Conisborough Man Dies in Street – Victim of Heart Attack

April 1938

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 1, 1938

Conisborough Man Dies in Street
Victim of Heart Attack
Head Injury Not Responsible For Death
Apparent Recovery from Illness

“Death from Natural Causes” was the verdict recorded by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile) at an inquest at the “Star” Hotel, Conisborough, on Wednesday, on Bill Curtis (63) labourer, of 113, Doncaster Road, Conisborough, who collapsed in the street, on Monday evening and died almost at once.

Ill for Three Months.

Minnie Curtis, the widow, said her husband had been ill for three months and had not worked during that time. He left the house on Monday at about 7 p.m. and seemed in normal health—even better than of late. He was brought home about 7.40 p.m. and was then dead.

Joseph Duncan Birdsall, bricklayers’ labourer, 9, Minnymore Lane, Conisborough, told the Coroner that he went into Gregson’s shop in Doncaster Road at about 7.30. Coming out a few minutes later he saw a man lying on the pavements on the opposite side of the road.

He recognised the man and went up to him and spoke to him, but got no reply.

Curtis was unconscious and had a cut on the back of his- head. He (witness) waited until someone came along and then went to fetch a doctor.

Doctor’s Evidence

Dr. D. M. Bell, Conisborough, said that he had attended Curtis for a long time and had been visiting him regularly since October 29th. At first he complained of lumbago but latterly he had been subject to heart attacks and he (the Doctor) formed, the opinion that he was suffering from myocarditis. He last saw his patient at 4 o’clock on the day of his death, and he then seemed to be very iII.

The Doctor said he had examine the body after death and found a laceration on the back of the head which, he thought, was caused by his head striking he ground when he fell. There was, however no fracture of the skull and in his opinion death was due to myocarditis. He was of the opinion that Curtis had had a heart attack walking along the road and had fallen and died almost at once.