Additional Capt. Thomas Purchase info

The Worlds Fair, 23 Apr 1932, p. 11, col 1

CAPT. PURCHASE’S DEATH.
TRIBUTE TO ASSISTANT TRAINER AT INQUEST.

Returning a verdict of ‘Accidental death’ at the inquest on Friday, on Captain Thomas Purchase (54), the lion tamer, who received fatal injuries when mauled by a lion at a fairground on Good Friday, the Manchester City Coroner (Mr. C. W. W. Surridge) paid a tribute to the promptitude and gallantry displayed by Richard Chipperfield, assistant trainer, in going to his companion’s rescue.

Mrs. Purchase said her husband lost his right leg when a boy, and all his life he had been training animals. He had had the lion that struck him just before Easter.
Richard Chipperfield, junr., showman, said at 2-50 p.m. on March 25th, there were two lions in a cage. When Miss Purchase left the cage after her dancing act Captain Purchase was stroking one of the animals, which was rubbing against his artificial leg. The animal seized him by his artificial leg , and as it pulled Captain Purchase fell forward underneath the lion, which then started to maul him. Witness said he picked up a feeding stick and dashed into the cage in an attempt to save him. The lion was about 4 years old, and a very quiet one.

Replying to the coroner, witness said apparently Captain Purchase thought the lion was playing at first.
The Coroner: You acted with great promptitude in dashing into the cage.
Miss Rosie Purchase said her father had been watching the lions while she danced. They had been very quiet, but when he started stroking one as she left the cage it went for his artificial leg.
She told the coroner she was still going on with the performance. Every precaution was taken for their safety, and things were handy to keep the lions at bay if necessary.
The Coroner: There is a danger that these animals may be all right, but some little thing may happen to upset them. It is most important that every precaution should be taken and ready in case of emergency. I hope you will be very careful.
John William Briggs, who was watching the exhibition, said it appeared as if Captain Purchase caught the lion with artificial leg. It seized hold of it and dragged him to the floor, and then mauled him about the back of the neck. He assisted to lift captain Purchase out of the cage.
Richard Chipperfield, senior, said the two lions belonged to Captain Purchase.
The Coroner: What has become of this lion?
Mr Chipperfield: We have sold it cheaply to a private zoo on condition no man goes into its cage.
The Coroner: What precautions are taken at these performances? There is every possibility of these animals being frightened by something.
Mr. Chipperfield: Everything is always done. No one on the firm drinks or smokes. There are sticks and bars. We were taken by surprise. This animal was like a trusted servant. Captain Purchase used to stroke it. They are sometimes like human beings.
Mr. Chipperfield said he knew of a case where four tame lions killed a strange lion which turned on their master. He added that they were always on their guard in cases of emergency.
The Coroner: I hope you will see the greatest possible precautions are taken.
Mr. Chipperfield: We always do so. This is the sort of thing that would not happen once in 1,000 years.
A police inspector said that when Captain Purchase was taken to the Infirmary, he had lacerated wounds on his head and leg, and other parts of his body.
The coroner, in returning a verdict of ‘accidental death,’ expressed sympathy with Mrs. Purchase and the family of the dead man, and said he was sure every precaution was taken at those performances. Mr Chipperfield was very quick in going to the rescue of Captain Purchase in a very brave manner.
The coroner added that there was not much time in cases like that. The damage was done quickly when a lion attacked anybody.

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The Worlds Fair, 23 Apr 1932, p. 16, col 4

FUNERAL OF CAPT. PURCHASE

On Monday afternoon, from 10, Hardwick Road, Acton Green, London, the funeral took place of Capt. Thomas Purchase, whose death from injuries received through being mauled by a lion at Easter was reported in our columns last week. Mr. Purchase died at Manchester Royal Infirmary on Friday. The interment took place at Hounslow Cemetery, where a large crowd of showmen and travellers had gathered to pay their last respects.

Representatives of the Showman’s Guild attended. The coffin was hidden by wreaths from all over the country.

The chief mourners were: - Mrs. Purchase (widow), Rose and Grace (daughters), Tommy (son), James and John (brothers), Mrs. Jane Abrahams (sister), Mrs. James Purchase and Mrs. John Purchase (sisters-in-law), Miss Tory Purchase (niece), Mrs. Josephine Purchase, Jimmy and Dolly Purchase (nephew and niece), Mr. L. Abrahams, brother-in-law (Forest Gate, E.), and Mrs. H. Barnett (niece); Mr. and Mrs. R. Chipperfield, Mr. R. Chipperfield, junr., Mr. J. Chipperfield, Miss M. Chipperfield, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. W. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Solly Jones, Mr. F. Jones, Mrs Netta Wilson, Mrs. and Miss Murphy, Mrs. F. Packer, Mr. W. Gurnett.

Wreaths and floral tributes were from : - Widow, Children, Mr. and Mrs James Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. John Purchase (Chiswick), Mr. and Mrs. L. Abrahams, Miss Rosie Purchase, Miss Tory Purchase, Andrew Purchase (brother), William Purchase brother (America), Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. R. Chipperfield and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Thompson (London), Mr. and Mrs. J. Rowe (Yeovil), Mr. and Mrs. Pat Collins (Wrexham), Mrs. Thurston and family, Jack and Doris Harvey and children (Yeovil), Mrs. R. Shufflebottom, senr. and family, Mr. A. E. Abrahams (Forest Gate), Mr. David Abrahams (Forest Gate), Mr. and Mrs. H. Harvey (Stourport), Mr. and Mrs. Bert Carr and family (Wrexham), Mrs. J. W. Waddington, the Tenants of Denbigh Ground, Mr. and Mrs. F. Kimber and family (Petersfield), Mr. and Mrs. John Chipperfield (Stourport), Mr. and Mrs. F. White and George (Acton Green), Mr. and Mrs. Ted O’Brien, Mr. and Mrs. Pryce (Acton), Mr. W. Beach and daughter Sally, Mr. and Mrs C. Smith (Acton), Mr. and Mrs J. Beach (Hounslow), Mr. and Mrs. T. Irish (Acton), Mr. George Beach and Jessie (Kew), Mrs. R. Shufflebottom, junr. and family, Mr. and Mrs. Heatherton (Chiswick), Mr. and Mrs. John Thurston, Mr. and Mrs. Danny Stevens (Chiswick), Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Jones, Mrs. Netta Wilson and family, Mr. and Mrs. Solly Jones, Corrie and Tommy Wilson, Miss Alice Miller (Chiswick), Mr. and Mrs. Freddy Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sedgewick and family (Liverpool), Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ashwell (Islington), Mr. C. Gurnett, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy O’Brien, Mr. and Mrs. A. Traylen and family (Staines), Mrs. F. Bowman, Mr. and Mrs. W. Stewart (Romford), Mr. and Mrs. Bolesworth (Romford), Mr. Tom Norman and Mrs. Norman, Mr. and Miss Jones, Miss Hilda Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Stewart and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. Wilson and family, London Section Showman’s Guild, Mr. Jack Manning, Mr. and Mrs. C. Manning, Mr. and Mrs, J. Biddall and family (Reading), Mr. and Mrs. W Pelham, Mr. H. Chipperfield, Mr. and Mrs. A. Harvey, Mr and Mrs. J. Herbert, Mr. F. Herbert, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Smart, Mr. and Mrs. W. Symonds, Mr. and Mrs. W. Lennards, Mr. and Mrs. H. Studt, Tippler White and family, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Taylor, Mrs. Rowe, Mr. and Mrs. F. Harrison (Banstead), Mr. and Mrs. Jim Botton, junr., Mr. and Mrs. T. Strickland (Watford), Kate and Chris Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Jack E. Nail (London).

The arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. Jackson, of Bollo Lane, Acton Green.

Courtesy of Jim Stockley