MOUSE GIVES FATAL SHOCK

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 291, 4 September 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

MOUSE GIVES FATAL SHOCK

Scared by a mouse which ran along the window-sill of her kitchen. Mary Rogan, 65-year-okl eook. fell, hurt herself, and a week later died from heart failure. Tlie incident occurred recently at the residence of I,ord Runciman, Shoreston Hall, Northumberland. . At: the Newcastle inquest a maid stated: “I think tlie shock of seeing the mouse caused her to trip over herself.” A verdict of “death from heart failure, accelerated by an accident,” was recorded.

The country correspondent of a wellknown daily newspaper had one great fault in tlie sub-editor's eyes, which was that he would neglect to supply all the names concerned in his accounts of local events. Tilings got to such a pilei) that he was finally told that bis services would be dispensed with unless lie supplied the missing details. So his first report thereafter ran as follows:—

“This countryside was the centre of a violent thunder and rain storm this morning, and the farm buildings in the occupation of George Henry Brown and his good wife Mary, Ellen Brown were struck by lightning. Three cows which had taken shelter under an oak tree were killed, their names being Bessie, Mary, and Buttercup!”