Mexborough and Swinton Times March 19, 1910
Conisboro’ Drayman’s Death.
Thrown From His Dray at Ickles
Horse Frightened By Harriers,
Walked 250 Yards with Broken Leg
An inquest was held at St George’s Hall Rotherham, on Tuesday relative to the death of Edward Bell (67) of 86, Northcliffe Road, Conisbrough, who died at the Rotherham Hospital March 13 from the effects of a knee injury caused by falling off a dray near the Bessemer works, at Ickles on March 5.
Mr J Kenyon Parker deputy coroner conducted the enquiry.
Forest May Bell, widow, said she was with deceased when he died on Sunday morning. On Saturday deceased had an accident, and was taken to the hospital. He was conscious and said that when near Mrs Steele, Pete and Tozer’s some harriers came across the road and the awestruck fright. He was thrown off the dray and run over. Three of the harriers dropped out to pick him up. His right arm was broken and the elbow badly crushed, is right leg was broken and the ankle badly crushed and his left leg was out. She was told on Wednesday that gangrene had set in the right leg and that there was no hope for deceased. He did not blame anyone for the accident.
Alfred Doult., 3, Wortley Road, Rotherham, watchman at Messrs. Steel, Peech, and Tozer’s, said ho saw deceased after the accident sitting on a low wall between the tip and the ,spring shop. There were two harriers, with him. Deceasod complained that the dray had passed over his legs. Witness felt clown his legs, but could not find any trace of blood or fracture of any description. There was an abrasion down the front part of the nose, four scars on the forehead, and there were also abrasions at the back of the head. He put, his arm around deceased, who walked between 250 and 300 yards to the ambulance room.
The Coroner: Do you really say that a man with a broken arm, a broken right leg, and a badly crushed left leg walked between 250 and 300 yards.
Witness: Yes, that is true. Witness did not know the name of the harriers; there were some in Sheffield United’s colours, and the others wore blue jerseys. They were a mixed lot. Deceased was afterwards taken to the ho hospital. Witness sent a man home with the dray.
Ernest Downing., Station Road, Conisborough said he had employed deceased for four years. On March 5th deceased was sent from Conisbrough to Intake for a dray load of boards, and the accident happened on the journey home. Witness had had the horse about eight years, and it was a quiet one about 16 hands high. Witness explained that deceased had told him about the accident. When the horse shied the dray and skidded off the tramlines and jerked deceased of the shaft.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”