Death of Susannah Scrivener Crannis

Date: 23 Apr 1902 [unknown]
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
Surnames/tags: Susannah_Scrivener, Susannah_Crannis Martin_Crannis

"DEATH OF MRS. MARTIN CRANNIS'" Fatal Fall Downstairs General sympathy were felt for Mr Martin Crannis, auctioneer and his family on learning that the serious accident which befell Mrs. Crannis as far back as the 23rd April, terminated fatally on Wednesday. As death was the result of an accident, an inquest was imperative. This was held before the Borough Coroner in the evening, at the St. Margaret’s Parish Room. The Coroner, in opening the inquiry, gave some particulars in reference to the distressing accident, which involved a severe fracture of one leg, and he made special reference to the valuable and prompt first aid assistance rendered by Mr. Thomas. Damant, the head-keeper at Christchurch Park, as a prominent member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Mr. Martin Crannis, who evidently felt the loss of his wife, very keenly, said, he resided in St Margaret’s Street. On Wednesday night of April 23rd, he was sitting in his office, when he heard of noise on the stairs. On immediately going to ascertain the cause he was surprised to see his wife at the bottom of the stairs. She was going upstairs with a mug containing milk, when she fell to the bottom, but the mug was not broken and she still held it in her hand. He found that her left leg was broken, and noticed one of her boots half-way upstairs. He immediately sent for Mr. Damant, whom he had known for years. Mr & Mrs Damant promptly arrived, and the former at once applied splinters to the fractured leg, & Mrs. Crannis was removed on to a sofa, and medical assistance obtained. Since then everything possible had been done for her. Mr. T. Damant head-keeper at Christuch Park stated that on the 23rd of April in consequence of a message, he attended the house of the deceased in St. Margaret’s Street. On his arrival, witness saw her sitting on the bottom stair, and an examination disclosed a comminuted fracture of the ankle and lower part of the leg, ankle and lower part of the leg. Splinters were procured, and with the assistance of Mrs. Damant he bandaged the leg up and deceased was placed on a sofa. Dr. Eades soon after arrived, and after that gentleman had set the leg, deceased was carried upstairs, and placed in bed. She did not say how she came to fall. The foot which was examined and attended to by witness had no boot on. Mr. S.O. Eade deposted to having found that Mrs. Crannis had sustained a very severe fracture near the ankle, both the bones being broken. Dr. Eades described the nature of the injure, and he said on calling the next day, he noticed that she suffered from no shock. She complained of no pain and appeared to be progressing favourable for 4 or 5 days, after which the limb somewhat inflamed and he thought it advisable to consult Dr. Brown. The limb was re-examined about the 7th day. 2 days afterwards deceased’s temperature rose, and it was considered advisable to amputate the leg just below the knee. After the operation under cholorform, her health began to give way, she having then been confined to bed for about 6 weeks. Dr. Brown was in constant consultation with witness the whole time. The cause of death was shock to the system. Florence Ellis, nurse at the Nurse’s Home deposed to having attended deceased throughout her illness. The Coroner, in summing up, observed that the conclusion to which the Jury would probably arrive was that death was due to injuries accidentally caused. The Jury at once returned a verdict of “accidental death"

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