Sarah Jane daughter of Thomas Medhurst of Chiddingly, labourer, and Eliza (baptismal record)
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Sarah Jane Newick of Earls Cottages Mark Cross died aged 69 years (burial record).
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Mark Cross Resident's Death
INQUEST ADJOURNED
At the Court House, Haywards Heath, on Monday, the Coroner (Dr. E. F. Hoare) opened an inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Sarah Jane Newick, aged 69, wife of Mr. John Newick, of Earls-cottages, Mark Cross, who died at the Hurstwood Park Hospital, Haywards Heath on the previous day.
Medical evidence was to the effect that there was a fracture of the base of the skull.
The husband stated that on the night of March 13th, about ten minutes to nine, he and his wife were walking down the road towards home and when just opposite their cottage he saw a light coming from the direction of Mark Cross. He and his wife stood back against the hedge, and the light went by. Witness saw that the light came from a motor vehicle and other vehicles followed. He then looked up the road, and could see a light a long way away. He thought he and his wife could get across and they began to cross. About halfway between the white line and their gate a motor bicycle came along without a light. It cleared witness, but carried his wife off his arm into the road, and she was injured. The driver of the cycle—a soldier—fell over. He spoke to witness, but he could not remember what was said then. Afterwards he told witness he was sorry and said he must cheer up. Witness was too upset to take much notice of the soldier. His wife was taken to the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, and was afterwards removed to Hurstwood Park Hospital.
Replying to Sergt Avis, witness said the motor cyclist was on his wrong side of the road, but this was because of the presence of a lorry.
The inquiry was adjourned until Monday for the attendance of other witnesses.
Sussex Agricultural Express, 26 March 1943, p. 5
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Mark Cross Fatality
ADJOURNED INQUEST
At the Court House, Haywards Heath, on Monday, the inquest was resumed by Dr. E. F. Hoare concerning the death of Mrs. Sarah Jane Newick, aged 69, wife of Mr. John Newick, of Earls-cottage, Mark Cross, who was fatally injured in a road accident near her home on the evening of March 13th.
Fusilier William Owen Andrews stated that on March 13th he was riding an Army motor cycle from Mark Cross towards Hawkhurst, and was overtaking a number of vehicles. Fusilier Thomas John Roberts was with him on a motor cycle. Before the accident, witness did not see anyone on the road, but as it occurred he saw deceased and her husband walking. Witness was behind Roberts. He saw that Mrs. Newick was holding her husband's arm, but she released hold and walked into Robert's machine. Witness stopped at once and rendered assistance. Roberts had his cycle fully under control and he was not thrown off.
Fusilier Roberts told the Coroner that he saw deceased and her husband in front of a truck which he was about to overtake. The truck stopped dead and witness collided with Mrs. Newick, who fell. Before the accident the truck would hide anyone starting to cross the road as deceased and her husband were doing. Witness had a light on his machine.
Sergt E. Packham, of Mark Cross, also gave evidence, saying that the road at the scene of the accident was about 19ft. wide.
The Coroner, in recording a verdict of "Accidental death," expressed sympathy with the husband and said he did not feel that the drivers of the lorry or Roberts were to blame for the accident, as Mr. and Mrs. Newick ran considerable risk in crossing the road when vehicles were passing along it. Roberts, too, would have difficulty in seeing them in the circumstances.
Sussex Agricultural Express, 2 April 1943, p. 5
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