Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 30 November 1928

Tragedy at Theatre.

Manager Dead at End of Show at Mexborough.

When the company playing at the Mexborough Hippodrome this week completed their performance late on Wednesday night they were informed that Mr. Edward Ashton, manager of the theatre, had just been found dead in the bathroom the rear of the building. A gas tube, it is stated, was close to Mr. Ashton’s body.

It was the custom of Mr. Ashton to leave his house in Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, at eight o’clock in the morning and have a bath at the Hippodrome, before returning home for breakfast. On Wednesday morning he went out usual, but did not return. Not until 10.45 on Wednesday night was there any explanation of his disappearance. Then Mr. Isaac Bond, the stage manager of the Hippodrome, had his attention drawn to the fact that the door of the theatre bathroom was locked. forcing it he made the sad discovery.

Mr, Ashton was 43 years of age, and leaves widow and four children. He was a Freemason and a member of the Order of Buffaloes. As manager of the Hippodrome for six years he was a familiar figure in the town. He had a kindly disposition, and was ever ready to cooperate and assist with the loan of the theatre when possible in special efforts for the furtherance of local charities. In his career ho rose from oall-bov to manager, and before going to Mexborough held theatre appointments at Hull and Leeds- His boyhood was spent at Newcastle on Tyne.