THE TRAGIC DEATH OF ROSALINE MARY BELLAMY
WALKLEY SHEFFIELD 1930
"I am sorry I have bothered to sum up to you"
In the far corner of Sheffield's Crookes Cemetery in Section HH. And in this section is the BELLAMY family grave
Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield October 2006 - section HH is in the far corner adjacent to the boundary hedge
The grave holds five members of the Bellamy family
BELLAMY, Agnes Louise (Wife of Herbert, age 38).
Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on May 2, 1931 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 4504, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
BELLAMY, Clara Emma (Wife of David Hy, age 58).
Died at Royal Infirmary; Buried on September 22, 1921 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 4504, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
BELLAMY, David Henry (Labourer, age 64).
Died at Royal Infirmary; Buried on April 14, 1928 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 4504, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
BELLAMY, Kathleen (Spinster, age 23).
Died at Nether Edge Hospital; Buried on April 18, 1945 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 4504, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
BELLAMY, Rosalie Mary (Daug of Herbert, age 10).
Died at Royal Hospital; Buried on August 16, 1930 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 4504, Section HH of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield.
But the ten year old girl Rosaline who was buried on 16th was
a victim of a traffic accident in Walkley four days earlier that left the
Sheffield City Coroner Mr J Kenyon Parker is what only be termed a highly
agitated state. The Manchester Guardian dated 22nd August 1930 gave this report
of the Inquest into Rosaline's death.
The Sheffield Daily Independent dated 22nd August 1930 also ran a report on the case
It is clear that Mr J Kenyon Parker thought the evidence presented to the jury was more than sufficient for them to return what he termed a "criminal verdict." More than one witness said that excessive speed was responsible for the accident, and one witness even estimated that it was in the region of 35mph.
And so why was a verdict of accidental death returned when all the evidence pointed to a degree of careless or reckless behaviour on the part of William Badger. The "criminal verdict" that the Coroner wanted to be returned would be one of manslaughter as the law stood at the time, and juries were often reluctant to return such a verdict. A verdict of manslaughter would have meant that William Badger would have been charged and if proven guilty in the criminal courts would have spent a considerable time in prison.
And what of William Badger. At the time of the accident he
was 21 years old (Births Mar 1909 -
Badger William Lawrence Ecclesall B. Vol 9c Page 473). Four years later
he married a Miss Mary Winter.
Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1934
Badger William L Winter Ecclesall B. 9c 1048
Winter Mary Badger Ecclesall B. 9c 1048
He was still living in the area at the time of his marriage. In fact William died in Sheffield at the age of 64 in 1973
Name: William Lawrence Badger
Death Age: 64
Birth Date: 21 Dec 1908
Registration Date: Jul 1973 Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration district: Sheffield Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
Volume: 2d Page: 806
Sources
Free BMD
Sheffield Daily Independent dated 22nd August 1930
The Manchester Guardian dated 22nd August 1930
This page was last updated on 15/05/20 09:44