Death
We regret to record the death of Mrs Caroline Jackson, of Harestreet Road.
The deceased, who has been a widow for some ten years, was 74 years of age and was an old and respected inhabitant of the district.
Her death took place at Westmill on Monday during a visit to her daughter. She leaves a grown-up family of seven (sons and daughters).
Passing of a Good and Faithful Friend
What appears to have been one of the most sensible and faithful dogs that has lived in the town of Buntingford died last Friday night, at the advanced age of 14 years.
He was known as "Boy Sparkes." He had numerous friends, and was not only known in the town but most of the surrounding villages.
He was a curly retriever and was reared on an Allenbury's feeding bottle, as his master had him at two days' old.
This dog had many singular ways. Here are a few of his tricks:
His master would send him to the Railway Station to meet a friend if he was busy and couldn't go himself, and the dog would bring the person home delighted.
He rescued a dog from the river round Pig's Nose, and would on being informed over night go to collect bones or anything from his many friends in the town and would always bring these home.
One evening his master had been to visit a friend and left his stick on the back of the chair in the room he was sitting. On walking home his master met another friend, and during the little conversation with him realised he was minus his stick, and said "I have left my stick up the street." The dog, on hearing this, went and barked and shook the door where he had been with his master.
When the door was opened he walked through to this room and got the stick off the back of the chair and brought it to where his master was still in conversation. The marvellous thing about this is that the dog was not told to fetch the forgotten stick, but simple [sic] overheard the remark.
"Boy" was a keen football and motorist. He was in a habit of gatherine flowers on his Sunday morning wals. Being so fond of flowers, he is buried in his master's garden near the bridge, and many of his old friends now visit his grave on which is a bunch of wild flowers, as he used to gather, bearing this token:
"In memory of a dear faithful friend, gathered from where he and his master used to walk, from his sorrowing master."
Goodbye, Black Chap.
Inquest at the Poor Law Institution
The District Coroner (H.F.J. Banham, Esq.) held an inquest, without a jury, at the Poor Law Institution on Saturday, July 30th, touching the death of Walter Benstead, 60 years of age, a labourer, who died as the result of a fall whilst window cleaning.
Stephen Baker, labourer, of Buntingford, stated: "I lived with Walter Benstead for about eight months. I have known him 20 years. He has an uncle in Buntingford, who is his nearest relative. I saw him in the morning before he went to work, and soon after he was brought home by Mr Postle. I have known him to be giddy at times. He would not see a doctor. The body I saw in the mortuary is that of Walter Benstead."
Mr Harry Postle, dairyman, of Salisbury House, Buntingford, stated: "Deceased has been in my employ for about seven years, doing odd jobs about the place. On Saturday last in the afternoon he was cleaning windows, which he has done several times before. My house is in the main street. He used a 20 round ladder with a 56lb weight at the foot to keep it from slipping.
I saw him at 11 o'clock when I gave him a pint of beer. He was quite sober. I saw him again about 4.30 p.m., when my brother brought deceased to me in the yard. He was being carried. His faced was grazed and his right-hand knuckles were bleeding. I bathed his face with cold water, gave him some tea and sent for the doctor. Dr Dixon came at once. Deceased soon came round and told the doctor he came over giddy. Deceased then walked round and went home with assistance."
Frank Postle, brother of the last witness, stated: "I was sweeping up the front near the deceased. I saw the ladder slip on one side - the weight was at the bottom of the ladder. As the ladder came down the weight remained in an upright position at the bottom, but was pushed out into the gutter with the ladder. Deceased came down and hit his head on the doorstep. When I saw him he was about 10ft. from the ground cleaning the window over the porch. His pail and clothes were on the porch. He came down the side of the door post rather sharp."
Mrs Julia Conyard, of Buntingford, stated: "I was standing in the High Street near Mr Postle's house on the opposite side of the street. I knew deceased. I saw him up the ladder; his pail was on the verandah. I saw the ladder slip out. There was a weight at the bottom. The ladder came down straight. Deceased fell upon his face and struck the doorstep. He came down with the ladder."
Mrs Ethel Milton, of Buntingford, stated: "I saw Benstead on the top of the ladder. I saw the ladder slipper - the foot into the road. Deceased was coming down with the ladder. He fell and struck his face on the doorstep. I saw the weight at the bottom of the ladder. It had rolled over on to its side."
Dr Richard Wm. Fell, Medical Officer at the Institution, stated: "I saw deceased on Sunday after he had been admitted. He was unconscious. He roused a little when spoken to. He had a slight abrasion on the nose and bruise on his right arm. The left side of the face was paralysed. He had a strong pulse.
There was every evidence of a cerebral haemorrhage. The caused would be a diseased artery of the brain. It would not required any violence to bring on the haemorrhage, probably carrying the pail up the ladder would be sufficient exertion to cause it. There was no injury to the body of any importance. The paralysis of the face was characteristic of cerebral haemmorhage."
The Coroner summed up after inspecting the weight, and stated that the evidence was not conclusive as to whether the ladder slipped and caused deceased to fall, or whether he pushed the ladder away and then fell. He would return a verdict of "Death by Misadventure."
Buckland
Death of Mr Edward Pigg
It is with much regret that we record the death of Mr Edward Pigg, of Buckland, Buntingford, a well-known Alderman of the County of Hertford, and a man admired by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mr Pigg had been in failing health for nearly a year, and recently he had been seriously ill. He passed away on Monday morning last at his residence at Buckland.
Mr Pigg, who was born at Barkway, belonged to an old agricultural family. He farmed Chipping Hall Farm for many years, and was one of the best known breeders of Shire Horses in the County, his collection of silver cups, &c., being very fine.
He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Herts in 1902. A staunch Conservative, he was a generous supporter of the cause, and took a particular interest in the Buntingford Branch of the Hitchin Conservative Association.
He was elected a Guardian of the Buntingford Union, and a member of the Buntingford Rural District Council in 1890, and held the chairmanship for some time. He was also chairman of the Ashwell Board of Guardians and a member of the Ashwell Rural District Council.
Besides County matters, he took a deep interest in all affairs connected with his village. He was a particularly good farmer and his men had great affection for him; his own quiet enthusiasm working wonders among them.
His wife, three daughters, and three sons survive him, and much sympathy is felt for them and other relatives in their great loss.
The funeral will take place at Barkway Church today (Friday), a report of which will appear in our next issue.
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Transcribers note: A copy of the following weeks paper does not appear to have been saved.