South Yorkshire Times, April 25, 1942

Wombwell Woman’s Mishap

An inquest was conducted by the Deputy District Coroner (Mr. S. H. G. Gill) at the Methodist Schools, Cemetery Road, Wombwell, on Tuesday on Mrs. Edith Ellen Grant (15), wife of George Grant, Wombwell, who died on Sunday night. The previous day Mrs. Grant had been injured while carrying out household duties.

It was stated that she was standing on a chair when the chair leg broke and she fell, injuring her back and side.

George Grant said on Saturday afternoon he wits working in the shop when a girl assistant told him Mrs. Grant had had a fall in the house. His wife told him she had slipped off a chair while trying to reach something from a shelf. Next morning Mrs. Grant got up as usual but later went back to bed. After tea she became ill and they sent for Dr. Dickinson. His wife died about 11 p.m. Witness said his wife complained about her back. She had had heart trouble.

A daughter, Mrs. Edith Marion Waterhouse, 19, Park Road. Barnsley, said her mother told her on the phone on Saturday night that she had fallen and hurt her back. She was told on Sunday that her mother, was not so well and remained with her until she died. Her mother had always had difficulty with her breathing.

Dr. W. B. Dickinson said that having examined Mrs. Grant he formed the impression that she had broken a rib. After seeing Mrs. Grant on Sunday evening and prescribing medicine he was called to her again and found her dead. She had evidently collapsed. Mrs. Grant told him she had fallen and hurt her back and had some pain in the side. The cause of death was myocarditis accelerated by the injury.

The Coroner returned a verdict of “Misadventure.”