Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 09 September 1939
Fall from Window
Child Fatally Injured
Movements Drowned by Noise of Radio
Shock for Thurnscoe Parents
How a Thurnscoe child fell from an upstairs window and sustained fatal injuries at her home on Sunday without her parents hearing the noise of her movements, was explained to the Doncaster District Coroner, Mr. W. H. Carlile, and a jury at an inquest on Wednesday on Margaret Nuttall (21), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Nuttall, of 40, Windsor Street, Thurnscoe. The child’s father told the Coroner that he and his wife had left the child, who usually slept until 10 a.m., in bed and went downstairs. They switched on the wireless to listen to the war news, and this was possibly why they did not hear her moving about.
Heard A Bump.
Philip Nuttall, of 40, Windsor Street, Thurnscoe, collier, gave evidence of identification, and said he and his wife rose about 8 a.m. on Sunday leaving the child asleep in bed. About 9 am. they were in the kitchen and heard a “bump,” and then heard his father-in-law shout, “Come on, Phil.” Witness found the child on the concrete path underneath an open landing window. He noticed she was severely injured about the head and sent for Dr. Boyle, who saw the girl within a few minutes. She was removed to the Montagu Hospital, where she died on Monday. Witness did not notice whether the window was open when he got up. It opened on a latch and swung outwards. The sill was about 2ft. 3ins. from the floor, and was about two yards from the girl’s bedroom.
Usually Slept Until 10 A.M.
In reply to the Coroner witness said his daughter usually slept until about 10 a.m., and explained that they had the wireless on in the kitchen to listen to the “war news,” and that was probably why they did not hear her moving about. He had never seen his daughter playing at the window.
Albert Gough, Nuttall’s father-in-law, corroborated his evidence.
Dr. W. C. McGuire, house surgeon at the Montagu Hospital, said the girl was admitted to hospital on Sunday at 9 a.m. She had a contusion about the right eye and appeared to be unconscious. The child was badly shocked, and her condition was very poor. An X-ray examination of the skull showed an extensive fracture of the right frontal bone, and she died at 5 p.m. on Monday. The cause of death was severe shock following the fracture of the vault of the skull.
The Coroner said it was quite a simple thing. They could not say there was neglect by the parents.
A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.