Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 29 December 1919

Wombwell Carter’s Death.

Circumstances which the Coroner (Mr. C. J. Haworth) declared needed further explanation were revealed an inquest held at Wombwell on Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Lewis Norton, aged 68, a carter, employed by the Dearne Valley Waterworks Company, and residing at 48, Hawson Street, Wombwell.

According to the evidence deceased was run over his own cart at the waterworks on the 10th inst., sustaining a broken leg and was admitted to the Beckett Hospital, Barnsley the same day, but was discharged ten days later wearing a “pot leg.’’

Rosannah Norton, a widow, said that on Christmas Eve deceased was lying on the sofa when he complained of pains in the leg and side. At his request she rubbed him with eucalyptus oil, but shortly afterwards he collapse and died.

Dr. D. Foley, King’s Road, Wombwell, who had performed a post mortem examination, said he could not understand why deceased was discharge from the hospital. In the course of his examination of the body he found that at the point where the leg was fractured the bone was two inches off joining, and could not possibly have “knitted.”

The post mortem examination also revealed evidences cancer of the liver and pleurisy.

The Coroner said he would draw the attention of the hospital authorities to the case.