Sad Burning Case

SAD BURNING CASE.

Mr. Wynne Baxter held an inquiry yesterday at the London hospital respecting the death of Rachel Marks, aged 30, a single woman, lately living at 54, Hague-street, Bethnal-green-road, whose death resulted from burns. Edward Bagley, an engineer, 119, Great Cambridge-street, Hackney-road, stated that he was engaged to the deceased. On Tuesday he had made arrangements to meet her at her sister's house, but he was late, and she had left when he arrived. He followed her home. At 9:30 they were sitting opposite each other near the fireplace. She asked her to come and sit on his knee. She got up, and in crossing in front of the fire her dress caught on the grate, and she screamed out, "Oh, I'm alight." He took her in his arms to put the blaze out, but his hands were burnt, and he had to desist. He then ran to the door for assistance, and deceased followed and passed into the street, her clothes being at the time in one mass of flames. Two policemen came and took her to the hospital. By the Coroner: When the deceased caught fire she was in the act of moving her dress improver, so as to sit down on his knee. Witness had had some drink, but was not at all intoxicated. Police-constable John Roche, 47 J, deposed that on Thursday night he heard screams coming from Hague-street, and on going there saw the deceased running about the street with her clothes in flames. With the assistance of another constable the flames were put out, and the woman was removed to the hospital. Mr. George Ernest Haslip, house surgeon at the above hospital, deposed that deceased was admitted suffering from severe burns extending over the greater part of the body. Death resulted from exhaustion consequent on the injuries. The coroner remarked that it could not be too well understood that in case of fire air should never be admitted, as in so doing the flames were fanned and fed. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

Source: Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, February 19, 1888, Page 12