A well-known resident of Rushden, Mr. Henry Denton Carter, of 101, High-street south, passed away on Wednesday night as the result of an accident in which he was concerned near the Athletic Club in Newton-road.

  Leaving the club just after eight o’clock, where it was his custom to read the day’s papers and books. Mr. Carter walked into the road and came into collision with a baker’s cart belonging to Mr. A. Corbett, of High-street South, which was in the charge of a lad of 13 or 14 years of age, Mr. Norman, who usually is in charge, making a few delivery calls near by.  Owing to the heavy driving rain at the time of the accident, it is surmised that Mr. Carter stepped into the road with his head down and that, being deaf, he did not see or hear the cart.  He was knocked down, receiving severe injuries to the neck.

  A man passing by at the time heard the crash and immediately went to the assistance of the injured man.  A stretcher from the Athletic Club was hastily obtained, and the injured man was taken to the surgery of Dr. Davies, P.C. Luck, who had heard of the accident and hurried to the spot, superintending. After the doctor had done all that was possible Mr. Carter was removed to his home, where he passed away at eleven o’clock.

  Mr. Carter, who was 76 years of age, had for some years done no work, being an old-age pensioner.  He was formerly a shoehand.  His wife died many years ago, and there is left to mourn his loss one son, Mr. Ernest Edward Carter, of Albion-place, Rushden, other children having died.

  Mr. Carter was a noted character in the town.  In spite of his great affliction of deafness, he took a lively interest in current events, local and national.  His particular interest lay in the affairs of the Anglican Church in Rushden.  He followed the careers of a good number of Rectors and Curates of St. Mary’s Church after they left the town.  Mr. Carter was a frequenter of the Rushden Free Library, and made full use of the periodicals to improve his knowledge.

  An inquest will be held this (Friday) afternoon.

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11^th March, 1927

Inquest on Rushden Boot Operative

Schoolboy Driver of Cart Exonerated from Blame and Complimented by Coroner

  Dr. R. W. Davies said that on March 2^nd, at 8.15 p.m., he was called to the man, who was on a stretcher at a surgery.  Carter was quite unconscious.  The left side of the lower jaw was grazed, and the back of the right hand bruised.  He had Carter taken home (101 High-street South), where he found a bruise on the left thigh, with a considerable swelling, but there were no fractures of the limbs.  He sent for deceased’s son.  Deceased had been a patient of his and was stone deaf and had been complaining of a cough and vertigo.  Death took place at 11 p.m. from fracture of the base of the skull.

  Ernest Edward Carter, of 27 Albion-place, Rushden, a clicker, and son of the deceased, said he last saw his father on Wednesday night just before eleven o’clock, when he was unconscious.  He saw him the day before, when his father seemed in fairly good health.  Deceased was almost stone deaf.

  Robert Philip Dickens, a lad of 13, of 44, Little-street, said he was driving an ordinary baker’s cart from Robinson-road into Newton-road on Wednesday.  It was

and the pony was trotting.  When he saw deceased the latter was nearly half-way across the road.  Witness thought he would get by in front of him, but after the horse had got by, he heard a crash at the wheel.  Deceased fell clear of the cart.  He had his head down and a cap over his eyes when crossing the road.  Witness stopped and got down, but two men took deceased into the Athletic Club.  Witness’s cart had a candle carriage lamp.  Witness did not call out, but whistled to the deceased as he crossed the road.  Witness had been regularly employed in driving the cart after school hours for 14 months.  The hub of the wheel seemed to have caught deceased and spun him round, when he fell and struck his head on the ground.

  The Coroner found that the deceased died from injuries accidentally received, and there was not blame attached to anybody.  The boy who drove the cart was quite young, but appeared to be capable.  The deceased’s fall brought on concussion, from which he died.  The Coroner complimented the boy on the clear way he gave his evidence.

  The boy’s mother, who was present, said it would be a relief to the boy, who had worried about the accident.

  Mr. E. E. Carter, the deceased’s son, said he was perfectly satisfied with the evidence and the verdict.

  The Coroner said the boy need worry no longer;  he was not in any way to blame.