Skegness Magazine

MYSTERY OF SKEGNESS POLICEMAN’S DEATH
WHAT CAUSED MOTOR CYCLE TO BURST INTO FLAMES ?
MOTOR ENGINEER’S THEORY
DECEASED’S COMRADE COMPLIMENTED BY CORONER’S JURY

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A public inquiry into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Police Constable Walter Mapleson, a native of 11, Henry Street, Lincoln, and stationed at Skegness, who died on Wednesday last as the result of burns received by his motor cycle bursting into flames, was held at Skegness, by Dr. F. J. Walker, Coroner for the Spilsby District, on Thursday last.
Mr. W. Gee was foreman of the Jury, the other members being Messrs. F. Cary, A. E. Barlow, W. J. Ridout, J. H. Green, J C. Chapman, E. Kelly and J. Knowles.
Mr, F. Acton, C.B.E., Chairman of the Lindsey Quarter Sessions, and one of the Skegness Magistrates, was also present
Walter Mapleson, signal painter, 11, Henry Street, Lincoln, identified the body as that of his 23-year-old son, a member of the Lincolnshire Constabulary. The last time he saw him was five months ago.
COMPANION’S EVIDENCE
Police Constable William Billson, stationed at Skegness, and whose hands were swathed in bandages, said he went with deceased on Tuesday evening to a friendly football match between Spilsby Town and the Spilsby Area Police, witness riding on the pillion. Witness played, and Mapleson, who was reserve, acted as linesman. The game finished about 8.30, and they changed and called at the George Hotel, where they had three glasses of beer. About 9.20 deceased went to see if he had enough carbide in his lamp and if his generator was in order. Witness lighted the front lamp, and deceased the back, and they set off immediately after. When within about one-and-a-half miles of Skegness witness felt the machine give a slight bump, and simultaneously the front part of the motor cycle burst into flames. Witness was pitched off the machine into a ditch on the left side of the road, deceased probably losing control because of the flames. The next thing was that he saw Mapleson running across the road towards witness with his rubber coat all in flames. By this time he had got into the same ditch, and deceased called out “Take off my coat.” Witness took off his own overcoat and tried to smother the flames, but without any result. He then tried to beat the flames with the coat but his efforts were fruitless. All the time deceased was struggling and calling out “Take off my coat”. At last they succeeded, but his other clothing had caught alight as well. Just after he had stripped him of everything but his collar and tie, boots, and part of a vest, a taxi-driver came up.

FLAMES FROM THE FRONT
Asked by Mr. Ridout whether he thought the rubber coat had caught fire from the heated engine, witness replied that the flames came from the front. In reply to Mr. Kelly, witness said it was the swerve of the machine which threw him off.
Recalled later, witness said they stopped at Burgh fo ra pint of beer at Mr. Loft’s.

Questioned by Supt. Epton, witness said there was no suggestion that the beer had any effect on deceased’s driving, and he was as sensible as ever he was. He was used to taking an occasional glass of beer, and that which he had taken would not have affected his driving.
Leonard Rayns, taxi-cab owner, said he was driving a car from Burgh to Skegness, leaving Burgh at 10.25. About half a mile outside Burgh two men on a motor cycle passed him. When he got to the cross-roads he saw what appeared to be a fire in a field, and put on speed to set what was the cause. It looked about half a mile ahead. When he got to the Skegness end of the new bend which had been put down he saw a fire on both sides of the road. Going across he found Mapleson lying on his back in the dyke with P.c. Billson tearing his clothing off him. He helped to lift Mapleson out of the dyke and took both men to the Cottage Hospital. The ditches wets quite dry. Mapleson made no statement to him.
Police Constable Benjamin Baumber said he also played football at Spilsby, and started home on a motor cycle, with P.c. Wardlow on the pillion, about 9.15. P.c. Mapleson was leading, and he saw his rear light ahead frequently. They made a short stay at Burgh and he lost sight of him just beyond there. When within half a mile of the brickyard they came across a fire each side of the road, and heard shouts of “Ted” and “Ben.” Deceased had practically no clothing left on him, and they helped to get him in the car. Mapleson did not say anything about the accident.
In reply to the Foreman, witness said that Mapleson had ridden a motor cycle for at least a year and a half.
HALF SKIN AREA BURNT
Dr. Stanley Wallace said he answered a telephone call from the Hospital about 11 p.m. and found Mapleson suffering from severe burns on his arms, legs, and practically all over his body. At least 50 per cent. of the area of the skin was burnt. He assisted the matron and nurses to dress the burns, and administered narcotics. The constable was quite sensible and pointed out where the pain was most intense. He made no reference to the accident itself. Witness stayed until one o’clock and made him as comfortable as possible with morphia. He died the following morning at 8 o’clock from shock following extensive burns.

EXPERT EVIDENCE
Cyril Kay, motor engineer, said he had since examined the motor cycle, which was a 1928 model 32.5 h.p. New Imperial machine with overhead valves. The petrol tank cap was not of the screw type, being simply a plug to be pushed in and then given a full turn. This caused the cork to expand inside to the full extent of the opening. The connections of the lamp were in order but the glass was broken. That might have been the result of the heat. The engine, ignition leads, carburettor, and sparking plugs were intact, indicating that the fire had not sprung from that source. The petrol tank plug however, was only six inches from the lamp, and it was possible that a bump on the back wheel would swill some petrol through the hole on to the front end of the machine, and the petrol become ignited from the headlamp.
In reply to Mr. Barlow, witness said that live cigarette ash would not possess sufficient heat to ignite. It had been proved that lighted cigarette ash dropped into a tin of petrol did not ignite the petrol.
Police Inspector Arthur Corden said he visited the scene of the accident at 11.30 the same evening and found Constables Baumber and Wardlow there. The motor cycle and clothing were still alight, the former being upside down in the ditch with the front part burnt. They extinguished the flames. There was a 20-yards track on the grass verge, a Jump of turf being torn up in one place as if it had been caught by the mudguard.
After a brief consultation the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.” They desired to compliment P.c. Billson on the efforts he made to put out the fire while deceased was in distress.

The Funeral.
SKEGNESS COMRADES AS BEARERS
The funeral took place at St Andrew’s Church, Lincoln, last Saturday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Rev. W. E. D. Thompson (curate).
The principal mourners included Mr. T. Mapleson (Father), Miss Edith Mapleson (sister), Mr Frank Bull (brother), Mrs. Frank Bull (sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. Roberts (brother-in-law and sister), Miss Sparrow (fiancee), Mrs. Brewin, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Gilbert (aunts), Mr. T. Mapleson (uncle), Mrs. Graves (cousin), Mrs. Sparrow (Branston), Mrs. Barnsdale, Mrs. Underwood.
Among the many beautiful floral tributes were tokens from members of the family, the Deputy Chief Constable and Headquarters Staff, Lincs. County Constabulary, and officers and members of the Skegness Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, and P.c. Billson, who was deceased’s companion on the fatal ride, and his mother and family and Spilsby Town Football Club.
The cortege entered the church between a guard of honour, under Sergeant Good, of the Spilsby Division. The following comrades of the Spilsby Division acted as bearers: Police-constables Wardlow, Baumber, Starkey Davison, Haywood and Birch. Police Divisions of the County were well represented, among the officers being Deputy Chief Constable of Lincolnshire (Supt. Trigg), Supt Epton (Spilsby Division), Insp. Corden (Skegness).  Sergeant Fletcher and P.c. Mabbott represented Lincoln City Police.
The interment was in Canwick Road Cemetery.
(Throughout the above reports, deceased’s name has been spelt Mapleson, which spelling, owing to an early error, has been customary during deceased’s period of service in Skegness. The correct spelling, however, is Mapleston.)

Source: Skegness News 5th September and 12th September 1928

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The picture left shows a carbide lamp similar to the one on Pc Mapleston’s motor bike. We can see that there is a flame burning in the lamp. Could this flame have ignited the petrol which was said to maybe have sloshed out of the petrol tank?

Pc Mapleston gave evidence at an inquest some weeks before his tragic death: Overdose Man Collapsed and Died in Police Station