DORSET COUNTY CHRONICLE – 10 January 1889
CORFE CASTLE
FATAL ACCIDENT TO MR. F. C. CANDY.
transcribed by Pat Ashdown for the Dorset OPC Project
On Wednesday night about eleven o’clock Mr. Frederick Charles Candy, in company with
Mr. Dennis Dorey, were returning from Swanage to Kingston, the latter driving a spirited
horse in a two-wheeled trap. They pulled up at the Eldon Arms, the home of Mr. Candy,
and Mr. Dorey alighted, leaving Mr. Candy in the trap. He had barely tucked the reins
through the ring of the pad when the horse moved on, slipping on the frosty ground,
and started off at once. Mr. Dorey held on to the bridle for about 100 yards, when
the shaft struck him in the mouth and knocked him down and the wheel went over him.
The horse at the time was galloping at a furious rate and near the rectory gate Mr.
Candy was thrown out against the wall. Dr. Hawkins was summoned from Corfe, but on
his arrival deceased had been dead some time. Fuller details of the sad catastrophe
were elicited at the inquest which was held on Thursday, at the Eldon Arms Inn, before
Mr. Henry Symonds (deputy-coroner), and a jury, of whom Mr. Medd was foreman. The
body having been viewed, the following evidence was adduced : -
Dennis Dorey said he lived at Barnstone and was a farmer. On Wednesday evening he
and deceased went to Swanage together. Witness drove a horse in a two-wheeled trap.
They left Swanage about half-past nine, and everything went well till they got back
to Kingston. Then witness pulled up and got out of the trap, leaving deceased in
it. Miss Candy was standing at the door. Witness intended returning home in the direction
of Corfe Castle, and the horse’s head was turned that way. They both intended to
get out of the trap at Kingston. Witness had just got down and tucked the reins through
the ring of the pad, when the horse (a young one only broken in this winter) moved
on, slipping on the frosty grounds, and started off at once. Nothing happened to
startle the horse. Witness held on to the bridle for over 100 yards, when the shaft
struck him in the mouth and knocked him down and the wheel went over him. When he
fell the horse had got into a gallop. He did not think deceased tried to get out
of the trap, nor did he cry out. Miss Candy ran after them. When witness fell the
horse broke away, and a little way further on (close to the rectory gate) the trap
struck against the stone wall. He did not see what happened, but he was not insensible.
With the assistance of Miss Candy he went to the inn. The horse had never bolted
before, and had stopped there scores of times.
Elizabeth Candy said her brother (the deceased) was 22 years of age and had been
managing the Eldon Arms for her father. About a-quarter to eleven on Wednesday evening
Mr. Dorey and her brother returned, driving up to the front door first and then across
to the stable. She afterwards saw Mr. Dorey trying to hold the horse, which was endeavouring
to break away. It was too dark for her to see her brother, but she ran down the hill
and saw Mr. Dorey knocked down, and the horse run up against the wall. She picked
Mr. Dorey up and helped him home, and then, in company with P.C.Ellis, went to look
for her brother. Mr. Dorey appeared to be perfectly sober, and nothing she saw led
her to believe they were not fit to look after the horse. The horse was young and
she had frequently ridden behind it.
Richard Frost deposed to hearing the young men return, and to following Miss Candy
and P.C. Ellis to where deceased was found.
P.C. Ellis said about a-quarter to eleven on the evening in question he was near
Afflington barn, and the two young men passed him on their way to Kingston, and said.
“Good night;” the horse going at a good canter. When he got to within 200 yards of
the Eldon Arms he heard a trap going at a tremendous pace down Kingston hill. He
saw Miss Candy leading Mr. Dorey, who was holding a handkerchief to his face. Miss
Candy came out again in a few minutes with a candle, and they picked up two hats,
and then went on to look for Mr. Candy. About 60 yards from the Eldon Arms on the
right hand side of the road they saw the trap, and, putting his light under it, they
saw deceased lying on the ground between the gutter and the wall. The horse and harness
had clean gone and only a slight splinter was off the shafts. Deceased was entangled
in the step of the trap. Witness felt his pulse and found he was quite dead. There
were very severe injuries about the head and a large quantity of blood about, which
ran down the gutter a long way. Deceased’s left ear and eye and mouth were injured.
With assistance he afterwards got deceased home.
The Coroner briefly summed up, characterising it as a very sad accident, which they
all deplored.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” and generously gave their fees
to the Dorset County Hospital.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, when a large concourse of friends from
far and near attended to pay a last tribute of regard and esteem to one so highly
respected and beloved. The cortege left the Eldon Arms for the old parish church
shortly after two o’clock, and besides the immediate relatives considerably over
one hundred followed. The mournful procession included Mr. and Mrs. George Candy,
their second son and daughter, their third son and daughter, Mr. Charles Candy and
daughter (Bournemouth), Mr. Lewis Ash, Mr. And Mrs. Frost, Master and Miss Dorey,
Mr. T. Cooper (Messrs. Devenish and Co’s. representative), Mr. H. W. Green (stationmaster,
Corfe Castle), Captain Harrison, Messrs. F. Yearsley, F. Hibbs, Speed, G. Hobbs,
Dorey, James Whittle, G. Elmes (Wareham), C. Smith (Arne), Caines and Son (Renscombe,
J. Snook and Son, H.Stickland, Cleal, W. Stevens, W. Moss, T. Vye, S. Moss, Shittler.
T. Luther, A. Stickland, Pople Gillman, J. Williams, Senior, E. Smith (Corfe Castle).
W. H. Burt, W. Linnington, King (Herston). R. Hayman (Dorchester), Smith (Eastington),
A. Burbidge (Swanage), F. Jackson (Encombe), R. E. Pinney (Backnowle), J. Hughes
(Kingstone), and many others. At the church the funeral party were met by the Rev.
S. C. Spencer-Smith, who conducted the service. On entering the sacred building the
choir, under the leadership of Mr. W. Dorey, organist, sang the hymn “When our heads
are bowed in woe”, and, after the solemn service had been performed, hymn 197. The
procession was reformed and proceeded to the newly consecrated piece of ground, where
the body was interred. The corpse was conveyed on a hand bier, supported by six men
from Lord Eldon’s estate, and a large number of wreaths and crosses were presented.
Among those sending these floral offerings being Mr. A. Burbidge, Miss Danilly, Mr.
And Mrs. F. Jackson, Mr. Smith, Mr. And Mrs. C. S. James (London), Mrs. Evans (Dorchester),
Mr. And Mrs. Green (Corfe), Miss Vincent (Victoria Hotel, Swanage), Mr. R. Cann (Wareham),
Mr. F. Hibbs, Mr. G. Hobbs, Mr. E. Penna (Clapham), Mr. Bulpitt (Southsea), Mr. T.
Cooper (Abbotsbury), Mr. D. Dorey (Barnstone), Mr. J. Uphill (gardener, Encombe House),
Dr. Woodford Daniel (Wareham), Mr. George Whittle (Wareham), Mr. And Mrs. William
Merson (Bournemouth), Mrs. Hoare (Swanage), Mrs. Frost (Kingston), and others. The
inscription on the coffin was “Frederick Charles Candy, died January 2nd, 1882. Aged
22 years. Many letters of condolence were received from friends, who for various
reasons were unable to attend the funeral. The late Mr. Candy was a great favourite
with all who knew him, and much sympathy is felt with Mr. And Mrs. Candy and the
family in their sad and sudden bereavement.
