday night when he died.
The Coroner:- Have you any fireguards? No.
You are not in the habit of leaving your children? Never.
Except just to go out? Yes. If I go into town I take him into my mothers.
The Foreman (Mr J Salter):- Have you heard of the danger of using this flannelette? Well, certainly I have, and I don’t think I shall use it again.
William Beck, father of the last witness, corroborated. He added that just as Mrs Cox was leaving the house with the milk the little boy came to the door screaming. Witness went for Dr Thornton, who arrived within ten minutes.
Herbert Cox, aged 12, a brother of the unfortunate child, stated that when he came down stairs he found Percy and his little sister Doris, aged four years, in the kitchen having their breakfasts. His mother had gone out but she had not asked him to look after the little ones, and he also went out.
Ivan Isaacs, aged 12, stated that he lived in Ashfield Road, close to West End Road, and on Saturday morning he went out just before nine o’clock. As he was passing West End Road he saw a little boy, with his shirt on fire, running out of one house into another. The little boy was screaming.
Mr Francois Petrue Fouché, assistant house surgeon at the Salisbury Infirmary, stated that the little boy, Percy Cox, was brought to the institution at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning. He examined him at once and found him to be suffering from extensive burns. He died on Sunday night from shock as a result of the burns.
The Foreman (to the Coroner):- What is the position of the mother in regard to having no fireguard?
The Coroner:- It stands to reason that there ought to have been one, but I don’t think that there is sufficient evidence on which to do anything more. I suppose she really left the child in charge of his brother.
The Foreman:- There ought to be a fireguard unless there is somebody in charge.
Another Juror:- It is the old story of a flannelette shirt catching fire.
The Foreman:- The jury would be glad if the Press would take notice of this case, as a warning to the public against the use of flannelette.
The Coroner:- I should be glad if the Press would take notice of it, but they have done so many times. I don’t know how many inquests I have held of a similar character. The public have been warned, and we repeat the warning each time.
The Foreman:- The jury would like to give their fees to the mother.
The Coroner:- And I suggest that you should suggest to her that she should buy a fireguard.
The Foreman, in presenting the juror’s fees to Mrs Cox, said they hoped she would buy a fireguard and would discontinue the use of flannelette.
Mrs Cox, in thanking the jury, said she would comply with their wishes.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 