Mexborough and Swinton Times May 5, 1906
Conisborough Railway Fatality
Killed In The Foot-way
A straying child, an on-rushing passenger train and a young life cut down. Such were the chief elements of the story told at a coroner’s inquest, held by Mr. F. E. Nicholson, at the Denaby Main Hotel on Monday.
The victim of this railway tragedy was Ernest Hayward, two years and nine months, son of David Hayward, collier, 16, Glasshouse Row, New Conisborough. On Saturday morning, deceased wandered through the siding which connects Kilner’s glassworks with the Great Central Railway, and got on the four-footway, just as the 11 to 7 passenger train from Mexborough to Doncaster was travelling to the spot. Neither the driver or fireman observed the child and the train knocked the little one down, and went on its way.
David Hayward (father) said the deceased was two years and nine months old. Witness last saw him alive on Saturday morning, about 20 to 10. He had taken him out for a walk, and sent him back home with a nephew. Witness was later told of the accident by his daughter, Elsie, and he immediately went home, where he found the doctor. The boy had been struck at the back of the head. The gates near Kilner’s glass were open, and after a child had gone through there was no protection for them from the line.
A juryman said he had seen several railings bulged, so that children could get through.
Further questions elicited the information that the gates were only closed at night.
A jury man asked if any repairs have been done to the railing since the accident, and it appeared some of the rails had since been straightened.
Frank Taylor, 26, West Street, Castleford, said on Saturday he was on a visit to Mrs. Mason, 40, Glasshouse row, on a holiday. At 11:15 on Saturday morning he was standing at the top of the row, with his back to the rails. He heard a train coming from the direction of Mexborough, and some children shouting on the street side of the line. He turned round, and saw deceased in the action of putting his leg over the line to the four-foot. When the engine caught him he was knocked in the middle of the 4 foot. The whole train went over and witness went to the body and picked him out of the 4 foot foot. Witness took the child, which never moved afterwards, to its mother. There was a wound on the back of the head and on the side of the temple.
In reply to a jury man, witness said he went to the child’s assistance through the railings. He could have done so that morning, but not at the time of the inquest. He had seen the railings repaired that day. On the day of the accident, he carried the child through some railings that were bent.
Inspector Knutton said he was responsible for that particular district, and he had given no orders for the railings to be paid since the accident.
Witness said the man who had prepared the railings worked at Kilner’s.
Mr Freeman said the Railway Company had repaired the fences just prior to Doncaster races last September. This part was source of trouble, and their experience was that directly fences were repaired youths prized them apart.
A jury man said Kilner’s men had prepared the fence since the accident, perhaps to prevent over children getting through.
Albert Stenton, 36, Cross Hallgate, Mexborough, said he was an engine driver employed by the G.C.R. Company, and on Saturday was driving a passenger train which left Mexborough at 11-7. He did not notice anything, nor did his fireman, as they were driving tender first. They were looking out. Witness knew nothing of the accident until he came out of Doncaster in the afternoon. He examined the engine at Conisborough station, but found no marks on it in the few minutes waiting. On arrival at Mexborough Loco. Department, he made a further examination, and found what appeared to be a small portion of a child’s brain on the water catcher, which ran fair in the centre of the four-foot way. The train and everything had gone over the child, just as the witness had shut off the steam. He thought the child must have stepped on the line suddenly. At the time of the accident they were going about 40 miles an hour.
Benjamin Seaford said he was a ganger, employed by the G. C. R. Company, and look after the length of railway from Conisborough Station towards Denaby. His duties were to examine the road and fences, and see where repairs were necessary. The gates at Kilner’s were open practically all day. Several weeks a month passed he had notice the railings had been bulged out, so that a small child could fit through. Witness had straightened them time after time, but they were always bulged out again by boys. The part where the boy got through with the deceased belonged he fought, to Mr Kilner. It was his property, and he fenced it, a length of about 50 yards.
Inspector Norton: That is news to me and I am the inspector.
The coroner said he wanted it made clear whether the bulged fences where the child was taken through belonged to Mr Kilner or the railway company.
The witness, Taylor, was recalled, and when he explained the exact spot the body was taken through, it was found, that the fence in question was a property of the G.C.R. Company.
Some suggestions were made that stronger railings, and the notice boards, should be erected. Mr Freeman pointed out that the railings in question were very substantial, and much too strong for children to twist.
The coroner said that the evidence showed this unfortunate child had strayed away from the house, got onto the line, and was knocked down by an engine in the way described, but there was no evidence to show exactly how the child got onto the line. It might have gone through the open gate, or through the railings that were bulged. It was a poor accident, as far as one could see there was no negligence on the part of the engine driver or fireman.
It certainly seen that the doors left open all day might be what, and that the railings might be merged perfectly strong, so that it would be impossible for children to go through. A verdict of “accidental death” was returned.