The death of Mr. W. H. Clements, of Crabb-street, Rushden, took place on Sunday last at the age of 43. The deceased, who until recently was in the employ of Mr. George Miller, lately commenced business for himself as a gasfitter, etc. Some time ago he sustained internal injuries. No serious results, however, manifested themselves at the time, and ultimate danger was not suspected, but a post-mortem examination showed that death was attributable to the effects of the accident. Deceased leaves a widow and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss.

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death was held at the Vestry-hall on Wednesday afternoon by Mr. J. T. Parker, coroner.

The Coroner said the case was a somewhat peculiar one. It was supposed that deceased had suffered from a malignant growth in the stomach. The symptoms at death, however, were inconsistent with this, and a post-mortem examination had shown adhesions of the stomach and liver, which, it was suggested, resulted from an accident.

Sarah Elizabeth Clements, the widow of the deceased, identified the body, and said she remembered her husband came home one day just before Christmas last year and said he had been hurt by a stove falling on his stomach. He was bruised, but the bruises got better. He was attended by Dr. Baker in January for influenza, but not for the injury. Deceased had complained at times of pain during the year, up to the time of his death, and had stayed at home at different times through feeling weak and ill.

Samuel Lantaff, porter in the employ of Mr. G. Miller, said that a short time before Christmas he was helping deceased to take a fire-stove into Mr. Patenall’s house in North-street, where deceased was going to fix it. Deceased, who was walking backwards, fell on a step in the gateway and the stove, which weighed nearly 2 cwt. fell on him. Witness lifted the stove off deceased, who said he did not think he was hurt much. Deceased fitted the stove, but next morning said he thought he had hurt himself worse than he thought when the accident happened. After that, deceased often complained of pain in the body and used to retch a good deal in the mornings. He was often obliged to leave off work through weakness. Deceased did not blame anyone for the accident.

Dr. Baker said he attended deceased in the early part of January. Deceased then had symptoms of influenza and gastric irritation. Deceased appeared to get better, but had not been really well since, having been attended from time to time for stomach trouble. Last Sunday witness called just at the time deceased was dying, and the appearances were not consistent with death from malignant growth, to which previous symptoms pointed. Witness made a post-mortem examination on Monday and found that the stomach, liver, and diaphragm had grown together, thus interfering with their proper action. Death was due to that cause. The adhesion of the organs was undoubtedly due to the injury which had been described. It was impossible to tell that deceased had been injured internally, and the symptoms were just about the same as if there had been a natural malignant growth.

The jury found that death was the result of the accident.

The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at the cemetery, the Rev. R. B. Woodward officiating. In addition to the chief mourners, the funeral cortege included representatives of the Park-road Wesleyan Church and the Rushden Adult School, with which bodies the deceased was associated.