Rushden Echo, 27th March 1948, transcribed by Kay Collins

A verdict of death from natural causes was recorded at the Northampton inquest on Jabez Wheatley, aged 78, a retired shoe operative of 25, Oswald Road, Rushden.

Dr. R. M. Heggie, pathologist at Northampton Hospital, who earlier today held a post-mortem examination, said that Wheatley who was admitted to hospital on March 4th, was suffering from middle meningeal haemorrhage and died the following day.

The post-mortem showed that death was due to cardiac failure, the result of a diseased heart, and that the fall which had occurred the day before he was admitted had nothing to do with his death.

Alfred George Butler, a son-in-law with whom Wheatley lived, gave evidence of identification, and Lily Catlin, of 16, Oswald Road, Rushden, gave evidence that hearing a scream from Mrs. Wheatley on the afternoon of March 3rd, she went across the road and found Mr. Wheatley lying on his back on the pavement, having fallen down three steps.