An inquest was held on Monday at Mr Mark Southam’s beerhouse, Rushden, on the body of Mr John Thomas Jordan, of 55 Cromwell-road, Rushden, who died suddenly on Monday morning. The inquiry was held by the coroner (Mr J T Parker), and Mr Harold Miller was the foreman of the jury.

Mrs Jordan, the widow, said the deceased was 64 years of age, and was a shoe riveter. Up to 7am on Monday he seemed in his usual health, and was playing with a little boy in the house. They were getting the breakfast ready when she heard her son-in-law call out. She went to her husband and found him sitting in a chair as though in a fit. She sent for brandy, and for a doctor. Deceased was unconscious and could not take the brandy. Deceased had complained of pains in his shoulder and left side, but did not think it serious enough to see a doctor. Deceased worked until last Saturday.

Walter Nichols, 31, Baker-street, Northampton, a wheelwright, said he was staying with deceased. Deceased got up at 7am and sat in a chair laughing and joking with witness and his little boy. Suddenly deceased threw his head back and breathed heavily, and witness thought he was joking. Then witness noticed him slipping from the chair, and knew something was wrong.

Dr Stainer Baker, of Rushden, said he saw deceased at about 8am. He was then lying on the floor, quite recently dead. The appearance was of death from sudden heart failure.

The jury returned a verdict of death from heart failure.