William Henry Skutts 1836-ca 1916

[Berkshire Chronicle, Berkshire, Saturday 29 March 1856. DREADFUL DEATH OF A FEMALE FROM BURNING. On Monday last an inquest was held at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, before J. J. Blandv, Esq., the borough coroner, on the body of Ann Pearce, 17 years of age, who had lately left her parents and lived in Hooker's Green, where on Sunday last, her clothes caught fire, and running out of doors, she became enveloped in flames, her body being frightfully burnt in various parts, and she expired at the Hospital on Monday morning from the injuries then sustained. The particulars of this shocking case will be found detailed in the following evidence: Sarah Pearce said "I'm the wife of William Pearce, of No. 2, Coley Terrace, weaver. The deceased was my daughter, and was 17 years of age last September. She lived with me and her father until the 31st of December last when she left her home, and has not since returned. I have not seen her since last Wednesday week. I knew she was living at a house on Hooker's Green, and I went there soon after she had left her home, and I begged and entreated of her to come home, but she would not. Yesterday, between three and four o'clock, a young girl came to me and told me that my daughter was burned to death, and was taken to the Hospital. I instantly went to the Hospital, and saw my daughter, who was in a painful state of suffering from the burns, and could not speak to me. Mr. H. W. Langdon said: I'm the House Surgeon to the Royal Berks Hospital. On Sunday afternoon, about half-past three o'clock, the deceased was brought to the hospital, suffering from extensive burns on the surface of the body and extremities; she was in a state of great suffering, and told me that the injuries had been sustained by her clothes having become ignited whilst sitting by the fire. On examining the body I found that there was great difficulty of breathing, and I discovered that the skin over the whole surface of the body with the exception of a portion of the face, chest, and soles of the feet, was in a state of disorganisation, and in a burnt and discoloured condition; her pulse were scarcely perceptible, but, from the administration of some restoratives, she in measure recovered. She appeared to me in a state of excitement, and under the influence of liquor. The case was treated by me as it appeared to require, but she got gradually worse, and died about one o'clock this morning; and my opinion is that death was caused by shock to the system, produced by the amount of injury inflicted, and most probably giving rise to inflammation of the organs of the chest and other parts. I sent for Mr. Bulley, who considered the case one which would terminate fatally in a few hours, which proved to be the case. Amelia Woodrose said: I live at Hooker's Green, a house kept by a man named Higgs; the deceased lived there and also another girl named Rivers. On Sunday afternoon, about two o'clock, just after had done dinner, the deceased was sitting on a young man's knee named Scutts, and her clothes caught fire in the place. She was sitting close to the fire, and there was a fender in front. As soon I saw her clothes were on fire, I tried to extinguish it with my shawl, but could not do it; and the deceased ran out of the house to the bottom of the yard, where a man put something over her, and extinguished the flames; and she was conveyed to the Hospital. Deceased was sober at the time the fire happened. We had only a pot of beer amongst four of us. William Scutts had been in the house about an hour, and he assisted in putting out the fire, and burnt his hands. William Higgs said: l am a blacksmith, and live at No.2 Hooker's Green. I pay 4s. week for the house, and let out the rooms by the week. I have sometimes "ladies" and sometimes "gentlemen." Yesterday I had three lodgers, the deceased, Amelia Woodrose, and Mary Ann Rivers. William Scutts was at the house. About ten minutes past three o'clock I heard a screaming, and soon after saw the deceased come out of the room with her clothes on fire. I attempted to stop her as she passed me, but she knocked me down and ran about ten yards, when man named Freeman threw a sack over her, and she was taken to the hospital. They were all sober. After bearing the evidence, the jury returned verdict of "Accidental death."] [Reading Mercury Saturday 21 January 1860. Mysterious Robbery. On Monday evening last, between seven and eight o'clock, the bedroom window of the lodge situate at the east end of Victoria Square, occupied by Mr. W. Scutts, was opened and four blankets, two linen sheets, and a patchwork quilt were stolen from the bed. The bedroom being situated on the first floor, the thief was enabled to remove the articles by the window whilst standing outside, and he must have been very quiet in his movements, as we understand that both Mrs. Scutts and her son were sitting at tea at the time. The police have endeavoured to recover the lost articles, but without success.] [W H Skutts is unknown on the 1861-71-81-91 Censuses.] [W H Skutts - 80yr.]