| Title | Albert Luty |
| Date | 1883 |
| Location | Yeadon |
| Photo ID | B146 |
| Comment | Albert Luty was aged 29 when he tragically died during a local cricket match on Wednesday, August 23rd 1883. Joseph Merritt Preston, a fast bowler caught Albert on the head with a cricket ball, a blow which proved fatal. A Batley newspaper described the incident: “The ball was fairly pitched but twisted queerly when near the wicket. Luty was in a bent position and seemed about to strike it when it suddenly rose and caught him on the temples”. To add to the tragedy, Albert had only been married for 9 days. He was buried in Yeadon Cemetery. Joseph Merritt Preston bowled for England and Yorkshire, in 1890 he caught a chill and died aged 26. He too was buried in Yeadon Cemetery, only yards away from Albert. |
V300 – Albert Luty, 1883.
Albert Luty – 1883
August 1883: Death of Albert Luty, Yeadon.
“Yesterday Mr Barstow, Coroner, held an inquest at the Town Hall, Yeadon touching the death of Albert Luty who died from the effects of a blow from a cricket ball while playing in a match at Yeadon on Wednesday.
The evidence went to show that in playing a ball delivered by J M Preston, the deceased, who was of short stature, stooped and stepped out to the ball.
He failed to hit it and so it rose suddenly and while he was in a stooping attitude it hit him on the left temple causing instant death.
A verdict to that effect was returned and Preston was exonerated from all blame the occurrence being purely accidental.
The Coroner, at the request of the jury, undertook to forward a note of condolence to the relatives of the deceased.
The funeral will take place this afternoon”.
Further text by Christine Lovedale, AHS Archivist:
Albert was aged only 29 when he died and tragically had only been married for 9 days, he was buried in Yeadon Cemetery.
Joseph Merritt Preston was a fast bowler who played for England and Yorkshire, he too was to die young at 26 after catching a chill in 1890.
He was also buried in Yeadon Cemetery, only a few yards away from Albert’s grave.
Image courtesy of the British Newspaper Archives, research by Edwy Harling, AHS Archivist.
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 04 July 2022.
Last updated: 05 July 2022.
