Kirkcaldy - what on earth happened?

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:16 pm

I've a copy of a death certificate dated 11 February 1937 for my great aunt - (Elizabeth) Bessie Norcross (age 50). This soul died of a fractured skull, dislocated shoulder, fracture both clavicles and right leg. Bad enough.

But the entry above is for another lady (Ellen Jane Baxter) of similar age who died at exactly the same time (about 8.15pm) in the same place, of very similar injuries - fractured skull and fractured right leg.

These deaths occured at Dotham Toll, Parish of Auchterderran, Fife. The usual residence of both ladies is given as Chapel Village by Kirkcaldy.

Unfortunately I knew nothing of this lady's existence till recently, so no tales have been passed down.

I wondered if it could have been an accident at work or some sort of road accident - interesting that the injuries are both on the right side. No occupation is given, so no clues there. The two entries are at the bottom of the page, so there may be more victims on the next page?

Does anyone know of anything that occurred in that area at that time, or can anyone tell me the relevant newspaper of the time and where it might be archived?

Thank you.

Pinkshoes

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:24 pm

Hi Pinkshoes
How interesting. I wonder what happened....
there is an area calledDothan, just on the outskirts of Kirkcaldy (well it is now, but may have been a few miles from Kirkcaldy then) Dotham (with an M as you stated) Toll is just north of this near a small village called Cluny. Chapel home farm and a now built up area called Chapel is just to the south of Dothan on the OS map.

Places to contact might be:

Central Library
War Memorial Grounds
Kirkcaldy
KY1 1YG
Tel: 01592 412879
Fax: 01592 412750
E-mail: Kirkcaldy.library@fife.gov.uk

Open: Mon-Th, 10:00 - 19:00 & Fri-Sat, 10:00 - 17:00.

Extensive indexed photographic collection, newspapers include Fife Free Press (1871 to date), and Fifeshire Advertiser (1845-1965) with an index for 1845-1865. Indexed press cutting collection.

Local History Department
Dunfermline Carnegie Library
1 Abbot Street
Dunfermline
KY12 7NL
Tel: 01383 312600
Fax: 01383 312608
E-mail: DCLib.Admin@fife.gov.uk
www.fifedirect.org.uk

Open: Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 0930-1900; Wed-Sat 0930-1700

Extensive collection of books, articles, maps and photographs on West Fife. Newspapers include the West Fife Echo (1900-1932) and the Dunfermline Journal (1851-1951 incomplete)

If you do find out, please report back!

Best wishes
Lesley

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:29 pm

Brilliant Lesley - thank you so much. I'll give these suggestions a bash - being so recent

you'd think it would be relatively easy to trace what happened. Will post back when I find out (or not).

Thanks again.

Pinkshoes

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:33 pm

Hi Pinkshoes
See update above - the area immediatley to the north of Chapel is Dothan, but the toll is Dotham as you said.

Best wishes
Lesley

p.s. I would think that as you have a date rather than a vague "sometime in 1937" that it shoudln't be too difficult or time consuming for the libraries to trace it.

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:52 pm

Lesley I've had a look at the website and it contains some interesting stuff for people looking in the Fife area - excellent website. I've emailed Kirkcaldy library for suggestions, so fingers crossed.

Thanks again

Pinkshoes

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:14 am

Pinkshoes

Both death register entries have an RCE annotation in the normally blank LH column, which will be the result of these deaths being referred to the Procurator Fiscal.

It is likely that the RCE entries will provide a little more info, e.g., "as a result of a motor car accident" or whatever, or even a reference to an FAI.

David

joycehender · Post by **joycehender** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:09 pm

Hi Pinkshoes

I looked in the Scotsman for you and there is a report of the Fatal accident inquiry on 19 March 1937 - the women were both knocked down by a car. If you PM me I can arrange to send a copy.

Regards
Joyce

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:03 pm

Joyce - what can I say - you're an absolute star - I've pm'd you, but if I haven't given you the info you need, please let me know.

Thanks milllions.

Best wishes
Pinkshoes

pinkshoes · Post by **pinkshoes** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:29 pm

Just to say big thanks to Lesley, David and Joyce. The Scotsman article is really quite detailed on how the accident occurred - sounds like the 2 women emerged on to the middle of the road, arm in arm, saw the car and got a bit muddled about which way to go. Driver and his passenger showed no sign of intoxication, and although the condition of the car was a bit suspect and the Sherriff suggested the jury add this to their verdict, the jury returned only a formal verdict.

Once again I'm bowled over by the kindness of members of TS. Thanks all.

Pinkshoes

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:35 pm

Pinkshoes
Really pleased that you found out what happened, but it is rather a sad story, that both of them should die as a result. It certainly teaches you to be a bit philosophical this family history lark...

best wishes
Lesley