Mexborough and Swinton Times December 6, 1919
Dangers of the Street.
Conisborough Child’s Tragic Death
The circumstances of the death of Arthur Oldfield, the three year old son of Charles Oldfield at two, Hold Ill, Conisbrough, was run over and killed on the Low Road, Conisborough on Wednesday last were enquired into by the district Coroner, Mr Frank Allen, on Friday
The father said the child was not accustomed to running about in the street. On Wednesday while witness left the house for a few minutes the child went out, and next witness heard was that the accident had occurred
Horace White, 32, Grove Street, the driver of a steam lorry belonging to the Doncaster R.D.C., said that while driving along the Low Road, about three miles an hour, he felt the waggon lift slightly and heard a scream. He pulled up within a few yards., and found the deceased lying on the road terribly mutilated.
In answer to the Coroner he said that the maximum speed of the lorry, loadened, as it was, would be about five miles per hour, and as he was pulling up to change gears its speed when the accident occurred was considerably less. He saw no children on the road and was driving on his proper side. He had been a driver for many years before the war and since July of this Year.
In -answer to Mr. H. M. Marshall, Clerk to, the Doncaster R.D.C., witness said he had no, idea how the child managed to get under the wheel as he was driving nearly in the centre of the road.
Miss Nellie Lister, of 10, New Hill, Coniboro’, who witnessed the accident, said that she saw two children, a little girl and the deceased, approach the lorry from the side of the road, and it seemed to her as if they were intending to run behind. The girl was holding the child’s hand. Witness did not actually see the deceased fall under the wheel, but heard a scream, and hurried to the spot. She thought the driver of the lorry was in no way to blame, as he could not possibly have seen the children.
The coroner said that it was obvious there was no one to blame, and returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”
Mr. Marshall said that the Rural District Council, individually and collectively, regretted the accident; and sympathised very deeply with the bereaved father. He would report to the council and urge them to give Mr Oldfield whatever assistance they could.