Fatal Fall Down Yard Steps
Accident to Elderly Rushden Lady
Coroner’s Questions Concerning Absence of Rail

  The Deputy Divisional Coroner, Mr. J. E. Parker, conducted an enquiry at the Rushden Police Station on Tuesday afternoon into the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Bollard, of 40, North-street, Rushden, who died on Sunday morning.

  Mrs. Bollard fractured her leg on October 1^st when she fell over the side of the steps leading from the kitchen door of the house into the yard.  She was 69 years of age.

  Frederick William Salisbury, 40, North-street, Rushden, boot and shoe operative, said the deceased was his mother-in-law, who resided at the above address.  She was the widow of the late Mr. George Bollard, and was 69 years of age.

  Witness said he was in the house when the accident occurred on October 1^st about 1 p.m.  Mrs. Bollard was going down the back steps and must have had a frying-pan or something in her hand for he heard a clatter and went out and found her lying in the yard.  There were five brick steps and no rail at the side.

  Coroner: Did she say what happened?  -  She said she just fell over the side, but did not know how.

  She did not fall down the steps?  -  No, over the side.

  From which step?  -  The top one, I believe.

   If there had been a rail there she would not have done that?  -  No.

Good Eyesight

  Did she have good eyesight?  -  Yes, quite good.

  Did she suffer from giddiness?  -  No.

  Witness said they sent for the doctor immediately and the deceased was taken to Northampton Hospital on October 3^rd and returned on the 21^st.

  The Coroner:  Incurable, I suppose.

  Witness said she had been attended by the doctor until her death at 3.20 a.m. on Sunday.

  Coroner: Did she know the steps pretty well?  -  Yes, she had lived in the house about 40 years.

  Dr. O. A. J. N. Muriset, of Rushden, said he saw Mrs. Bollard on the day of the accident, between 2 and 3 p.m.  She was suffering from a fracture of the left femur.  She said she had fallen down the steps.

  Coroner:  She did not blame anybody?  -  No.

  Witness said he was attending her at the time but not for anything likely to cause giddiness, although she was an old lady and might have had such an attack.

X-Ray Examination

  She went to hospital for an X-ray examination, and he understood she was removed to her home at the request of her own people.

  Coroner:  There was no negligence at the hospital or anything?  -  No, nothing.  While in hospital she developed mental symptoms and other troubles, which come on very suddenly when old people are put to bed.

  She was attended up to the time of death?  -  Yes.

  And everything was done that could be done?  -  Yes.

  Then death was due to her general condition caused by this accident?  -  Yes, and lying in bed interfered with the circulation.

  But having to lie in bed was a result of the accident?  -  Yes.

  The Coroner recorded a verdict of Accidental Death.