Shocking Fatality at Rushden - An Old Lady Burnt to Death - A Paralytic Seizure

A shocking fatality occurred yesterday afternoon at 149 Queen-street, Rushden, the residence of Mr and Mrs H Dunmore. Occupying the front downstairs room as a bed-sittingroom was Mrs Elizabeth Bateman, aged 85, who had been suffering for some little time with a bronchitis cold, but had not had to keep to her bed.

Yesterday Mrs Bateman was in about her usual health, recovering from the cold, and showed no signs of any complications. About 1.20p.m. Mr Dunmore’s little girl was playing outside and noticed smoke issuing from the window. She ran in and told her parents, and Mr Dunmore rushed into the front room, where he found that the poor old lady had fallen on the fire, her elbow being right inside the grate. He instantly lifted her on to her bed and sent for Dr Muriset.

Mrs Bateman was suffering from terrible burns on her arm, head, and body, and was unconscious, and, apart from the actual injuries from burning, shock had been very severe. Despite all that the medical skill of the doctor and the nursing attention could do, Mrs Bateman lived only about an hour and a half.

It is believed that the deceased was stricken with a paralytic seizure, causing her to fall on the fire.

The police were at once notified.