Ada Bessie Bailey

Ada Bessie Bailey was found dead in her home on Sunday 13 February 1955.

She was found dead in her kitchen with the gas on. However, all the doors were open and nothing had been done to prevent the gas from escaping.

The police were called to her house after her son was unable to get in. The police constable that arrived had a look round and found that the front ground-floor window was insecure and when he raised the sash noticed the smell of gas.

At the inquest the constable agreed that if Ada Bailey had had suicidal intentions ten she had done what very few people of that mind did and that was to do nothing to prevent the escape of gas.

The pathologist that carried out her post mortem said that her death was due to asphyxia due to inhalation of coal gas.

The Coroner returned an open verdict stating that there were many features missing in what could possibly be a suicide case and that there was not sufficient evidence  to indicate that the gassing was the result of an accident.