On Saturday night, at about 11.15, a man named Samuel Charles Taylor, aged 66, of 96, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, was walking home with a companion (Mark Underwood) up the Wellingborough-road, when an accident occurred which unfortunately terminated fatally.

A cyclist who was riding down the hill rang his bell, whereupon Underwood stepped upon the path. Taylor himself, however, evidently bewildered, stepped right into the middle of the road in front of the bicycle. Taylor was knocked down and seriously hurt. He was at once removed home, and Dr. H. S. Baker was called in, but despite every attention, he succumbed to the injuries at about four o’clock on Sunday morning.

in connection with the occurrence is the fact that the cyclist – Arthur Curtis, of Newton-road – is a nephew of the deceased.

The accident took place between the almshouses and the top of Fitzwilliam-street. After the unfortunate occurrence, Curtis and others rendered what assistance was possible. Mr. Leonard Baxter, of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, having procured the stretcher from the Windmill Club, Taylor was taken home in an unconscious condition. Dr. Baker found a contused wound at the back of the head, and internal compression of the brain, from which Taylor expired, not having regained consciousness.

Deceased, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Wm. Claridge and Sons for 32 years, leaves a widow, three sons, and a daughter.

was held at the Oakley Inn, Rushden, on Monday afternoon by Mr. J. C. Parker, deputy coroner. Mr. H. H. Hobbs was chosen foreman of the jury.

Arthur Taylor, 108, Wellingborough-road, lasting-room foreman, identified the body as that of his father, who was 66 years of age. Deceased’s hearing was good and his eyesight was fairly good.

Mark Underwood, labourer, of Wellingborough-road, said he met deceased at about 11.10 p.m. on Saturday at the bottom of Church-street. Deceased and witness went towards home, and after walking about 200 yards up Wellingborough-road saw a light on a bicycle about 50 yards in front. Deceased said “Mark, here’s a bike coming.” Witness stepped towards the pavement and deceased went towards the hedge. Witness and deceased were walking on the road because it was

Witness heard a smash and found the cyclist had knocked deceased down. There was plenty of time to get out of the way of the bicycle. Witness could not say what pace the cyclist was riding at, but no doubt he could have gone faster. When the smash occurred witness went to deceased who was lying on the road and found he could not speak or get up. The cyclist also came up to see what was the matter as soon as he could. Mr. Barker also came up and the ambulance was fetched from the Windmill Club and deceased was taken home. Deceased was quite sober.

Arthur Curtis, finisher, of 92 Newton-road, Rushden, said that on Saturday night he was returning home from Wellingborough on a bicycle. When going along Wellingborough-road, witness heard two men talking and

Witness first saw one of the men about three or four yards in front of him, and turned to pass him on his right side. As he turned, deceased stepped just in front of the machine and was knocked down. Witness was thrown off but was not hurt. The pace witness was going would be between eight and ten miles an hour. The bicycle was a free-wheel machine with a back-pedalling brake. Witness had the brake on lightly when he met deceased. He did his best to avoid the deceased but could not prevent the accident.

P.S. Ellingham said he examined the part of the road where the accident happened. The spot was at

of the road and witness found a mark of blood on the road. Witness had tested Curtis’s bicycle and found the brake in perfect working order. The bicycle was not damaged, but the lamp was broken.

In reply to the Coroner, the witness said if Curtis had been going at a great pace the cycle would probably have been broken.

Dr. Baker said he saw the deceased shortly after midnight at his home. Deceased was unconscious, was paralysed on the right side, and was evidently suffering from compression of the brain. There was a contused wound on the back of the head and death was caused by the compression of the brain. It would not need a very violent fall to cause the injuries.

The jury found that death was caused accidentally, and expressed the opinion that it would be as well if the lamps in the centre of the town were extinguished last of all.

Mrs. Taylor and family wish to thank all friends for sympathy shown in their bereavement.