South Yorkshire Times September 24, 1949
Death in Cadeby pit
Due to lifting tubs say jury
There jury recorded a verdict of “accidental death” at a Conisbrough inquest on Monday on William Thomas Howarth Earnshaw (68), Colliery Road layer, 110 Hirst Gate, Mexborough, who died while at work at Cadeby Colliery on Friday.
James Benjamin Smith, deputy 16, Denaby Avenue, Conisbrough said when he saw Earnshaw late on Thursday night he appeared in normal health. Earnshaw was detailed to work with three other men replacing four derailed tubs.
William Pearsall, miner, 4 Parkgate Avenue, Conisbrough, said that after replacing the tubs he and the two other men left Earnshaw at work on the roadway. Pearsall said he later returned and found Earnshaw sitting in a manhole 100 yards from where they had previously worked. He thought Earnshaw might have taken ill and commence walking to the pit bottom, later sitting down when he felt worse. At first he thought Earnshaw was sleeping, but found him dead.
Doctor H Lederer, pathologist, said cause of death was a form of heart disease. It was impossible to say whether exertion would accelerate death. Earnshaw’s condition was such that death could have occurred at any time.
In returning their verdict, the jury stated that they considered the lifting of tubs had accelerated death