Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
There was a report about a horrific accident involving a three-year-old boy, James Foley.
BATLEY BABY IN FLAMES.
Played with Fire in the Mother’s Absence and Died From Severe BurnsFuller details of the death from burns of James Foley, the baby son of John and Emily Foley, 23, Queen Street, Batley, were given at an inquest in Batley Town Hall. A brief story of how the distressed mother found her three-years’-old son in flames and of his death from shock in Batley Hospital was given in last week’s “News.” [This was sister paper, the Dewsbury District News.]
Mrs. Foley told Coroner Maitland that about 11.30 the previous Wednesday morning she left the little boy asleep in bed, her intention being to go to a shop at the bottom of the street for eggs. Her younger baby she left at a neighbour’s house. On her way to the shops she remembered she had something in the house which made the purchase of eggs unnecessary. She turned back, and as she was coming out of the neighbour’s house with the baby when she saw her little boy James run out of doors in flames. He had on a little woollen jersey and a night shirt. The milkman, Mr. J. W. Hemingway, and others went to the boy’s assistance and he was rolled in a hearth rug and carried into the house. Dr. Broughton, who happened to be in the vicinity, advised the child’s removal to the hospital
The Coroner: Was he rather fond of playing with fire?
Witness: He was a while back, but he had got broken off. She added that the deceased must have gone downstairs to the kitchen fire, which she made up just before leaving the house.
Was there a fire-guard? —Yes, but I cannot swear whether it was round the fire or just at the side.
It was the father’s practice, witness proceeded, to put the fire-guard round the fire in the morning, and she could not say whether or not she had removed it. Asked why she did not dress the boy and take him with her to the shop, or leave him at the neighbour’s house with the other baby, she explained that on the previous day her husband, a teamer, had taken the boy on the waggon to Pudsey, and the fresh air had had the effect of making him sleep longer than usual.
John W. Hemingway, dairyman, Woodkirk, said he was delivering milk in Queen Street, when his son exclaimed, “Look dad, there’s a kiddy on fire.” The child was then on the flags just outside the house, screaming, and in flames. Witness ran and with his hands and cap, and with the assistance of others, put out the flames. He did not notice anything burning in the house, nor did he observe the position of the fire-guard.
Miss Cann, matron at Batley Hospital, said the child was badly burned about the legs and lower part of the body, and was suffering from shock. He was admitted at 12.30 on the Wednesday, and died the following morning.
The Coroner said it was doubtful whether the fire-guard was actually round the fire, but the presumption was the mother had taken it off to make the fire. It would have been wiser for her to have dressed the child and taken him with her when she left the house, but it did not occur to her to do so. He thought it had been an oversight.
The jury’s verdict was to the effect that the child died from shock due to extensive burns caused by playing at the fire, “but whether the fire-guard was on or not is not shown.”
Mr. W. Lane (foreman) remarked that deceased was a fine child.
The Coroner: And we cannot afford to lose such babies now.”
With open coal fires, or candles and matches, combined with flowing clothes and nightgowns, this was not an unheard of cause of injury or death in this period. As recently as the 9 February 1918 news round-up I included a piece about the death of another child as a result of an accident involving naked flames.
James’ death appeared in the Family Notices.
Foley. —March 29, aged 3, James, son of John Foley, 23, Queen Street.
Another inquest relating to a parishioner’s death was reported on this week.
HOWLEY PARK MINERS DEATH
Not Due to His Work but to Natural CausesAn inquest was held to-day concerning the death of Patrick McDonald (54), miner, of 6 Churchfield Terrace, Batley, who died suddenly yesterday.
The widow, Bridget McDonald, said deceased worked at Howley Park Colliery. On Wednesday evening he complained of pain in the stomach, and later the symptoms became worse. Next morning Dr. Stewart advised immediate removal to hospital, but death took place before that could be done.
Mrs. Annie Gallagher, Fleming’s Place, sister-in-law, said she heard McDonald say he had “got a twist” in the pit while working with a tub.
James McDonald, 3, East Street, said it was towards the end of a shift, and deceased continued working.
Dr. Stewart said yesterday he found McDonald suffering from collapse. A post-mortem examination showed perforation of the small intestine and trouble of some standing. Death was due to shock following perforation due to an ulcer. If lifting a tub had brought about the bursting of the ulcer there would have been immediate and serious shock. Death in his opinion was natural.
The jury found a verdict of natural death.
A parishioner was in court this week.
Two previous convictions were recorded against James Callaghan (19), miner of Churchfield Street, who was fined 20s. at Batley on Wednesday for being drunk and riotous in Wellington Street.
Pte. John Ryan’s hospitalisation was reported.
Private John Ryan (20), West Yorks, son of Mr. and Mrs. K. Ryan, 2, Russell Street, Batley, who entered the army a year ago, and had only been in France a month, has been slightly wounded in the head and is in hospital in London. Prior to joining up he was a piecener in the employ of Messrs. G. and J. Stubley.
The last piece, which I will not transcribe in full here, related to the Town Hall meeting about the opposition to divorce reform, which was previewed in last week’s paper. The crowded gathering, including St Mary’s parish priest Fr J. J. Lea, vigorously protested against the proposed reforms. A resolution pledging the meeting to resist by every means in its power the passage into law of any Bill making separation by mutual consent or a legal separation order a ground for divorce was carried unanimously. After the resolution was passed, a vote of thanks of the Chairman and speakers was passed, on the proposition of the Rev. A. Bluck, seconded by Father Lea, and supported by the Vicar of Batley (Rev. F. E. Lowe).
Past To Present Genealogy 