DIED AT WORK.
COAL FOREMAN'S SUDDEN END.
The circumstances of the sudden death of Mr. Ernest Alfred Batehup, of 2, Eastwood-road, were the subject of an inquest conducted by Mr. C. Sheppard, Coroner for the Rape of Hastings, at the Bexhill Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Coroner, who sat without a jury, returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
GENERAL HEALTH GOOD.
The first witness was the widow, Mrs. Alice May [sic] Batehup, who said her husband was 56 years of age, and was foreman employed by Messrs. Hall Co., at the coal yard near the South Eastern station. She last saw him alive at about 5.40 the previous morning. He then seemed in good health and made no complaints.
The Coroner—Had he been unwell at all?
Witness—Not for a long time. He was in hospital for an operation last May.
But his general health had been good?—Yes sir.
Witness added in answer to further questions that her husband's work was heavy, but he had never complained that it was too much for him.
William James Simmons, of 2, Cumberland-road, Sidley, coal carman for Messrs. Hall and Co., said he saw the deceased on several occasions the previous morning, the last time being about 11.50, when he had just finished unloading coal from a truck into sacks. He seemed quite cheerful and made no complaints.
PAINS IN THE CHEST.
Edwin John Dyer, 1, Chandler-road, labourer for Messrs. J. Arscott, Ltd., said he went to the coal wharf about 11 o'clock on Friday morning to fetch some coke. Deceased helped to load the car, and they had a general conversation, speaking about football. Then Batehup complained about pains in his chest. He said he did not know whether it was indigestion as he had never had it and could not say.
Did he say he had these pains then?—Yes: he had two attacks whilst we were there and had to stop.
Did he become giddy?—No: he just stopped, leant on the shovel and knocked his chest. Afterwards he went on with his work.
Witness left him about 11.45 a.m.
Charles Vitler, carman for Messrs. Hall and Co., said he drove into the coal yard about 12.20 the previous afternoon and saw deceased lying inside one of the empty coal bins on the wharf. There was nobody else about. Witness jumped down and asked: "What is up with you Batehup?" but he got no answer. He went up to him, but seeing no signs of life, and "putting him down as dead," he sent one of the men to the goods office to telephone for the doctor and police and also to inform the manager at the office of the firm.
The Coroner—Everything looked ordinary; there were no signs of any struggle or anything of that sort?—No sir.
DISEASE OF THE HEART.
Dr. J. McCulloch spoke to being summoned to the coal wharf. He saw the body in the place described by the last witness lying in a half recumbent position with the left cheek against the ground. Life was extinct. The body was warm and there were two small grazes on the forehead evidently caused at the moment of falling. He had since made a post mortem examination. The stomach was very small and contained no food whatever. The left kidney showed evidences of congestion; the lungs and liver were healthy, but he found evidences of disease of the heart to which he attributed death. He was satisfied that death was due to natural causes.
The Coroner returned a verdict accordingly.
Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 14 May 1921, p. 2
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FUNERAL OF MR. E. A. BATEHUP.
The funeral of Mr. Ernest Alfred Batehup, who died suddenly whilst at work last Friday, to place at the Borough Cemetery on Tuesday, the Rev. E. H. Leale officiating.
The mourners were: The widow, Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Stevens (sons-in-law and daughters), Mrs. Wall (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. A. Batehup, Mr. and Mrs. J. Batehup (brothers and sisters-in-law), Mr. H. Batehup (brother), Mr. and Mrs. Hall (brother-in-law and sister), Mr. W. Newick (brother-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. J. Newick, Mrs. Croft, Mr. Heather (of Messrs. Hall and Co.), and several fellow employees....
Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 14 May 1921, p. 5
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Ernest Alfred Batehup of 2 Eastwood-road Bexhill-on-Sea Sussex died 6 May 1921. Administration Lewes 13 Jan 1922 to Alice Maria Batehup, widow. Effects £31 15s. 3
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