Conisbro’ Bricklayer’s Death at Cadeby Colliery.

April 1908

Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 4, 1908

Conisbro’ Bricklayer’s Death at Cadeby Colliery.

James Hayselden (57), bricklayer, Conisboro’, who was injured at the Cadeby Colliery on Tuesday week, by a fall of roof, succumbed on Thursday last in the Fullerton Hospital.

On Monday afternoon Mr. D. Wightman (Chief Coroner) attended at the Hospital to enquire into the circumstances of Hayselden’s death     Mr. H. S. Witty represented the Colliery Company, and Mr. J. Mellor, Inspector or Mines, was also present.

Fredk. Spencer Hayselden, of Athelstone road, Conisboro. a labourer, and son of deceased, stated that his father was a bricklayer at the Cadeby Colliery, having worked there for 13 or 14 years. He was injured on Tuesday week, and ‘brought straight to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on the Thursday. Witness had left his father just before the accident, at about 11-15 a.m. They were arranging to erect a prop to make the roof secure. His father had knocked no wood out that morning, ‘and the deputy had visited the place about 7 a.m. To his knowledge the deputy found no fault with the place. He left his father to fetch a prop from 20 yards’ distance. He was returning with the prop when he heard a noise like ‘a fall, and saw dust, which apparently came from the fall. He found there had been a fall of bind from the roof. – A part of the stone was holding deceased down, and he (witness) released him. He helped him to the top of same steps, and sat him down. Chas. Norbron, who was at hand, rendered first aid, and then deceased was brought to the hospital. Witness was with his father .on Thursday afternoon, who .was then quite sensible, and be said “I had just ‘tried the top and it seemed all right.” He (witness) could blame no one.

In answer to the Inspector witness said the work his father was doing was actual repairing work. He had to get groundwork out and set bars. At the time of the accident his father was preparing to set the prop that he was fetching

Answering the Coroner, Mr. Witty said deceased had worked at Cadeby for 13 years at similar work. He considered that deceased was a competent man, and he added, “I could trust his opinion as soon as my own” with respect to testing the roof.

The Inspector: Did you consider him as good as even, the deputy or yourself?

Witty: Yes.

The Coroner: Was he as good as an Inspector? (Laughter.)

The Inspector: Yes, at that particular work, He was a good, sound, practical man.

The Coroner: Now we have him at the top of the tree.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.