| An inquest was held, at the Red Lion inn, Irchester on Thursday morning, before Mr. J. T. Parker, touching the death of Ambrose Noble, who died from the effects of falling downstairs. The first witness called was Mr. C. R. Owen, medical practitioner, of Rushden, who stated that he saw Noble on the previous Tuesday morning, when he was lying in bedand complained of inability to move his legs or arms. The deceased had a scalp wound on the crown of his head which witness stitched up. Deceased was suffering from concussion of the brain, which might have been caused by falling downstairs; he also had heart disease and bronchitis. The deceased died from the effects of the injury to the head. Deceased told witness that he got upstairs and then fell down.—Matilda Laughton, wife of Thos. Laughton, shoemaker, stated that the deceased was her father, and lived, at their house. His age was 70 years. He did not return home on Sunday night until half-past ten, when they were all in bed. He had had too much drink, and was talking to himself, as he usually did when in such a state, for about two hours, and then witness heard a noise as of someone falling downstairs. On going to look witness found deceased lying at the foot of the stairs. Her brother then carried him upstairs, and with the assistance of a neighbour put him in bed.—John Payne, who lives next door to Mrs. Laughton, deposed to being called in by the brother of the last witness, who said deceased had come home tipsy. Witness found the deceased upstairs partly undressed and in a dirty condition. Witness noticed a cut on the head, when the last witness said he had fallen downstairs. There was no rail at the top of the stairs, and this place was rather dangerous.—A verdict of "Accidental death” was returned. |
