Gillingham Newspaper Report

Southern Times, Saturday 30 October 1880

An Inquest was held at the Queen's Head Inn on Thursday before Mr. J. Williams-Bell , coroner, touching the death of a child named Edwin George Peacock. The child was knocked down by a waggon on Monday, the fore-wheel passing over its body. The weight of the vehicle and its contents (the organ for Cucklington Church), were estimated by one of the witnesses at about three tons. The child was instantly carried to Mr. Woods surgery where it was examined by Drs. Dickinson and Prothero, and was also seen later in the day by Mr. Woods. The little fellow, however, had received serious internal injuries and from the first it was seen the case was hopeless. Not the least blame could be attached to the driver of the van, who did all he could to prevent the accident and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and agreed on the following resolution: "That although in this case the jury are satisfied that the death has resulted from unavoidable accident, they are strongly impressed with the danger caused daily to the children and inhabitants of the town generally by the reckless driving commonly practised, more especially by the drivers of the milk carts, and the jury desire that the attention of the police may be especially called to this, with a view to checking what they feel strongly to be a very serious and growing evil." The jury handed their fees to the mother of the deceased, who is a widow and who has only recently settled in Gillingham. The child had attended at the Board schools for the first time on the morning on which he met his death.