MISS WILKINSON'S DEATH

Chronicle (Levin), 25 February 1947, Page 6

MISS WILKINSON'S DEATH

INQUEST TO BE HELD LONDON, Feb. 22. The Westniinster" Coroner, Dr. H. Neville StaJford, has ordercd an inquiry iiito t'he causb of Miss' Ellon Winkinson's death, says the Daily Mirror. Witnesses will include doctors i(nd niedical staff from St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where kliss Wilkinson, who was Britain's first woman Ministcr of Education, died on February 0 in a private ward three days after admission. A post-mortem examination was conducted at the hospital and certain organs removed for analysis. The report of the post-mortem is now in the hands of the coroner who will open an inquest on Fcbruary 28. Certain findings in the post-mortem report, as well as his own private inquiry, made the Coroner decide that a public inquest is necessary. At the time of her death the hospital authorities announced that Miss Wilkinson- died in her sieep of heart failure. She was known to be suffcring from the effects of overwork but her sudden death eame as a shock as rejiorts issued the previous night indicated that she was recovering. Miss Wilkinsou was taken to hospital from her Dolphin Square flat. When she died certain facts were reported to the Coroner who agreed that a post-inortem should be carried out. The Coroner tlien authorised and signed a . burial order. Miss Wilkinson was buried in a* village churchyard at Penn Btreet, near Amershak, Buckinglianishirc. The Daily Mirror says that two weeks after her death rumours bogan to circulate but adds that the body will not be exhumed unless there is a conflict of -medical opinion. Miss Ann Wilkinson, the late Minister 's sister, who lived with her, told the Daily Mirror: "An inquest is 110 ncws to ine, The whole business is vcry distressing but I suppose liotliing can be done. " The Daily Express says cvidence will be given about some tablets which had been preseribed for Miss Wilkinson bet'ore she whs taken to hospital.