MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1937

“SAVE ME ALLAB, I SHALL BURN TO DEATH”

CHEPSTOW HUSBAND FINDS WIFE IN FLAMES

A woman's shouts for help when her nightdress caught fire were described at an inquest held on Annie Dibden, 65, of the Freemasons Arms, Nelson Street, Chepstow, when Mr. Fred Williams, Deputy Coroner, of Monmouth, sat with a jury.

Allan Dibden, the husband, stated his wife went to bed at about 11pm. He remained downstairs and might have dozed. At about 11.45 he heard someone shout, “Allan come quick, I am burning.” He ran upstairs and found his wife lying on the floor, in flames. A curtain was burning and, having extinguished the flam,es he turned to his wife, whose clothing and hair were on fire. She said to him, “Save me Allan, I shall burn to death.” She asked him to get a blanket, but he could not pull it off the bed.

Dibden added that he put the flames out with his hand, and then went to get a doctor. On returning he went to the bedroom and found that some moulding was on fire.

There was a lighted candle in the bedroom. Last September his wife had a seizure and was advised to go out of business.

Mr. Dibden added that his wife was partially undressed. When he entered the room he found a lighted candle on the floor. The bedroom was full of smoke.

Dr. R. H. Moody, of Chepstow, said he found Mrs. Dibden suffering from extensive burns about the body. He took her to the hospital. She was conscious, but was not in a fit state to give any explanation as to how the accident happened. She died on Sunday morning from shock following severe burns.

The Coroner described the case as a sad and simple one, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

The Coroner and jury expressed sympathy with the husband.

LLANISHEMN MAN DROPS DEAD

Albert Parsons, 63, of Llanishen, near Chepstow, who was seen to fall in the road at Devauden on Monday, died soon after he arrived at the Chepstow Hospital.

A Caerphilly doctor, who was passing in his car, saw the man stumble and fall. He stopped and rendered assistance and telephoned to Chepstow for an ambulance.

SEVERN BRIDGE PROJECT

ANOTHER EFFORT TO PROMOTE SCHEME

The construction of a bridge across the River Severn was again considered at a conference of representatives of Welsh and England local authorities and industrial concerns, at Cardiff, sponsored by Monmouthshire County Council.

The case for the scheme was put by Mr. K. A. L. Brown, Bristol, a marine surveyor, who said that the bridge which would extend from Sudbrook, on the Monmouthshire side, to New Passage, on the Gloucestershire side, would be about four miles above Avonmouth and 13 miles above Newport.

It would consist of 86 spans, supported by 85 piers, including two large anchor piers.

The Ministry of Transport were prepared to make a grant of 75 per cent of the actual cost, whichever was less, out of the Road Fund. Of the balance, 12 and a half per cent was to be collected by tolls over a maximum period of 20 years and 12 and a half per cent was to be provided by Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire County Councils assisted by other local authorities benefited by the construction.

“SHORT PLAYFUL TUSSLE” IN A LANE

CHEPSTOW MAN WHO MET A WOMAN AT NEWPORT

Elizabeth Taylor, of Feering Street, Newport, was charged at Newport Police Court with having stolen ten shillings from Clifford C. Webb in Screw Packet-lane, Newport.

Webb told the magistrates that he missed the money after “a short, playful tussle” with the woman.

Webb, who lives in Bridge Street, Chepstow, said he saw Taylor in a hotel. He had been on conversion with her during the evening. “We made up our minds to go the fun-fair,” he said, “and on the way we had a short playful tussle ina nearby lane, which we did not enter. After that the young lady left me suddenly, and I missed the money. I went back and found her, and asked her for the money. She said she had not taken it.”

He summoned a policeman, who interviewed Taylor.

Webb added that the money was in his waistcoat pocket. In answer to Taylor, Webb agreed that they had been together in the hotel from 7pm until 10pm that evening. “But we were not drinking hard,” he said.

P.C. Carter said Taylor said, “I have lost my purse with 7s. 6d. in it.” She she put her hand in her pocket, pulled out a handful of silver and said, “All right I took it.”

When charged Taylor told the Court: “I didn’t steal it with the intention of keeping it. I gave it him straight back after.”

Later she said: “I did it on the spur of the moment. We had been drinking together.”

When Taylor was bound over for six months, the Chairman, Mr. J. H. Vickery, said: “You realise of course that this is not a very creditable performance on your part. You are a young woman with a long time before you. Be very careful in your behaviour. We will give you a chance. If you don’t take advantage of this, and you are brought here on any charge again, you will probably be sent to prison.”