Monday, October 11 – 1909
The last chapter in the career of Abraham Hartley, better known as “Abe” Hartley, an old football favourite, who in his time was the idol of the crowd, first with Everton and afterwards with Southampton yesterday afternoon, when an inquest was held into the circumstances attending his death, which occurred suddenly outside the Dock Pay Office at an early hour on Saturday morning.
Arthur Hawkes, who shared a room with deceased at a lodging house, told the Court that he was working with deceased in the docks from 5pm on Friday to 5am on Saturday.
They went together to the Dock Pay Office to draw their money, and while standing in the queue the deceased suddenly fell to the ground.
He was carried into the police office, and a doctor summoned.
Dr. Foster Welch, who was called in, attributed death to syncope, arising from double pneumonia, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.
Hartley, who was a native of Dumbarton, was with Everton five seasons, and played centre forward for Southampton ten years ago.
(Nottingham Evening Post, 12-10-1909)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 