Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 for Wiltshire

 Hall, Louisa        1912 February 9^th

The City Coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith) held an inquest at Salisbury Infirmary on Monday concerning the death of a little girl named Louisa May Hall which occurred on Saturday morning. Mr F Phillips was chosen foreman of the jury.

Ethel Wingrove, wife of Herbert Wingrove, labourer, of 53, Green Croft Street, said that the deceased was her daughter and was six years old. On Friday at about 12.30 she left her in the kitchen with two other children (one five years of age and the other four) while she went to a neighbour’s in Squire’s Court, 50 yards away. When she left her little girl was standing by the kitchen table putting on her jacket to go out. About ten minutes after she had arrived at her neighbour’s she heard the little girl crying, “Oh, Mammie,” and on the door being opened she ran, all ablaze, into her arms. A young man named Rattue took the child, while she ran home to see if the other children were all right. When she came back she found nearly all the clothes were burnt off the child, and there were several burns on her body. She took her to the Infirmary, and on the way asked if she had been playing with the fire, but she said, “No,” explaining that she was sitting in a chair with her feet on the fender when the chair tipped and she fell into the fire. There was no fireguard. The child was not insured.

The Foreman:- There was no fireguard?

The Coroner:- No.

William George Rattue, who appeared with his hand bandaged, said he lived at 8, Squire’s Court, Green Court Street, and was a time-expired soldier of the Royal Garrison Artillery. He corroborated the evidence of the first witness as to the child running to her with its clothes on fire, and added that he was in his shirt sleeves at the time and had no means of putting the fire out. He took her to the water tap in the yard and turned the water on the flames, getting his own hands burnt. He then took her indoors where the burnt clothing was removed.

Dr Maunsell, house surgeon at the Infirmary, said the child was admitted suffering from extensive burns. She was taken to the out-patients’ department where one of the nurses dressed her and sent her up to the Children’s Ward. At 3 o’clock he examined her. He gave her chloroform, took off the dressings and found very extensive burns over the body. The loose skin was removed and the wounds dressed. She was in great pain and he gave her morphia and stimulants to relieve her. But she gradually grew worse and died at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning, death being due to shock following the burns.

A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

On the Wednesday previous to the accident the little girl took part in the Salvation Army Sunday School tea and social, and on the following day received a 1^st class prize in reward for unbroken attendance and good conduct during 1911.

On Wednesday the funeral was conducted by Adjutant Rowland. A number of the Army Sunday School scholars were present and sang at the graveside.