Burnt To Death At Wymington
AN inquest touching the death of a boy named Joseph Fairey, eleven years of age, son of Mr. Thos. Fairey, of Wymington, was held before the Bedford Divisional Coroner on Saturday last at the White Horse Inn. Mr. Latham acted as foreman of the jury. It appeared that on the Thursday morning previous the deceased was left at home with his sister Phoebe, 13 years of age, the father who had gene to work, having as usual first kindled the fire and partaken of his breakfast. Shortly after the father had left home, the unfortunate lad went down in his shirt, and it is supposed stood by the fire to warm himself, and shortly afterwards he was seen at the door of the cottage enveloped in flames. The neighbours went to his assistance, but the flames were not put out until he had been very severely burnt, from the effects of which he died in the afternoon of the same day. Evidence was given by Thomas Fairey, the father of the deceased; Mrs. Wood, a neighbour, who said that when she saw the deceased and went to his assistance the only fragments of the shirt remaining were the wrist-bands; Phoebe Fairey, the deceased's sister; and Dr. Owen, who said that the deceased was frightfully burnt about the whole of the body, but more especially on the chest and neck. The usual remedies were applied, but there was very little hope of recovery from the first, and he died the same afternoon. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.