Fatal Accident at Rushden - Young Child Burnt to Death
Mother’s Agonising Discovery - Neighbour’s Prompt Assistance.
No-one to blame

A distressing fatality occurred on Monday at 212, Wellingborough Road, Rushden, when William Ernest Freeman, aged one year and seven months, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Freeman, lost his life from burns and shock. Mrs. Freeman had put the child to bed about 2pm, as was her custom, and returned to her household duties. In less than five minutes she heard heart-rending screams from the bedroom. Running upstairs and into the room she was met with the sight of the agonised child standing on the bed his night-dress a mass of flames. Instantly Mrs. Freeman flung a blanket round the baby and put out the fire, and then sent for a doctor and nurse. Dr. Davies and a nurse were soon in attendance, Dr. Greenfield, medical attendant to the family being called in about 7pm, immediately on his arrival from a distance.” Everything possible was done for the child, but so severe were his injuries, especially all down the right side, that he died from shock and burns about 8.30pm, the same day. It is understood that the child had played with matches which lay just within his reach at the bedside. Much sympathy has been expressed with the bereaved parents. Mr. Freeman is secretary of the Rushden Town Football Club.

Inquest

Mr. J.C. Parker, Deputy Coroner for the Division, conducted an inquest at the “Oakley Arms”, Rushden on Tuesday afternoon. He went into the house (212, Wellingborough Road) to take the mother’s evidence. Mrs. Freeman said that about 2.5pm, the deceased lay asleep on the sofa downstairs. She carried him and put him on a single bed in the back bedroom, and left him still asleep. About five minutes later, when she was in the back garden shaking a carpet, she heard the child screaming. She ran upstairs and found him standing on the bed near the top his flannel and flannelette petticoat being alight. She wrapped a blanket round him and was herself so overcome with the shock that she fainted. She thought the child must have stood up in bed and reached over to a chest of drawers on which was a candlestick and a box of matches, being close to the bed.

Reginald William Reynolds, shoehand, 14, Washbrook Road, Rushden said: “Yesterday about 2.15pm I was in my back garden, which looks on to the garden of Mr. Freeman’s house, when I heard a scream. I thought at first it was from the yard below, but then I noticed smoke coming from the bedroom window at Mr. Freeman’s house. I got over the wall and went into the house and upstairs, and saw the child in flames on the landing in the care of the mother. I tried to put out the lighted garments by pressing them between my hands. Then I got other clothes to wrap round the child to smother the flames, and then I cut off the smouldering parts. The mother was hysterical most of the time. I went into the back bedroom and saw the pillow and bedclothes still alight. I put out the flames and then thinking I could do no more, I got on my bicycle and fetched Mr. Freeman from work.”

The Coroner: You did quite right.

Dr. Greenfield said he was called about 7pm, Dr. Davies having previously attended the case for him. The child was quite conscious, and suffering great pain from burns to the chest, front of the abdomen, both thighs, face and neck. All the burns had been properly dressed. The deceased was also suffering greatly from shock. About 8.30pm he was called again and informed that the child had died. The child had been well looked after, as were the other children. Death was due to shock and the burns.

The Coroner found that the child died from shock caused by burns accidentally received on October 17^th and that no one was to blame.