Mexborough & Swinton Times April 24, 1936

Crash and Bump
Denaby Miner Crushed by Stone
Surprise Fall from Good Roof

While the nature of the dead man’s injuries were being described by the doctor at an inquest on Saturday at Conisborough a woman who accompanied the relatives collapsed. She was carried from the court and the doctor left the witness stand to attend to her. The inquest was on Walter Turton (48), 18, Holmes Yard, Green Lane, Rawmarsh, who was killed by the fall of a large stone at the Denaby Main colliery on Thursday morning; April 16.

Dr Joseph Maguire said that he was called to Turton who was in the ambulance outside Dr Forde’s house about 2:50 a.m. on Thursday. He found that he was dead. He later made an examination and found that he had extensive injuries to the head, the left forearm, the left elbow and the chest. Death was due to a fracture of the skull.

Mabel Wotton 18, Holmes yard, green lane, Rawmarsh, married daughter of the dead man gave evidence of identification and said that her father was a road layer employed at the Denaby Main Colliery. On Wednesday last he left home at 8:45 p.m. to go to work.

Under Large Stone.

Charles Binham, 27, Burroft Hill Conisborough, shot firer, said that about 12:40 a.m. on Thursday last he was boring holes for shot firing on the left side of 243 Crossgates. He saw Turton coming towards him examining the road when all at once there was a crash and a bump. It appeared that they occurred simultaneously and the lamp of the dead man came towards him. He ran towards him and found that he was lying under a large stone which was about 7 feet long, about 4 feet broad, and from 6 to 11 inches thick. It was so heavy that he was not able to lift it from Turton but had to call for help.

When assistance came it took about seven minutes to get Turton out. He then appeared to be dead. In answer to questions by the coroner, witness said that he had examine the roof when he was boring, and found that it was of good hard rock. The fall took place about 5 yards away from him. There had been no shot firing during the shift, and the last shot firing which took place was on April 7 and 8. He had not examined the portion of the roof from which the stone fell, but it was such good roof it had not been considered necessary to timber it except when boring was in progress. There were no breaks in the roof and he attributed the fall to weight. There was a slip to be seen after the accident which was not to be seen before.

Francis William Lote, 101, Tickhill Street, Denaby Main, shot firer, said that he heard a call for help and went to Turton’s assistance. At the time they were preparing to fire two shots in 242 back ripping. Shots had not been fired in the vicinity but some had been fired about 150 yards away. He found the dead man with his head towards the road and almost covered by the stone.

May Have Affected Roof.

In answer to a question by Mr Alfred Smith of the Yorkshire miners Association witness said that it was possible that the shop firing on April 8 and the night before had some effect on the roof which they would not have been able to detect.

In answer to a further question by the manager of the colliery, Mr N. Hulley, witness said that it was his opinion that the stone had broken away as the result of a bump.

Edgar Spurr, 73, Warmsworth Street, Denaby, deputy, said he examined the place where Turton was working about 9:10 and at that time the condition was very good. The roof had always been a good one and as a result he had not been for necessary to timber it.

The coroner said that this appeared to be a very straightforward accident. It had been a good roof and in consequence it had not been for that timber was necessary. But as a result of the accident it had been decided that in future when road repairs were in progress the roof would be supported for 10 yards in advance of the repairs by bars or “cockers”.

The journey returned a verdict of “accidental death”.