Hinkley
Saturday 11th May, 1901
SUDDEN DEATH OF A HINKLEY BUILDER
INQUEST AND VERDICT
It is our painful duty this week to chronicle the death of Mr. John Garner, carpenter and builder, Trinity Lane, which took place very suddenly on Sunday afternoon. As deceased was well known, not only in the town, but also throughout a large area of the surrounding district, the news of his demise will be received with profound regret.
Deceased was by trade a carpenter, and he also undertook building, having erected a goodly number of houses in the locality of Trinity Lane the whole work of which he superintended and carried out by his own workmen. Mr. Garner was apprenticed to Mr. Flavell, and after working his apprenticeship for many years worked for the firm of Messrs T. and G. Harrold. He was industrious and known to be a man of strict business habits. As is well known, the deceased was closely associated with the temperance movement in the town. He generally attended the meetings of the association, and on one or two occasions at the local licensing courts presented petitions in opposition to the granting of new applications. For many years Mr. Garner was a diligent director of the Hinckley Permanent Benefit Building Society, and in this capacity rendered signal help to the society. He also took a prominent part in establishing the coffee house (managed by the Hinckley Coffee and Cocoa House Co.) over a quarter of a century ago, and has since been a director of the concern. In creed Mr. Garner was a staunch churchman, and was a constant worshipper at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity. It may be mentioned that in connection with this place of worship he acted for many years as one of the wardens, besides being connected with other movements organised in connection with the church.
THE INQUEST on the body was held at the Union Hotel on Monday. Elizabeth E. Garner was the first witness called. She said the deceased was her father and was about 61 years of age. She identified the body. Deceased was a carpenter and builder, and died on Sunday afternoon. Deceased seemed quite as well as usual. After tea on Sunday he went into the front room and sat down on a chair. Witness was in the same room with him. About half-past five she noticed deceased to turn very pale; he gave two or three deep sighs, and then lay back in the chair. Witness went to him at once. She did not think he was dead then, as he was breathing a little. They sent for Dr. Hall immediately, but before the doctor arrived her father was dead. Deceased had never been poorly and she was not aware that he had ever suffered from his heart, as he had not complained of it. He had not been seen by a doctor for the last two years. Deceased had worked a little of late; he had been doing a bit of painting, but witness did not think he had been working harder than usual.
Dr. Hall stated that he saw deceased a short time ago, and he then appeared well. The cause of death was syncope.