From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 10 February 1900. Price 1d.

WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH AT CANTERBURY.

The City Coroner (Dr. T. S. Johnson.) held an inquest at the “White Hart,” Worthgate Place, Canterbury, on Monday evening, touching the death of Louise Holmes, aged 69, a married woman living with her husband at 7, Worthgate Place.

John Holmes, a warehouseman, identified the body as that of his wife. They had lived at 7, Worthgate Place for about thirty years. The deceased was a somewhat delicate woman, but had been more so for about eighteen months. She was in the habit of sitting by the fire in a certain chair in the evenings. Deceased always liked witness to go out for a walk after tea, and on Saturday evening at about 8.30 she asked him to go out. He did so, and when he was coming through the Dane John on his way home, about eleven o'clock, his young man came running up and informed him that his wife was on fire. Mr. Prentice got to the house soon after witness arrived. Deceased was being attended to, witness was not allowed it go into the room. Deceased asked “if her Johnnie was in” meaning witness, but was unable to state how the accident occurred. The deceased had complained of pains in her legs and back, and Dr. Sworn had attended her for about a fortnight or three weeks. When witness left the deceased at 8. 30 she was in her usual state of health. She was sitting in her usual chair and was fully dressed. It was a coal fire.

John Holmes, son of last witness, stated that be was a warehouseman in the employ of Messrs. F. Finn and Sons. He came home at eight o'clock on Saturday evening as be was not well. He sat by the fire till 9.30, when be went to bed. His mother was then sitting by the fire with a Mrs. Hollands. At about 10.30 or thereabouts he heard his mother screaming. Witness went into her bedroom as he thought she was very likely there, but as she was not he went downstairs. There be found the deceased with her head against the bars of the fire-place. She was unconscious and could not get away. The deceased dress was also ignited. Witness pulled his mother away from the fire and put her on the floor and tried to smother the flames with some clothes. He was, however, unsuccessful, and had to call in some neighbours before the flames were extinguished. He went for Mr. Prentice, who soon arrived at the house.

Emma Potts, wife of Harry Potts, living at Castle Row, and a neighbour of deceased, stated that at about eleven o'clock on the night in question she was coming through the churchyard when she heard someone say that a woman was on fire. She ran to the house and found the deceased on the floor. The deceased's clothes were cut away and she was carried into the front room. Witness waited till Mr. Prentice arrived and then stayed till a quarter to three on Sunday morning, when the deceased expired. Witness had known the deceased for about sixteen years.

Mr. Z. Prentice, surgeon, deposed that he was celled to see the decease at 11.30 on Saturday night. He found her lying on a sofa. She had been undressed and was wrapped in blankets. She was in great pain and was suffering from burns. She was burned about the head and neck, front and back of chest, face, both arms, especially the right, and the lower part of her body. Witness dressed the rounds. She was unable to make any statement as to how the accident occurred. The deceased passed away at about a quarter to three on Sunday morning. Death was caused by burns and subsequent shock.

The Coroner briefly summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”