Mr. Cave’s Public Work and Business Career

  A feeling of consternation followed the first shock of surprise, and this was accompanied by manifestations of the deepest sorrow and grief.  Throughout the town little groups of people were to be seen, talking in undertones of the terrible tragedy.  The

Thrill of Horror

Mr Paul Cave in 1905

  Details of the sad occurrence gradually began to leak out, though the officials at the factory were naturally very reticent, and the police, too, were unable to give any definite information until after the inquest.  From what was known beyond question, however, there was unfortunately no room for doubt that the mind of the deceased gentleman had become unhinged through a succession of business troubles, and that he had, in a fit of temporary insanity, put an end to his life.

  It soon leaked out that the body of the deceased had been found in the telephone room at the factory of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., in College-street, and that death, which had evidently taken place some hours before

The Terrible Discovery

was made, had been caused by asphyxiation and gas poisoning. The telephone room in question is air tight. Shortly before half-past nine o’clock Mr. Newton, the secretary of the company, had occasion to go to the telephone room and found the door locked from the inside. The door was forced open, leading to the discovery of Mr. Cave’s tragic death. There lay the body of the deceased. Efforts were at once made to restore animation, but without avail, Mr. Cave having been dead for several hours. It was then discovered that Mr. Cave must have gone to the factory at an unusually early hour on Monday morning, that he had taken an India-rubber tube and had fixed it to a gas bracket, that he had turned on the gas at the office meter, and that he must then have locked himself in the telephone room and have gradually been

Overcome By The Fumes

of the gas.

  There are two gas meters at the works – one for the office and the other for the factory.  Inquiries revealed the fact that Mr. William Skinner, the time-keeper at the factory, turned the gas off at the office meter on Saturday afternoon at about half-past three o’clock.  When he got to the works on Monday morning, at about seven o’clock, he found everything as usual outside, the doors being locked properly, but when he went to turn on the gas for the factory he found that the office gas was turned on.  This he at once rectified, turning off the gas at the office meter.

Seen At 3.45 a.m.

  Then, as the morning went on, further information came to light.  When the terrible affair became known in the town, Mr. Percival, who works at the C.W.S. factory, said that he had seen Mr. Cave that morning at a quarter to four o’clock.  It appears also that Police-Constable Knight saw the deceased at about that hour, near the Post-office, and apparently going to the factory.  Mr. Cave wished the officer “Good morning,” and the constable returned the compliment.  As far as is known, that was the last time Mr. Cave was seen alive, and the words with which he greeted the constable were probably the last he ever uttered.

  When the painful discovery of Mr. Cave’s dead body was made, prompt and energetic efforts were made to resuscitate life.  Mr. Walter Knight and Mr. Ed. Baxter, formerly of the Rushden Ambulance Corps, who work on the firm, applied

Artificial Respiration,

and various restoratives were resorted to, but without beneficial result.  Dr. H. S. Baker was summoned, and he quickly responded to the call, but his efforts, too, were without avail, there being no hope whatever of restoring animation.  Dr. Baker’s evidence is that circulation had ceased for at least an hour before his arrival, and possibly longer.  As a matter of fact, the gas fumes must have done their deadly work before seven o’clock, at which time the office gas was turned off, as stated by Mr. William Skinner.

  Information was at once given to the police, and Sergt. Ellingham was quickly in attendance.  His evidence is to the effect that there were no signs of a struggle.

  As to the state of the deceased gentleman’s mind, there can be no question.  There is no doubt that, for a day or two at least, he had been

On The Border-Line

between sanity and insanity – a line not always very clearly defined.  Trouble had followed trouble, and Mr. Cave’s mental balance had evidently been overturned.  No one can have seen Mr. Cave during the last year or two without having noticed that he had aged in appearance very considerably.  It seems that on Monday, June 15^th, just a week before the sad occurrence, there was a meeting of the directors of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., of the directorate of which firm Mr. Cave was a member up to the time of his death.  At that meeting it was decided that Mr. Cave should be removed from his position of inside manager and offered the post of outside traveller, the salary to remain as before, namely, £400 a year.  Mr. Cave did not take kindly to this change in his status, if indeed he understood the purport of it at all, and, as a matter of fact, another letter had to be sent to him on behalf of his fellow directors, explaining the true position of affairs as far as he himself was concerned.  This, following other troubles, apparently

Proved Too Much

for Mr. Cave, and he was thrown off his mental balance, with the terrible result already indicated.

  Shortly after ten o’clock the body was removed from the factory to the residence of the deceased, the removal being carried out under the supervision of Inspector Cameron and Sergt. Ellingham. The ambulance litter was called into requisition. As the mournful procession passed slowly along High-street the greatest grief was manifested, and the utmost sympathy towards the relatives of the deceased was not only felt but expressed on all hands. Rarely, if ever, have the tradesmen of High-street been so visibly affected as they were when the body of Mr. Cave was slowly and reverently taken from the College-street factory to the Shrubbery.

  The late Mr. Paul Cave was 59 years of age, and he leaves a widow – an invalid – but no children.

Mr. Cave’s Position

  The late Mr. Paul Cave was one of the four directors of the recently re-constructed company of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., boot and shoe manufacturers and Army and Government contractors, his co-directors being Mr. Hugh Morton of Birmingham, Mr. Charles Pettitt, of Harrold, and Mr. A.E. Marlow, of Northampton. Mr. Cave’s position was that of managing director of the company.

  Mr. Marlow, as it happened, was in the factory at the time  the sad discovery was made. It appears that he came over to Rushden by an earlier train than usual, reaching Rushden by the 8.37 a.m. Midland train.

A Pathetic Incident

in connection with the sad event is that Mr. Amos Cave, brother of the deceased, happened to walk into the office at the factory shortly after the discovery was made, at that time, of course, unconscious of the tragedy.  Mr. Amos was connected with the firm until a few months ago, when he left, and became the proprietor of the Wear and Waterproof Company, which, until that time, was part of the concern of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd.  When Mr. Amos went into the office, Mr. Marlow said to him, “Something tragic has happened; you had better stay.”  Then it was that Mr. Amos learned of his brother Paul’s sad death.

Away From Home

  Mr. Arthur Cave, another brother, who was also formerly connected with the firm, was away from Rushden at the time, and a telegram was despatched to him conveying the painful intelligence.

  Mr. Fred Cave, the other brother, was in Scotland at the time, and the news did not reach him until nine o’clock in the evening.  He had just gone to his hotel, and had engaged his room, when the telegram was handed to him.  Naturally, the news came to him as a terrible shock, and he at once made arrangements to return to Rushden, travelling during the night by the mail train and reaching Rushden at about half-past eight o’clock on Tuesday morning.

  The body of the deceased had been removed home some time before it was found possible to convey to Mrs. Paul Cave the painful intelligence that her husband had passed away.

  Of recent years

Mr. Cave’s Health

had been somewhat precarious. A few years ago he was seized with a paralytic stroke, and it was generally believed that the seizure was hastened, if not entirely caused, by the trouble following the disastrous fire of 1901, together with the South African war, which had had a prejudicial effect upon the South African trade of the firm. Naturally, too, the winding up of the company affected his health to a certain extent, probably very materially.

  As an

Employer of Labour

the late Mr. Cave was exceedingly popular. When the sad news of his death went round the factory on Monday morning many of the work people were greatly affected, particularly those – and there are many of them – who have worked for the firm during the various changes which have happened.  There are quite a number of employees to-day who worked for the late Mr. John Cave and subsequently for his sons.  Many of the work-people are saying to-day that in Mr. Paul Cave’s death they have lost a real friend.

  There have been many instances from time to time of Mr. Cave’s interest in the work-people, and one of the latest is the fact that he took a keen interest in the recent formation of a choir in connection with the factory, and of which, as a matter of fact, he was the originator and the president.  He was also the president of the factory sick benefit club.

Mr. Paul Cave’s Business Career

The Firm That Helped To Make Rushden - A Great Commercial Concern

  The late Mr. Paul Cave, who was 59 years of age, was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Cave, founder (in 1854) of the original firm of John Cave and Sons, Rushden, and was one of the best known men in the Northamptonshire shoe trade.  The late Mr. John Cave formed his business into a limited liability company in 1898, dividing the shares principally among his four surviving sons, Messrs. Paul, Amos, Arthur, and Fred Cave.  For some time before his father’s death, and since, he managed the firm, which was the largest in Rushden.  Prior to the big fire the firm had been for several years a limited liability company, under the name of Messrs. John Cave and Sons.  On the death of Mr. John Cave, Mr. Paul Cave became head of the firm as managing director.

  The old firm had had a career of great prosperity, and the development of Rushden from an agricultural village into a manufacturing town was to a great extent due to it. An extensive business was carried on in England and South Africa, and Mr. Paul Cave made several journeys to the latter country for the firm.

  In July, 1901, the firm had a serious blow by

The Great Fire

which completely destroyed the whole of the factory, as well as adjoining property, but a new building was erected, and the old prosperity of the firm seemed to continue. In July, 1906, however, came the announcement that the firm was in financial difficulties and that a receiver had been appointed, and when matters were closely gone into it was found there was a deficiency of over £30,000.

  In April, 1907, the business was re-started by an entirely new company, with Mr. A. E. Marlow as its head.  Mr. Paul Cave was made one of the directors, and appointed to the management, a post he has continued to discharge.

  The deceased was formerly one of the most active members of the Boot and Shoe Manufacturers’ Federation.  At the first meeting of the Incorporated Associations in March, 1899, he was appointed to a place on the Executive Committee, and in 1901 as a member of the Executive he was given a seat on the management of the Boot Trade Benevolent Society.

Mr. Cave’s Public Work

A Leading Figure In Rushden’s Affairs - A Prominent Conservative

  For many years past, Mr. Paul Cave had taken a very prominent part in the public affairs of the town, and he was held in great esteem.  Even before the establishment of Parish and Urban Councils, he was one of the leaders of local public life, and among other offices, he served on the old body of Way-wardens.

  With the formation of Urban Councils he was made one of the first members of the Rushden Authority, but after serving many years he had to relinquish his seat owing to pressure of business.  He was also for a considerable time a member of the old School Board at Rushden.  In the contests connected with the elections he stood as

A Conservative Candidate

  A Freemason, Mr. Cave was at one time a member of the Wentworth Lodge, and when the Pemberton Lodge was started at Rushden he transferred his membership to it.

  Mr. Cave was a staunch Conservative and Churchman.  At the time of the candidatures of Lord Burghley and the Hon. C. Robert Spencer, for Northamptonshire, Mr. Cave was a Liberal, and was one of Mr. Spencer’s strongest supporters.  In later years, however, he changed his politics, and at the time of his death was Vice-President of the Rushden Conservative Association and an active member of the Conservative Club.

  In 1898 he unsuccessfully fought against Mr. John Claridge in the Conservative interest for a seat on the County Council.

  He had been for about fifteen years a sidesman at

                                                                                   The Parish Church,        

in the welfare of which he took a great interest.  About five years ago he presented the church-wardens of St. Mary’s with a set of alms plates, which are now in use.

  One of the organisations in which he took a especially keen interest was the Rushden division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, of which he was for a time the President. Under the auspices of this organisation a very interesting ambulance competition took place a few years ago at the Shubbery.

  Mr. Cave took an active part in the work of the Northamptonshire Technical Students’ Association, and only recently presided at one of the meetings.

  On Monday evening at the monthly meeting of Court “Risdene” of the Independent Order of Foresters, the Recording Secretary (Mr. W. H. Brown), was instructed to write a letter to the relatives of the late Mr. Cave, conveying to them the deepest sympathy of the Court in their bereavement. 

Dr. Baker On The Cause Of Death - Overcome By The Fumes Of Gas

  The inquest was held by Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner, at the Queen Victoria Hotel on Tuesday morning.  Mr. F. Knight, J.P., was chosen foreman of the jury, the members of which were :-

Mr. John S. Mason

Mr. G. Miller, C.C.

Mr. R. Marriott

Mr. J. F. Knight

Mr. H. H. Hobbs

Mr. R. Wheeler

Mr. E. Croft

Mr. T. Willmott

Mr. F. Webb

Mr. T. Fuller

Mr. M. Southam

  The Coroner, in opening the inquest, said they were met to inquire into the death of Mr. Paul Cave.  The jury would have to determine how and by what means he came by his death.  On Monday morning, at about 9.25 Mr. Cave was found in the telephone office at the factory at Rushden, dead.  That was all he would say about it at present.

  The jury then viewed the body.

  Mr. Stimpson, instructed by Messrs. Burnham, Son, and Lewin, Wellingborough, was present to represent the family of the deceased.

  Mr. F. Jos. Simpson said he represented the firm of John Cave and Sons Ltd., and he would take that opportunity of expressing the most profound regret felt by the directors of the Company at that most lamentable affair.

Mr. Amos Cave’s Evidence

  Mr. Amos Cave was the first witness. He said : I live at Rushden and am a manufacturer. The body just viewed by the jury is that of my brother, Paul Cave. Deceased was manager of John Cave and Sons, Limited, and was 59 years of age on his last birthday.

  The Coroner : You know nothing of this occurrence, do you?

  Witness : No.

  Has the deceased been in his usual health lately? – Well, he seemed very dull and depressed on Sunday morning, the last time I saw him. We talked about two or three matters, and he said : “I can’t discuss things to-day. I don’t feel in a fit state to do it.

  Has he been attended by a doctor within the last week or so? – I don’t know.

  Has he ever, to your knowledge, threatened to commit suicide? – Not to my knowledge.

Seen At 3.45 a.m

  P.C. Knight said : Yesterday morning at 3.45 a.m. I was on duty in High-street near the Post Office and saw Mr. Paul Cave walking past the Post Office.  He went down College-street, where the factory is.  He said to me : “Good morning,” and I replied “Good morning, sir.”

  The Coroner : Have you ever seen him at that time in the morning before? – No, sir.

The Sad Discovery

  John George Swingler, engineer to Messrs. Cave and Sons, deposed : Mr. Newton, the secretary to the firm, came to me at about 9.25 yesterday morning and said he could not get into the telephone room, which was locked from the inside.  I fetched a pair of pliers and undid the door.  I saw there was someone lying on the floor inside.  I could just see someone’s feet and legs.  I could not open the door very well.  In the meantime I noticed a rubber pipe hanging from the gas jet.  There was a faint smell of gas but the gas was off at the meter.  I could tell it was Mr. Paul Cave in the telephone room by his bunch of keys.  Just then, Mr. Marlow came up and said : “Get him outside as soon as possible.”  I then stepped over the body and assisted to remove it to the yard, where artificial respiration was used at once by the ambulance men.

  The Coroner : Was the gas turned on?

  Witness : Yes, sir.

  What time would the gas be turned off at the meter? – At seven o’clock.  When the caretaker went to turn on the gas for the factory he found the gas was turned on for the office, which was unusual, and he turned it off.

The Gas Turned On

  William Skinner, timekeeper at the factory, said : The gas is supplied to the factory by two meters, one for the factory and one for the offices.  When I went in yesterday morning at about seven o’clock I found everything as usual outside and the doors locked.  When I went to turn on the gas for the factory I found the office gas was on and I turned it off.

  The Coroner : Did you turn it off the night before?

  Witness : I turned it off at about half-past three on Saturday afternoon.

  Have you ever found it on before? – Only when the charwoman wanted to heat water, and she was not at the factory after me on Saturday.

Police Called In

  P.S. Ellingham deposed : Yesterday morning at about 9.40 I was called to Messrs. Cave’s factory and found the deceased lying at the back of the factory, apparently lifeless.  I searched the body and found 4s. 0 ½ d. in cash and the jewellery produced.  There were no communications.  I examined the telephone cupboard and found the rubber tube produced attached to the gas jet.  The telephone room has an air-tight door with rubber fittings.  Deceased’s cap was lying on a bench close to the telephone.

  The Coroner : There was no sign of a struggle?

  Witness : None whatever.

  Was the tube always there? – It belongs to the directors’ office, sir, which is a few yards from the telephone office.

  The Foreman of the jury : Where is the meter?

  Witness : In a cupboard next door to the telephone closet.

Doctor’s Evidence

  Dr. Baker said : Yesterday morning, at about half-past nine, I was sent for to Messrs. Cave’s factory and went at once. When I arrived I found the body of the deceased in the yard and two members of the ambulance corps were applying artificial respiration. That was kept up for half-an-hour, and other restoratives were applied without result. I examined the body, but found no marks except on the tongue, which was marked as if deceased had bitten it.

  The Coroner : And as to the cause of death, doctor?

  Witness : Asphyxiation and coal gas poisoning.

  Had you attended Mr. Cave at all ? – No.

  Can you say how long death had taken place when you got there?

  I should say that circulation had ceased for at least an hour, and possibly longer.

Mr. Cave and his Co-Directors

  Christopher John Newton, secretary to Messrs. Cave and Sons, was then examined by Mr. F. Jos. Simpson.

  Mr. Simpson : Was there a meeting of the directors on June 15?

  Witness : Yes.

  Was it then decided that Mr. Paul Cave’s sphere of activities should be removed from duties inside the factory to duties outside the factory? – That is so.

  Was he informed of that shortly after the meeting? – Shortly after the meeting.

  Was he to receive the same salary? – Exactly the same; it was understood.

  What was the salary? - £400 a year.

  This was the resolution : “It was decided to offer Mr. Paul Cave that he represent the company outside the factory in a selling capacity at his present salary ?” – That is correct.

  Mr. Stimpson  : Did Mr. Cave appear to grasp this, or did he still want to keep on his old work?

  Witness : He had an idea that he would like to keep on as he had been going.

  Did you have some difficulty in making him understand the position? Did you have to write another letter? – There was another letter.

  Was he very much depressed? – He was very much depressed from the date of the Board meeting.

  Did it appear to upset his balance altogether? – It did appear to do so.

  When did you last see him before Monday? – At about 12.25 on Saturday morning in the directors’ office.

  Did he then appear depressed and dull? – He went out without saying anything, which was unusual.

  This concluded the evidence taken.

The Family’s Representative

  Representing the family, Mr. Stimpson said that with the kind permission of the Coroner he would like to say a very few words.  He first of all desired to thank Mr. Simpson for his expression of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.  He thought there was no question in anyone’s mind that the deceased put an end to his own life and the only question was as to the state of his mind.  He thought the jury, knowing the circumstances, would have no doubt that at the time deceased’s mind was off the balance.  The reason of that they got from the last witness.  It might appear an inadequate reason to outside people but the deceased’s whole life had been bound up with the firm.  For reasons the firm thought fit to put an end to Mr. Cave’s work in the factory and to offer him a post outside – an altogether different position.  That was sufficient to throw him off the balance in his state of mind.  The line between sanity and insanity was very fine at the best and Mr. Cave had had earlier troubles.  Coming on top of those other troubles, the impending change, which would not in itself have been a sufficient cause, threw the deceased’s mind off the balance.  He was sure the jury would not wish for a moment to besmirch the memory of a fellow townsman and he submitted that the deceased’s rash act was done while he was temporarily insane.

Coroner’s Summing Up

The Coroner said there could be no doubt in the minds of the jury as to how the death occurred, and in his own mind there was no doubt that deceased took his own life. The only other point was as to the state of mind. Mr. Stimpson had told them that as late as June 15^th the deceased was requested to take the post of outside traveller instead of being inside the factory. Deceased did not appear to realize the position and did not appear to wish for the change. No doubt that preyed on the deceased’s mind.

The Verdict

  The jury found that deceased took his life while temporarily insane, and the Foreman said he wished to express on the part of the jury their sincere sympathy with the widow and relatives.

  The inquest lasted only about thirty minutes.

  The jury gave their fees to the Rushden Nursing Association.

The Funeral

A Large Gathering at The Rushden Cemetery - Impressive Service

Thursday afternoon

  “In the mist of life we are in death.” These are the words which occur to the mind of most of us – perhaps all, except the youngest amongst us – as we assemble this wonderful June afternoon at the Cemetery, where the mortal remains of so many of the people who have helped to make the town of Rushden and to build up its commerce have found a last resting-place.

  “In the midst of life.”  A week ago Mr. Paul Cave was with us – to-day we have gathered together to witness his interment.  The blaze of sunshine finds no response in our hearts this afternoon.  “In the midst of life we are in death,” there is no other thought for us to-day.

  A solemn hush falls upon us as the hearse is drawn up in front of the cemetery chapel, a hush which is deepened as the coffin, covered with a mass of flowers, is borne into the little sanctuary.

  “I am the resurrection and the life.”  The opening sentences of “The Order for the Burial of the Dead” are being read impressively by the Rev. W. Kitchin, Vicar of Podington.  “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”  “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  And now the Rev. E. W. Suart, the Curate at the Parish Church, reads the 39^th Psalm.  St. Paul’s classical passage on the resurrection, in his first letter to the Corinthians, beginning at the 20^th verse of the 15^th chapter, is read solemnly and with feeling by Mr. Suart, and the brief service inside the chapel is at an end.  Slowly the body is born to the grave, followed by the chief mourners, the Freemasons, and other representatives.  And now, as Mr. Kitchin reads the committal sentences – in a clear voice, with a touch of pathos – many of us think of that cold, grey day in the January of 1904, when Mr. Cave’s father, the late Mr. John Cave, was interred in a grave a few yards away, or of that bright March day in 1897 when Mr. Cave’s mother was buried, two of Rushden’s old and well-remembered residents.

  The members of the factory choir are drawn up near by, and before the body is lowered into its last sleeping place they sing an anthem, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.”  The coffin is reverently lowered into the ground, and we hear the words, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” then the closing prayer and the collect, and finally, the benediction.  The mourners take a last look at the coffin, the people gradually disperse, and still the words that are uppermost in the mind are the old, old words, “In the midst of life we are in death.”

The Interment

of the mortal remains of the late Mr. Paul Cave took place yesterday (Thursday) at the Cemetery, Rushden. In the unavoidable absence of the Rector of Rushden, the funeral service was taken by the Rev. W. Kitchin (Vicar of Podington), assisted by the Rev. E.W. Suart (Curate of St. Mary’s, Rushden). It was the wish of the family that the funeral should be a very quiet one, and their request was acceded to as far as was possible, but the Freemasons attended as a mark of respect to the memory of their deceased comrade, and many hundreds of people assembled at the Cemetery, including a large number of the employees at the factory, which was closed for the afternoon.

  The cortege left the residence of the deceased shortly after half-past two o’clock.  Inspector Cameron marshalling the procession.  Notwithstanding the large concourse of people at the cemetery, excellent order was maintained, and a sufficient space around the grave was reserved through the management of Supt. Onan and Sergt. Ellingham.  It is estimated that about 3,000 people were present.

The Chief Mourners

were Messrs. Amos, Fred, and Arthur Cave, brothers, Messrs. J. Smith and W. W. Smith, brother-in-law, and Messrs. G. Miller, C.C., and G. S. Mason, the executors under the will.

  The Pemberton Lodge of Freemasons (Rushden) was represented by Mr. H. H. Hobbs (Worshipful Master), the Rev. W. J. B. Kerr, Irchester, and Mr. C. A. Hedley (Past Masters), and the following officers and members :-

Messrs. Reg. Smith, C. E. Bayes, C. E. Knight, A. T. Nichols, W. H. Brown, F. W. Woodward, J. T. Reid, W. M. Hensman, and W. Armstrong.  Mr. R. W. Briggs, W.M., represented the Wentworth Lodge of Freemasons, Wellingborough, and Mr. J. T. Bibby, of Wellingborough, the Independent Order of Foresters.

  Mr. C. Pettitt, of Harrold, represented the directors of Messrs. John Cave and Sons, Ltd., and the office staff were represented by Mr. C. J. Newton (secretary) and Mr. W. E. Capon.

  The bearers were Mr. Joseph Smith (gardener to the deceased) and Messrs. R. Rice, G. Barnes, H. Tye, W. Langford, A. Moon, A. Newell, and W. Skinner (departmental foremen at the factory).

  Among those present at the cemetery were Mrs. Browning (Rushden House), Mr. Owen Parker, J.P. (Mayor of Higham Ferrers), Ald. C. Jolley (Higham), Mr. R. H. Spooner (representing Messrs. Burnham, Son, and Lewin), Mr. J. J. Peck, formerly of Stanwick (representing Messrs. Nichols and Son, Kettering), Mr. A. J. Chamberlain, Leicester (representing the Boot and Shoe Manufacturers’ Association), Mr. Hall (manager for Messrs. Lilley and Skinner), Messrs. R. Marriott, J. O. Crockett (Northampton), J. Loake (Kettering), J. S. Clipson, A. Sargent, J. Claridge, C.C., F. E. Preston, E. Croft, S. Pitt, C. G. Ward, W. Dawson, C. K. Green, C. T. Prior, S. Flavell, T. Leeding, Putnam, W. Skinner, T. Surridge, W. Brightwell, F. Corby, H. Wright, J. Austin, Jos. Green, C. Mackness, F. Wooding, W. Webb, F. Webb, C. Bates, T. Maddock (Wellingborough), W. Loveday (Irthlingborough), Arthur Willmott (chairman of the Rushden Ratepayers’ Association, of which deceased was a member), G. Farey, L. Phillips, Roe, B. Vorley, T. Watson, C. W. Horrell, W. Desborough, John Sargent, F. Noble, P. Collins, Horace Brawn, G. Selwood, H. W. Chapman, White, Sergt. Wright and Private Timpson (St. John Amublance Corps), Dr. Owen, Mr. H. C. Cripwell, and many others.

  On the arrival of the cortege at the cemetery, the coffin was taken into the cemetery chapel, where a brief and impressive service was conducted by the Revs. W. Kitchin and E. W. Suart.

At the graveside Messrs. Cave’s factory Choir, under the conductorship of Mr. W. Skinner, sang the anthem, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,” composed by C.L. Williams, Mus. Bac. The committal sentences were read by the Rev. W. Kitchin. The coffin, which was of polished oak, with brass fittings, bore the following inscription :-

PAUL CAVE

Died June 22, 1908

Aged 59 years

  The grave was lined with moss and flowers.

The Wreaths

  Some splendid wreaths and floral devices were sent, the inscriptions being as follows :-

  In loving memory, from his sorrowing wife, Emma.

  In affectionate memory, from his brothers Amos, Fred, and Arthur.

  With deepest sympathy from Pattie and Jack.

  With love and much sympathy, from John and Pollie, The Limes, Rushden.

  With deep regret and sorrow, from Mrs. Stanton and Gertie.

  With sincere regrets, Mr. and Mrs. Browning and family, Rushden House.

  In ever loving memory, from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Redhead.

  With sincere sympathy and deep regret from an old friend, W.A. Manby.

  With deepest sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Marriott and family.

  In sorrow and with sympathy, Fred Woodward.

  From the Pemberton Lodge No. 3039, of Free and Accepted Masons, in deepest sorrow and sympathy.

  With sincerest sympathy, directors Conservative Club.

  With sincere regret, Mr. and Mrs. Inward and family.

  With sincere sympathy, Standard Rotary Machine Co., Rushden.

  With deepest sympathy from a devoted servant, J. Smith.

  With sincere sympathy, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Miller.

  With sincere regret, Mrs. Dunmore.

  Expressing deepest sympathy, from his fellow directors.

  Expressing deepest sorrow, from the foremen and office staff.

  With the utmost sympathy, from the employees in the lasting and shoe-room departments.

  With heartfelt sympathy, from the employees in the closing department.

  With deepest sympathy, from the employees of the finishing department.

  With heartfelt sympathy, from the employees of the clicking and rough stuff departments.

  Mr. T. Swindall was the undertaker, and Mr. Asher Abbott supplied the carriages.

  The Ambulance members had to deal with one case – that of a woman who, in the midst of the crowd, fainted from the heat.

  At the Conservative Club the flag was flying at half mast

  The widow and family of the late Mr. Paul Cave desire to express their sincere thanks for all the messages of sympathy received and kindly appreciation shown in their sudden bereavements.

  Friends will please accept this, the only notice. No Cards.