A Rushden dealer injured

An accident occurred at Wellingborough between four and five o’clock on Wednesday afternoon whereby Mr. E. Knight, a cattle dealer, of Rushden, sustained somewhat serious injuries. Mr. Knight was driving down Sheep-street on his way to Rushden, and when near the Horse Shoe Inn the pony bolted. In pulling it out of the way of a conveyance standing close to Messrs. Lack’s shop, the animal swerved into the lamp-post near the office of Mr. Wilson, relieving officer, on the other side of the road. The force of the collision broke the shafts of the trap, and Mr. Knight was violently thrown, his head striking the kerbstone. The unfortunate man was taken to the Bees Wing Inn, and Drs. Clark and Woolley were soon in attendance, and found severe injuries about the head. Mr. Knight, who is about seventy years of age, was removed to his home at Rushden in the ambulance wagon by Sergt. Francis and Private Jeffries, accompanied by Dr. Woolley. Immediately on arrival at his home in Rushden he was attended by Drs. Crew and Baker, and was found to be suffering from a severe scalp wound, concussion of the brain, and, it is feared, from paralysis of the right side. Up to noon to-day he had not regained consciousness and very little hope is entertained of his recovery.

…………………………

14th November, 1902

Fatal Accident to Mr. E. Knight of Rushden - The Inquest

On Saturday evening Mr. J. C. Parker, deputy coroner, conducted an enquiry at the Rushden Vestry Hall into the circumstances attending the death of Mr. Edwin Knight, farmer and dealer, who died on Saturday morning as the result of injuries received at Wellingborough on the preceding Wednesday. Mr. W. H. Wilkins was chosen foreman of the jury. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was taken :-

Harry Knight, builder, said that the body just viewed by the jury was that of his father, Edwin Knight, cattle dealer. He was 70 years of age.

Cooper Smeathers, Wellingborough, yard attendant at the “Horse Shoe,” deposed that on Wednesday last deceased started for home between four and five o’clock. Witness helped him to put in the horse, which was properly harnessed, Mr. Knight himself, according to his custom, looking round before getting into the trap. Witness got hold of the horse’s head and asked if he should lead him out of the yard. Deceased said, “No, he is all right,” and drove out of the yard as usual. Witness noticed nothing unusual about the animal, and turned to attend to other duties. He thought it was a quiet pony. There was nothing about the trap or harness to make it bolt. Mr. Knight was perfectly sober.

Wm. Richard Peaple, journalist, Wellingborough, said that about 4.30 on Wednesday afternoon he was standing in the office of the “Wellingborough Post” answering a telephone call, when he saw deceased pass the shop door in his trap. He heard him speak to the pony to steady it, as if he had had some trouble with it, and appeared to have just steadied it. Witness then saw through a side window that the pony was bolting, and ran out, following the trap down the street. A carrier’s van was standing outside the shop of Messrs. Lack, nurserymen, and as far as witness could see Mr. Knight was striving to keep the pony on the right of the street to clear it. The pony, however, seemed to get the mastery, and witness noticed a coal trolley and carrier’s van coming in opposite directions at the bottom of the street, so that it appeared impossible to get through. The pony gave a leap to the right, and the wheel caught the lamp column, and the shafts were splintered. The pony was thrown on one side and the traces broke. Deceased was thrown out of the trap into the air, and fell into the road flat on his back, his head falling upon the set stones leading into Mr. J. M. Sharman’s premises. He lay quite still as he fell. He was carried into the “Bee’s Wing,” from whence he was removed home in the ambulance van. Witness noticed nothing in the street to account for the pony bolting. Deceased seemed to realise that a collision of some kind was inevitable, and witness thought he tried to get on to the wide pavement out of the way.

Mr. G. H. Skinner (a juryman) said he was with deceased about a quarter to four, when he had a cup of tea with him. He was quite as usual then. - Mr. Geo. Bayes (another juror) remarked that he saw deceased about a minute before the accident. He was quite well and cheerful.

Dr. Baker said he examined deceased at his own house on Wednesday evening. He was then semi-conscious, suffering from the effects of shock. There was a radiated scalp wound at the back of his head, which had been sewn up and dressed at Wellingborough. He never regained complete consciousness and died that morning about 7.15 from the effects of his injuries. Everything had been done for him that could possibly have been. - To Mr. Skinner : Deceased could not have been in pain. - To the Coroner : Deceased was attended at Wellingborough by Drs. Clark and Woolley.

The Coroner said that it appeared to him to be an accident, and no one was to blame at all. The pony had been in the stable during the afternoon, and was doubtless in a hurry to get home. It was a sad case.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”

The Funeral

On Tuesday afternoon, amid numerous tokens of respect and esteem, the funeral of the late Mr. Edwin Knight, of Hilly Farm, took place at the Rushden Cemetery. A service was conducted at the home of deceased by the Rev. W. F. Harris, who also conducted the committal portion of the service at the graveside. Heavy rain was falling at the time, but notwithstanding this a large number of people from the town and district assembled to pay a last token of respect to the memory of their acquaintance and friend. The body was enclosed in a polished oak coffin, with brass fittings, and was laid in a bricked grave. The breastplate bore the inscription, “Edwin Knight; died November 8th, 1902; aged 70 years.” The chief mourners were as follows :- First coach, Mr. C. E. Knight, Mr. James Knight, Mr. Harry Knight, Mr. Thomas Knight, Mr. John Knight (sons), and Mr. Fred Knight (brother); second coach, Mr. William Swindall (son-in-law), Mr. John Spence and Mr. Henry Wheeler (brothers-in-law), and Mr. George Bayes (nephew); third coach, Mr. John Corby, Mr. C. E. Bayes, Mr. Fred Bayes, and Mr. James Corby (nephews); fourth coach, Mr. Tom Wheeler, Mr. R. F. Knight, and Mr. Harold Knight (nephews), and the Rev. W. F. Harris. Others present included the following :- Dr. Freeman, Mr. John Claridge, Mr. W. H. Wilkins, Mr. G. H. Skinner, Mr. J. T. Colson, Mr. John Sargent, Mr. G. Winters, Mr. C. L. Bradfield, Mr. W. Clarke, Mr. A. Gadsby, Messrs. Joseph Green and Sons (two), Mr. W. Desborough, Mr. S. Chettle, Mr. H. Newbury, Mr. John Smith, Mr. E. Hollis, Mr. George Evans (Rushden), Messrs. G. Garley, Charles Tassell, and Walter Lewis (representing the Wheatsheaf Club), Mr. John Pendered (Wellingborough), Mr. J. Bainbridge (Wellingborough), Mr. F. Meyer, Sen. (Wellingborough), Mr. W. Wiggins (Odell), Mr. Barker (Sharnbrook), Mr. Craddock (of Messrs. Stafford and Rogers, Bedford), and many others.

The large and beautiful collection of wreaths bore the following inscriptions :- “In loving remembrance and with sorrowful regret, from his brother and sisters”; “In loving memory of dear father, from Tom and Annie”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bird and family, Sarnia House, Kettering”; “In loving memory of our kind grandpa, from Elsie, Percy, and Gracie”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Loake and family, Northdene, Kettering”; “With deepest sympathy from Fred and Harriet Bayes”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Coombs, Souldrop”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Mole, Souldrop”; “With sincerest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell and family, The Cottage, Stanwick”; “With sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. John Smith”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. James Harris, Newton Bromshold”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. and Mrs. J. Green”; “With Mr. Hick’s and Mr. Hoad’s deep sympathy”; “With deepest sympathy, from Mr. H. Thompson and family”; “From Emily Starling.”

Mr. Harry Knight conducted the funeral arrangements.