The following distressing catastrophe was the subject of enquiry before Charles Best, Esq, Coroner, and a most respectable jury, at Badsey, near Evesham, on Monday the 28th ultimate.
On the evening of the 26th ultimate, Mrs Jane Scardefield walked down to an orchard near their house, at the bottom of which Badsey Brook runs, for the purpose of looking at some young trees. When they were about to return home, deceased said she would not go back through the orchard as the grass was wet, but by a public footpath which adjoined. After she had passed over a style situate close to the brook, Mr Scardefield heard her observe how high the flood had been, and in a minute he heard a shriek; he ran immediately to the place where he had seen her standing, and finding that she had fallen into the water, he immediately jumped in and, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in getting her on the bank. He then ran towards the house and called for assistance. Lieutenant Wilson, a neighbour, hearing the cries of the unfortunate gentleman, ran to him and inquired what was the matter. He said, “Oh, my wife, my wife,” and then ran to the brook, into which he again jumped. Mr Wilson ran down by the side of the bank and, about 20 yards from the place where Mr Scardefield jumped in, saw the unfortunate lady lying on the opposite side; he also rushed through the water to her assistance, but found her, in his opinion, quite dead. She was removed home as quickly as possible, and everything was done by her friends and the medical man who was shortly after the accident in attendance, but their united efforts proved unavailing.
The place where this accident happened is not deep, but the bank is very steep, and had Mr Scardefield possessed sufficient presence of mind, he might, by going a short distance down the brook, have easily got her out, instead of which, he attempted several times to climb the bank, and fell backwards into the water. We are sorry to add, that some unfeeling persons have indulged themselves by circulating most infamous reports relative to this melancholy case, which it is almost unnecessary to state are totally false. The Jury, on the inquisition, was composed of men of great respectability, and they, with the Coroner, were unanimous in the verdict returned, viz Accidental Death.
A more happy or respectable couple never lived, nor could two persons be more beloved by their neighbours than Mr & Mrs Scardefield.
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The tragedy was also recorded in The Worcester Journal of Thursday 15 May 1828, and in many other newspapers throughout the country:
Melancholy Event
The following distressing accident occurred at Badsey, in this county, on the 26th ultimate. On the evening of that day, Mrs Jane Scardefield and her husband walked down an orchard near their house, at the bottom of which Badsey Brook runs, for the purpose of looking at some young trees. When they were about to return home, Mrs S said she would not go back through the orchard as the grass was wet, but by a public footpath which adjoined. After she had passed over a stile situate close to the brook, Mr Scardefield heard her observe how high the flood had been, and in a minute he heard a shriek; he ran immediately to the place where he had seen her standing, and finding that she had fallen into the water, he immediately jumped in and, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in getting her on the bank. He then ran towards the house and called for assistance. Lieutenant Wilson, a neighbour, hearing the cries of the unfortunate gentleman, ran to him and inquired what was the matter. He said, “Oh, my wife, my wife,” and then ran to the brook, into which he again jumped. Mr Wilson ran down by the side of the bank and, about 20 yards from the place where Mr Scardefield jumped in, saw the unfortunate lady lying on the opposite side; he also rushed through the water to her assistance, but found her, in his opinion, quite dead. She was removed home as quickly as possible, and everything was done by her friends and the medical man who was shortly after the accident in attendance, but their united efforts proved unavailing.
On the 28th an inquest was held on the body before Charles Best, Esq, Coroner, when a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.
Mrs S was an amiable woman, about 28 years of age; the distressing catastrophe has plunged her husband into the deepest grief.