Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 August 1887
The Sad Burning Case at Mexboro’
The inquiry touching the death of Elisabeth Sutton, wife of Mr. Geo. Sutton, of the Manor House Farm, Mexboro’, was held at the Ferry Boat Inn, on Tuesday evening. The poor woman was dreadfully burned the body on Saturday afternoon, and succumbed to her injuries on Sunday evening. Mr. Thos. Bennett was chosen f roman of the jury.
Mr. Geo. Sutton, husband of deceased, said he was a farmer, and lived at Mexboro.’ His wife had been a healthy woman until the last two months. Doctor Sykes attended her occasionally for her ears, as witness understood. She was in a weak state mentally; in a wondering sort of way. She was low spirited, but had never threatened to commit suicide.
The Coroner reminded Mr Sutton that if the jury brought in a verdict of suicide his wife would have to be buried at midnight. What they wanted to know was what were her symptoms of illness?
Witness, continuing, said deceased was in the room when he come out. Witness got his dinner at one o’clock and deceased ate a little meat and potatoes. He did not leave the farm that day; they were painting hello the gates in the yard. The last time witness saw her was at dinner. At half-three she came out “all of a blaze.”.” She was fully dressed. Witness got to her first and got her down, and put the flames out with help. Most of her clothes were burnt. She was burned chiefly on the thighs and abdomen. They got her into the house and put her to bed. Deceased had told Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Ellershaw that she was cold and went with her back to the fire, and her clothes caught fire. Witness believed that statement; he did not believe that she had committed suicide. He believed that she had met her death by her clothes accidentally catching fire.
By the jury: The doctor had told them to look after deceased. There was only the servant girl in the house at the time.
By Inspector Barrett: Witness did not hear disease say anything when they were putting the flames out.
The Coroner: The only question I can see is were you under the impression that your wife was responsible for her actions at the time?—No, sir
But you thought, although she was in a very peculiar way, that it would be safe for you to go from home; to put it straight, you did not think her sufficiently insane to send her to an asylum? -I did not.
Alice Cunningham said she had been servant for Mr. G. Sutton for two months. Mrs. Sutton had been poorly. She had been low-spirited for a fortnight. She had sat down and would not speak to anyone. She had not quarrelled with anyone. Just before 4 o’clock on Saturday witness went out to get some sticks, leaving deceased in the arm chair. About 3 or 4 minutes afterwards witness beard her scream. There was none in the house with her. Deceased was burning in the kitchen then, and Mr. Sutton went to the kitchen. Soon afterwards witness saw deceased lay on the ground in the yard with blankets round her. Witness stayed behind ; she was frightened, because she saw her in flames. Witness had not beard Mrs. Sutton threaten to commit suicide. She was not addicted to drinking.
By the jury: There was a large tire burning at the time. On the Sunday morning deceased told witness and Mrs Ellershaw that after she had been washed on Saturday that she felt “chilly” and went to the fire to warm herself and her dress caught fire.
By the Coroner: It was her opinion that she was set on fire by her dress catching fire. The advisability of calling corroborative evidence was then considered, but the Coroner said it would take a strong witness indeed to shake the evidence of the husband and the girl. So far as he could see on this evidence – of course the jury were en. titled to take their own view, and they were not bound by any view he (the coroner) took ; they were the jury and it was no use- having a jury unless they passed their own opinion for they were sworn to bring in a verdict according to the evidence —the poor woman who was undoubtedy of unsound mind, was accidentally burnt to death. There was not a particle of evidence to show that she committed suicide. She had said that she felt cold and that she went to warm herself when she accidentally got on fire, and from injuries received thereby had died. That was the evidence. The task of returning a verdict was made a little difficult by the fact that the poor woman was greater or less, an imbecile. When an imbecile was in a house by herself and met with her death it always raised a doubt as to whether she had committed suicide or met with an accidental death. They were relieved from that difficulty in this case by the evidence of the girl and the evidence of another witness who could corroborate her, who said that the diseased said she had got chilled and was warming herself when her clothes caught fire. It all tested on the evidence. If the jury leave the girl they must come to the conclusion that deceased had accidentally been burnt; if not they must believe that she had committed suicide.
The jury were unanimously of opinion that the deceased’s clothes had caught fire in the way described by herself, and a verdict to that effect was returned.
The funeral of Mrs. Sutton took place on Wednesday afternoon in the Mexboro’ churchyard. The coffin was carried from the house, which is closely adjacent to the churchyard, by several of the deceased’s lady friends and the relatives and friends walked behind. The coffin was covered with wreaths and beautiful dowers, and the service was conducted by the Rev. H. Ellershuw. M.A., vicar.