CHILD BURNT TO DEATH
Mr. J. Cairns Parker, Deputy Coroner, held an inquest at the King's
Arms Inn on Wednesday, touching the death of Peter Robert Wareing, aged
two, who died from burns. The mother, Mary Ellen Wareing, wife of Henry
Wareing, ironstone labourer, Leicester-square, stated that she left home
at six o'clock on Monday morning to go to work. She returned, and soon
after she left for the fourth time at half-past eight she was sent for,
and found the child badly burnt, and fetched a doctor.
—Charlotte Clements, a neighbour, said that at a quarter to nine
witness saw the child at the door with its nightdress on fire, and she
ran and tore the clothes off.
—Dr. Gibbins said the child was extensively burned, and it died on
Tuesday from shock.
—The father said that he left home at 7.10 a.m. He left the children
on bed, and shut in so that they could not get downstairs. He did not
know anything about the accident until he returned home about eight
o'clock. Witness went after the hounds that day, but they were a long
way from home, so that he could not get home before. Last week he earned £1,
and he gave his wife 15s. During the last six months his wages did not
average more than 12s. per week. Further questioned by the jury, he said
it was about twelve o'clock when he heard that the child had had an
accident. He was out at Dingley at the time, but did not trouble to come
home because he did not think the accident was bad.
—The Coroner said that the husband did not seem very fond of work,
and he treated the whole affair very heartlessly. He, however, did not
advise the jury to bring in a criminal verdict against anyone.
—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and requested
the Coroner to severely censure the father, which he did.
Northampton Mercury,
Friday 20 November 1903
Note: the child was baptised shortly after the accident.