The death took place with startling suddenness at Irchester on Saturday evening of George Percival, labourer, aged 68, of No. 4 School-hill, Irchester. The deceased, who was in the employ of Mr. Parsons, was at work Saturday, leaving off at about 4.30p.m., when he went home. After tea, he was lighting his pipe when he was suddenly seized with faintness. He fell back and before anything could be done for him, he died from heart failure. His sister, Mrs Letts, called in medical assistance, but the doctor found life to be extinct.

The Deputy Coroner (Mr. J. C. Parker) held an inquiry on Monday morning in the club-room at the Red Lion Inn, Mr T. Brown being the foreman of the jury.

The first witness was Henry Letts, a relative of the deceased, living at the same address, who said he had not heard deceased complain of illness. I saw the deceased at 4.30p.m. on Saturday - witness proceeded - and he then seemed to be in his usual state of health. After tea, he got his pipe and tobacco, when

Suddenly he fell back,

and, before anything could be done, he died. Deceased was usually in good health.

William Robinson, shepherd, of Irchester Lodge, said that on Saturday he was working with the deceased, who appeared to be in his usual state of health. Deceased, who was feeding sheep, did not complain of being in pain, but mentioned that he was short of breath, a complaint which he had frequently made of late.

Dr. Ardagh, who examined the body, attributed death to failure of the heart’s action.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from natural causes.”