FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR HIGHAM FERRERS
A shocking accident, which unfortunately proved fatal, happened at Caldecott on Monday afternoon to a groom named Robert Andrews, in the employ of Dr. Crew, of Higham Ferrers. It appears than Andrews drove Dr. Parkins, who is assistant to Dr. Crew, to Caldecott, and was waiting outside Mr. Gross's, when something frightened the horse, which bolted, throwing Andrews out of the trap. He was taken to Higham Ferrers, and we regret to announce that he succumbed to his injuries during the night. Much sympathy is felt for the deceased, as he leaves a widow and six children.
The inquest was held on Wednesday, at the Queen's Head Inn, before Mr. J. T. Parker, and a jury of whom Mr. J. Groom was foreman.— William George Parkins, assistant to Dr. Crew, gave evidence of identification, and said deceased was 45 years of age. On Monday deceased drove witness to Caldecott with a horse and trap. He waited in the street at Caldecott whilst witness called on a patient. The last time he saw him he was sitting in the trap, which was standing still; about three or four minutes after he came out of the house and saw he had gone. He went along the street and found deceased in an insensible condition. He was much injured, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Yelden, who was going past at the time, kindly offered to take him home. The horse was a quiet one, and was not given to running away.—Ezekiel Sturman, son of Thos. Sturman, of Caldecott, said on Monday afternoon he took three horses belonging to his father to graze on the roadside between Caldecott and Chelveston. He was driving them towards home, letting them graze as they went, when some children who were playing about the road frightened them. Two of the horses did not take much notice, but the third bolted ahead of the others into Caldecott, and turned round the corner. He walked on with the other two, and on getting round the corner saw a man lying on the ground. The children were all under eight years of age.—Eliz. Howe, wife of Wm. Howe, horse-keeper, of Caldecott, said she saw the doctor's trap in the street standing still. Suddenly a grey horse came galloping round the corner and passed the trap. This caused the doctor's horse to back the trap against a wall. It backed up again, and the man was thrown out. He hung on to the reins as long as he could, and was dragged along the road. He then let go, and the horse galloped away after the grey horse. Witness went to the man, and found he was insensible. The doctor's assistant then came out and saw him. There were no children about. From her house she could see up the road where the grey horse came from, but saw no children there. After the accident had happened she went and looked up the road, but saw no children. There were two children in a garden near the road the horse came from, both being under five years of age. Witness did not think the horse was frightened by children. She saw the lad Sturman, who was a long way up the road with two horses. The grey horse was a good way in front of the others.—Mr. C. R. Owen, surgeon, of Rushden, said he saw deceased at Higham Ferrers on Monday evening about 7.30 He had a swelling over his left eye, a light graze on his left temple, a lump on the left side of his head, and was insensible. He was suffering from concussion of the brain, and died from that on Tuesday morning.—A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned, and the jury handed their fees to the widow of the unfortunate man.
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