Killed While Walking Home

A Miner named Henry Joyner, aged 53, a widower, residing at Firbeck street, Denaby was killed on Wednesday, while making his way from his working place in the Montagu district of the Denaby Colliery to the pit bottom.

The deceased, it appears, had completed his morning shift, and was walking along the road when caught by a run of tubs and badly crushed, death taking place a few minutes later.

Inquest.

On Friday October 27^th, Mr. F.E. Nicholson, District Coroner, held an inquest at the Denaby Main Hotel, relative to the death of Henry Joyner, aged fifty three, a by-worker, employed at Denaby Main Colliery, and lodging at 53 Balby Street, Denaby Main.

There were present, Mr. J. Walker, Chief H.M. Inspector of Mines, Mr. C. Bury, manager of the Denaby Main Colliery, representing the Colliery Company.

Deceased´s landlord gave evidence of identification, and said when the body was brought back to his house there was a great gash in the head, with the brains protruding. The injuries were severe. Deceased was a temperate and steady man.

John Pickering, filler at Denaby Main Colliery, said at half past one on Wednesday October 25^th, he came across the deceased in the Montagu Plane, there was an empty run of tubs coming down, and a full run coming up. Witness was by the side of the fifth empty, Shepherd shouted to him “Full Uns” as a warning, and witness held back. Deceased was walking between the two runs, and caught hold of the front of the full tubs, which partially twisted him round, the tubs then knocked him down, and he was carried in front of the tubs for two or three yards. Witness caught hold of his arm by the coat and tried to pull him away, but he was forced to leave go. Three tubs went over the deceased. When the tubs were stopped, witness went with the assistance of Shepherd and got him out.

In reply to the Foreman of the jury, witness said there were man-holes for men to get in when tubs were passing.

Answering the Inspector, witness did not think anyone was to blame for the accident, had he not tripped he would have been alright.

The Inspector said the tubs were going at a rate of not more than 2 ½ miles per hour.

Henry Shepherd, of 87 Doncaster Road, miner, employed at Denaby Main pit, said the deceased was walking at the side of the first full tub and then there came a shout. Witness signalled for the tubs to be stopped, and when he went to look he found the deceased under the third and fourth tub. He was alive but not conscious.

Answering questions, witness said the deceased knew his way about, and had worked in the mine for sixteen or seventeen years. Witness thought it was a pure accident, and could not suggest anything to prevent a similar accident.

Mr. C. Bury, said that this was the first fatal accident of this kind that had occurred at the colliery.

George Farmer said he had been employed at Denaby Main Colliery for eight years, he had just gone down the mine on Wednesday, when his attention was drawn to the accident. He went and found the deceased lying on the full road of the Montagu Plane with his head towards the pit-bottom and unconscious. The tubs had been got clear of him, deceased died whilst he was examining him.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.