The severities of the present winter have been brought home locally to us with terrible reality, and the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of a Rushden man by the roadside between Rushden and Sharnbrook, who succumbed to the cold and the pangs of hunger, furnish the most pathetic reading which it can possibly fall to the lot of a coroner to take in evidence. The unfortunate man’s name was Frank Ashby (40), laster, Pemberton-street, Rushden, and the inquiry was conducted at the Compass Inn, Rushden by Mr. J. T. Parker, county coroner, on Monday evening. Mr. George Winters was chosen foreman of the jury, and the story of another of life’s sordid tragedies was related in the following evidence:-

George Wooding, Midland-road, Rushden, said that on Sunday morning, at eight o’clock, he was on the Bedford-road between Rushden and Sharnbrook, on his way to Mr. Ladds’ field. He saw someone lying by the roadside near the Wymington turn. His feet were on the hard road and his body on the grass. Getting no answer to questions, witness called a man he had passed on the road, and asked him to stay with the body till he fetched the police constable. Deceased was then quite dead. Witness drove P.C. Knighton to the spot, and found the man and the body as he left them. He was wearing an overcoat and leather leggings, and appeared sufficiently dressed.

William Dickens, laster, Rushden, said that on Saturday last he started out with Ashby, leaving Rushden at 2.30. They went to Souldrop, deceased taking a melodeon to play in public-houses, and witness was going to collect. They called at the Souldrop public-house and collected there. They went to Sharnbrook and repeated the operation in two public-houses, returning again to the first of these. They next went to the Railway Hotel, where they also played. Leaving there, they started to walk across the fields, about twenty minutes to nine, to Felmersham. Deceased said he knew the way, but lost it, and they got into the dyke, getting out as well as they could. They then came to the river, and were an hour or an hour and a half in finding their way out of the field. At last they came out at the place where they went in. They then returned to the Railway Hotel, but found it closed. He should say it would then be between eleven and twelve. Witness rapped at the door, and someone came to a window, but in response to witness’s request for a bed and drink, told them that they were too late, as it was past closing time. Then they went to the station to see if they could get into a waiting room, but everything was closed there, and they saw no one except the signalman, who said he dared not let them in, and said they had better walk on. They then went back to Sharnbrook, and then to Souldrop, and afterwards on to the Bedford road (the main road for Rushden). They kept on the move, witness being a little in front, till they got nearly to Wymington turn. Deceased then said he would see witness on Sunday morning, and witness walked faster. Deceased said he was the better wrapped up of the two, and did not object to witness leaving him. Deceased had the money, and said he would settle up on the Sunday morning. Witness saw no more of him, but called out to him when down the road three times, calling “Frank.” He replied “All right,” and appeared to be still walking on. Witness went home, and knew nothing more about deceased till about eleven o’clock on the Sunday morning. Deceased did not complain of being tired, but seemed all right, and they were joking together. Witness felt tired and very cold, as it was freezing hard, and he had no overcoat. They took turns in carrying the melodeon, and witness brought it home. They had had drinks at the different public-houses, having about eight pints of ale altogether, but deceased did not seem “out of the way.” They had no spirits. Deceased could walk well when witness left him, and both knew what they were doing.

By the Coroner: Witness called out to deceased because “it seemed so solemn” with no one about. Witness could not account for deceased being found dead unless he had a fit or sat down to rest and could not get up again. Both were very wet. Witness collected about 2s. 6d. in coppers, and gave it all to deceased. - By the Foreman: They had their last drink about 8.30 at the Station Hotel, and had nothing afterwards. - To another juror: He did not know that deceased was subject to fits. - To still another juror: They got out of one dyke and into another. The melodeon was dropped on the side of the ditch. - By Mr. West (a juror): Witness arrived home at five minutes to two in the morning. - A juror remarked that they could not have been very drunk after so long an interval. - Mr. Hawkins (another juror) remarked that it was a disgrace to witness to leave deceased so near home, when he had gone out for witness’s benefit. - In answer to further questions, witness said he had 3½d. when they started and deceased had 1s. 3d. They paid for seven pints. - By Inspector Onan: There was nothing to lead witness to believe that deceased would not get home all right. He was not a good walker, but they kept fairly well together. - By the Coroner: Deceased first suggested that witness should walk on, as he complained of feeling the cold. - By the Foreman: Deceased handed witness the melodeon as a sort of pledge for settling up.

P.C. Knighton said that the witness Wooding gave information to him about eight o’clock on Sunday morning. Witness went with him in his cart to the Wymington turn, and found the body lying as described. There were no marks of violence or struggle, and deceased was quite dead. Witness brought the body to the “Compass” in the cart. Deceased’s arms and legs were quite rigid when witness found him. Witness went to Souldrop and Sharnbrook and made enquiries, the result tallying pretty well with the story told by Dickens. At the Railway Hotel they could not say who it was that came late. Witness saw the signalman, who said that he could not take them in, but told Dickens not to let the other sit down, or he would be frozen to death. He told him to keep him moving. Deceased had 2s. 0½d. in money, a metal watch and chain, a pipe, and tobacco box.

Dr. C. R. Owen said he saw deceased at 2.30 on Sunday afternoon. He was then quite dead, and appeared to have been so several hours. Witness examined him, and found no marks of violence. The eyes were open and the pupils normal. The body was not very well nourished. Death was due to exhaustion owing to the extreme cold.

William Dickens was questioned by the coroner with respect to the conversation with the signalman. He could not recollect that the signalman said anything about Ashby. He simply told them to hurry off home, and advised witness to see Ashby over the metals. Witness did not remember anything being said about “keeping the little one going.” He heard him say nothing further. They had been told they could get lodgings at Felmersham.

The Coroner thought that both men were more muddled than the witness Dickens admitted. With the walking, the drink, the wet and the cold they were probably almost in a state of collapse. Probably then Dickens said he would walk on, and on getting away his better nature touched him and he called out. It might have been an error of judgment, but they could not make a criminal charge against him for that. Perhaps after he was left deceased stumbled and numbness seized him so that he was unable to get up again, and probably died from exposure in a very short time. He (the coroner) thought that Dickens should have stopped with him, and his calling out showed his anxiety.

Several jurors held that Dickens was to blame for leaving deceased.

A verdict of “Death from exposure” was returned, and at the request of the jury the witness Dickens was recalled and told by the coroner that the jury regarded him as very much to blame in the matter. Ashby had gone out to do him good, and after being about together all day and getting nearly home Dickens left deceased. He (the coroner) thought that all the facts had not been told exactly as they occurred. He (Dickens) was morally liable for the other man’s death, as if he had kept with him he might have brought him home. Being left without companionship in the stillness he was much more likely to be benumbed by the cold. Dickens, as the jury thought, was very much to blame for leaving his companion.