That she accidentally lost her life in a brave effort to save her dog was the conclusion arrived at by the Northampton Coroner (Mr. A.J. Darnell) at the inquest at Northampton on Wednesday on Mrs. Betsy Millward, aged 52, of 8, Fern-road, Rushden, fatally injured in a road accident at Rushden on October 31st.

Mr. A.D. Perkins represented the driver of a car involved and Inspector Valentine watched the case for the County Police.

James Millward, retired Church Army officer, husband of the deceased, said his wife left home about six o’clock in the evening to take their dog for a walk. Informed of the accident, he found his wife lying in Wellingborough-road injured and accompanied her to Northampton Hospital in the Rushden ambulance. Her eyesight and hearing were very good and so was her health. In 31 years of married life she had not had a day’s illness. She was wearing a dark grey long coat.

Dr. J. Goronwy, house surgeon at the hospital, said that when admitted Mrs. Millward was unconscious. She was suffering from heavy shock and had a fractured leg and multiple abrasions. After improving for a time and having the limb operated upon, she became worse and died at 4.50 p.m. on Monday. Death was due to cerebral haemorrhage.

Leonard Wareing, commercial traveller, The Bungalow, Fern-road, Rushden, said he was walking along Wellingborough-road towards the town and saw Mrs. Millward approach from the opposite direction. He was on the pavement and the deceased, whom he knew, was on the grass verge on the other side of the road with her dog. Near Sanders’ Lodge the dog ran across the road and she followed. It was evidently crossing to another dog. A car was approaching from Rushden on its correct side and with front lights.

Mrs Millward & Peter

It had been raining and the road was still wet. It looked as if she were trying to save the dog. He did not regard the car driver as in any way to blame.

In answer to questions, witness said it was twilight and very awkward for motorists. He doubted if Mrs. Millward saw the car at her first crossing and she was not in time the second. She was calling her dog by the name Peter as it ran. He shouted to her, but he doubted if she heard. He thought she was so wrapt up in the dog that she did not realise her own danger. She jumped off the pavement to try to save the dog.

Frank Herbert Horsford, leather dresser, of 34 Washbrook-road, said he was taking his dog for a walk and was on the pavement side of the road. He corroborated the previous witness as to what happened and, like him, attached no blame to the car driver. He told deceased not to risk crossing the road, but she might not have heard. To him she appeared to be trying to pick the dog up. She was in the habit of carrying the dog, which was a pet. She left the pavement in a crouching position.

Police Sergt. Thompson, Rushden, said he found Mrs. Millward lying on the pavement. Nearby was a car which had been driven by Leslie Lee of Northampton-road, Moulton. The road was wet after rain, but there were no skid or brake marks. The car was within two to two and a half feet from its off side. Lee, after caution, made a signed statement. In this he said he was driving his father-in-law’s car towards Wellingborough at 15 miles per hour. It was dusk and he had sidelights, but no headlight was necessary. He saw a woman about 20 feet ahead in the centre of the road. She hesitated and appeared to make for the left hand side and he swerved, but she hesitated and he had no chance to miss her.

Returning a verdict of “accidental death,” the Coroner said there was no blame attaching to the car driver. Mrs. Millward was evidently very fond of the dog and bravely risked her life to save him from injury. His expressions of sympathy were endorsed by Mr. Perkins for the car driver.