- The Western Gazette of 24/7/1903.
SHOCKING DEATH OF A WELLKNOWN SOMERSET AGRICULTURIST.
KNOCKED DOWN BY A COW.
On Thursday evening Mr. John Clapp Mallett, of Blagrove Farm, met with his death under tragic and shocking circumstances. The deceased, who was 47 years of age, was a well-known agriculturist, and farmed on extensive scale, his farm being situate between Glastonbury and Street the Butleigh road. He was also an occasional contributor the papers on matters agricultural interest, and his farm was regarded as a model farm, many of his fields being kept with the same trimness as a garden. His death came about in the simplest manner possible. [He] and a farm student were trying to catch a calf and take it from its mother, when the cow, a rather wild one, knocked him down, slipped, and fell with terrific force on the hard road, and [so] extensively fractured his skull that he died in about five hours afterwards without regaining consciousness. The deceased leaves a widow and three young children, and the greatest sympathy is felt for them in the district. The inquest was held at Blagrove Farm on Saturday afternoon before Mr. Mayo, deputy-coroner, and a jury of which Mr. Robert Knight was foreman. James Henry Clothier, of Middle Lee, Street, who affirmed, being member the Society Friends, stated that [he] was learning farming under Mr. Mallett, and came to the farm every day. Between six and seven o'clock on the evening the 16th July he drove a cow and calf from the field to the barton with the intention of getting the calf. The cow was rather wild. He could not tell how the accident, happened because at the time he was looking after the calf. He saw the cow bolt in the direction [of] Mr. Mallett, and he then turned his attention to the calf. He saw Mr. Mallett run, and then heard a thud. On looking round he saw Mr. Mallett on the ground. He went to him, and lifted up his head and saw that he was unconscious, and that blood was coming from his ears. It was a hard road where [he] fell, and close to the barton gate. He ran in and told Mrs. Mallett what had happened, and whilst they were carrying the deceased into the house he rode into Glastonbury for Dr. Blakiston.
— By the Coroner: There was no-one else about, and he could not tell how the accident happened.
— Mr. Knight: You think in running to keep the cow back he was whirled over on his head?
— The witness: Yes.—Mr. Knight: That is what all think.—The Coroner: You can only surmise, gentlemen. It is possible he may have slipped.
— The witness Clothier, [in] answer to Mr. Knight, said deceased only had a small stick with him. Dr. Blakiston, of Glastonbury, deposed that he had known deceased for many years. When arrived at the farm soon after seven o'clock Thursday evening he found deceased in bed. He was quite unconscious, and breathing very heavily. He was bleeding from both ears and nose. As the case was a serious one he sent for Dr. Knyvett, of Butleigh, and in consultation they agreed to trephine. There was a large diffused bruise over-the left temple, and examination revealed a fracture of the skull, which was pressing against the brain. The fracture was an extensive one, extending across the forehead, behind the nose, to the base of the skull. Dr. Knyvett and himself raised the bones as much as they could, and as witness was leaving at 11.30 he went upstairs to have a last look at deceased, and he suddenly ceased breathing as he entered the room.
— The Coroner: How do you suggest to the jury this fracture was caused?
— Dr. Blakiston: I suggest the cow must have run against him some way, and sent him spinning with tremendous force on his head. There were no marks of horns on his head. We should have seen them if there had been.
— The Coroner: In your opinion he was knocked down on his head?
— Dr. Blakiston: Yes; deceased was a strong, stoutly-built man.
— The Coroner: The evidence is not quite clear how the blow was inflicted, but he thought they might return a verdict that he was accidentally knocked down by a cow.
The jury returned a verdict accordingly, and expressed their deepest sympathy with Mrs. Mallett.
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