Sudden Death After A Club Meeting - Tragedy Early This Morning

After attending the somewhat exciting half-yearly meeting of the Windmill Club last night Mr. A. Elmer, one of the club’s best-known members and its popular games secretary, was taken ill at home and died in the early morning before the doctor could arrive.

Mr. Elmer was a single man, aged 46, and lived with his sister at 67, Glassbrook-road, Rushden. A representative of The Rushden Echo who attended the meeting saw Mr. Elmer there, and Mr. Elmer appeared to be in good health. A steward of the club, interviewed this morning, said that Mr. Elmer, who was a most popular member, left the club about 10.30 p.m. and seemed quite normal.

Mr. Elmer’s sister, also interviewed this morning, said that her brother “visited the garden fields last thing at night,” and when he came home he complained of pain and discomfort in the throat. The trouble was not thought to be serious then, and he went to bed. Early this morning he called for assistance and seemed to be taken seriously ill. She at once sent for medical assistance, but when the doctor arrived he pronounced life extinct. He could not give a certificate as to the cause of death, and the Coroner was notified.

Mr. Elmer had been a member of the Windmill Club for 30 years, almost since its inception. He was one of the keenest players of indoor games, and he was games secretary in 1900-10 and was elected again two or three years ago, having been kept in that office since. His photograph appears on half-a-dozen group pictures hung in the new Windmill Club. When the new building was first projected he took the liveliest interest in it and was one of the happiest men when the building was opened recently.

The Rushden Echo, 3rd August, 1928

Inquest On Rushden Games Secretary - Sudden Death After Club Meeting

The Coroner’s Verdict

An inquest was held at the Oakley Arms, Rushden, last Friday evening on the body of Mr. H. Elmer, who died suddenly after attending a stormy meeting of the Windmill Club the previous night. Mr. J. C. Parker was the Coroner, and Inspector Knight (Rushden) represented the police.

Dr. R. Reynolds, deputising for Dr. Muriset, said he was called to the house at 2.40 a.m. on Friday. He found that deceased had been dead for a few minutes. There were no marks on the body, and he found nothing to account for the death. In the afternoon he made a post-mortem examination. He found the body very well nourished. The heart showed signs of degeneration. It was fatty in parts and degenerated in others. The arteries showed degeneration, but the valves, though not normal, were not diseased. The degenerate and fatty condition of the heart in general must have caused the death. The disease of the arteries was well marked. The glands and lungs were normal, and the stomach was normal.

The Coroner : You would not expect to find a man of this age – 46 – with a heart in such condition ?

The Doctor : Not often; it depends on the family history a great deal. The results of the post-mortem examination were compatible with what he knew of the family history.

Mrs. Edith Parker, of 67, Glassbrook-road, said deceased was her brother, his name being Harry Elmer. He was single and lived with witness. He was a shoe finisher and was 46 years of age. He had been in his usual good health lately. He had never complained of feeling ill. He seemed normal when he came home between 10.15 and 10.30 p.m., but later he went into the yard and vomited and then complained that his throat hurt and was swollen inside. She gave him some special vinegar for it, and he went to bed. He got up at midnight, and witness followed him down to see what she could do. He said his throat was very bad. At 2.20 a.m. her son called her and deceased said, “I am dying.” She sent for the doctor straightaway, but her brother was dead before the doctor arrived. For five years deceased had not been ill. None of her relatives had died suddenly. She was only remarking the night before how well he looked.

Eric Parker, shoe operative, son of the last witness, said he slept in the same room as his uncle. About 1.30 a.m. deceased got up and opened the window further. Deceased did not say anything. At 2.20 deceased was moaning and he called his mother, who sent for the doctor.

The Coroner said that deceased died from general and fatty degeneration of the heart – in other words, “natural causes.”