An inquest was held in the Vestry-hall, Rushden, on Friday night by Mr. J. T. Parker touching the death of Arthur Timothy Clarke, aged 2½ years, the son of Charles Clarke, bricklayers’ labourer, of Denmark-road. Mr. Litchfield was foreman of the jury.

Mrs. Clarke said that on Tuesday afternoon she was engaged in washing in the washhouse and took a bowl of hot soap suds from the copper. She placed the bowl on the table and deceased accidentally touched it with his arm, knocking it over. Some of the suds fell on his shoulder.

The Coroner: The bowl was standing near the edge of the table?

Witness: It was not far on. I undressed him and a neighbour (Mrs. Wilson) who heard me cry out came in and Dr. Baker was sent for at once. I did all I could and the boy has had every attention. I have carried out the orders of the doctor and the nurse. The boy died on Wednesday.

Mrs. Wilson gave similar evidence and said that Mrs. Clarke had never left the house.

Dr. Baker said the child was scalded on the shoulder and arm. They were superficial scalds, only slight ones. The child died from convulsions, induced by the scalds. But for the convulsions following, the scalds would not have caused death.

The coroner said that nobody thought the accident would have resulted fatally.

The verdict accorded with the medical evidence.