The Northampton Borough Coroner (Mr. A. J. Darnell) conducted an inquest at Northampton General Hospital on Monday on Mark Twelftree (73), a retired gardener, of 17, Orchard-place, Rushden.

Mr. Twelftree was knocked down on Friday by a van backing from Rushden High-street to the factory of Messrs. Seddon and Arlidge Co., Ltd., in Orchard-place, and he died later the same day in Northampton Hospital.

At the inquest Mr. L. F. Hales, Kettering, represented Messrs. Seddon and Arlidge, and Mr. B. Tippleston was for the driver of the van involved.

Dr. M. Amoils, house surgeon at the hospital, said that when Twelftree was admitted on Friday evening he was suffering from shock due to a fracture of the right leg. He did not respond to treatment and died at 10.30 p.m.

Blamed Nobody

Henry Clarence Twelftree, shoe operative, 23, North-st., Rushden, son of deceased, said his father's hearing was very good, also his eyesight for one of his age. He was well able to get about, but had to use a walking stick.

Witness accompanied his father to Northampton Hospital and the latter told him that the accident was nobody's fault. He said he heard the noise of a motor van and turned round to shout, but children in the yard were making a noise and probably the driver did not hear him. He could not get out of the way quickly enough. He blamed nobody.

Hubert Laughton, aged nine, of 23, East-road, Rushden, said that he was standing on the pathway in Orchard-place about 5.40 p.m. on Friday, and saw Twelftree walking near to the centre of the road from High-street.

A motor van backed from High-street and the corner of it caught deceased and knocked him down, one of the rear wheels going over his leg.

Noisy Children

P.C. Redley, Rushden, said he took a statement from the driver, George Henry Dawson, of 4, South-terrace, Rushden, and in this Dawson said he sounded his hooter and looked out as he entered Orchard-place, which was very narrow.

He had backed about six yards when he heard someone shout. He pulled up and saw deceased lying on the ground on the near side of the van.

The statement added that a number of children were playing and shouting and no doubt deceased did not hear the hooter.

Dawson, in evidence, corroborated points of the statement. Replying Hales he said that in the ordinary way an employee of the box factory assisted him when he was backing to the entrance.

Dawson told a juror that he could not have seen anyone on the off-side.

The Coroner said that Orchard-place was very narrow and anyone walking to one of the 19 dwelling houses there, who happened to be deaf or old, or was not on the alert when a van backed, might be involved in an accident.

Coroner's Opinion

There was nobody on the lookout on this occasion as the man usually employed for this purpose was engaged elsewhere. The Coroner added that he did not blame the driver.

"I am of the opinion that there should be mates on motor vans," he said. "I do not know whether the proposition is commercially unsound, but human life is more important."

The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death and added a rider that vans should not be allowed to back into Orchard-place without a pilot.

Mr. Hales said he would personally draw the attention of his client to the comment of the Coroner and to the rider of the jury. He was sure the directors of the firm would give the matter their immediate and earnest attentions.

This was the first accident at this spot involving a van entering to the factory premises in 20 years. The jury extended sympathy to the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Hales and Mr. Tippleston associated themselves on behalf of their clients with this expression.

The funeral of Mr. Twelftree took place at the Rushden Cemetery on Wednesday, the Rev. Travers S. Stoney, assisted by the Rev. G. Brooke-Hunt, officiating. The service was at St. Mary's Church.

The mourners included Mrs. M. Twelftree (widow), Mr. C. Twelftree and Mr. L. Twelftree (sons), Mrs. Hussey, New Eltham (sister), Mrs. Twelftree (daughter-in-law), Mr. F. G. Wootton and Mr. J. Bass (sons-in-law), Mrs. Wagland, Yielden, and Mrs. Bennett, Newton Bromshold (cousins), Mr. and Mrs. A. Sawford (nephew and niece). Mr. S. Seddon represented Messrs. Seddon and Arlidge at the Cemetery.

Mrs. Bass (daughter) was unable to attend owing to illness.

[A list of wreaths and inscriptions follows]