Death Not Due to Accident
Inquest on Denaby Miner
At an Inquest on Friday at Conisborough, the Doncaster District Coroner Mr. W. H. Carlile recorded a verdict of “Death by Natural Causes” on Leonard Allen Woodhead (56), who died at his home, 26, Cliffe View, Denaby Main, the previous Wednesday.
Ada Mary Woodhead, widow, said prior to October, 1936, Woodhead worked as a collier at Cadeby Colliery.
On October 11th 1936, he was taken to the Fullerton Hospital with a fractured pelvis. Since the accident, Woodhead had complained of violent pains in the back. He had jaundice last October. Woodhead had received compensation from the colliery up to his death.
Leonard Sellers, a miner at Cadeby Colliery of 89, Annerley Street, Denaby, said that in October, 1936, he was working in the colliery near Woodhead who was putting up a pack. He heard the sound ensuing from a fall of roof and found Woodhead buried with debris and shouting for help. With a deputy he got him out.
Dr. P. Milligan, of Doncaster, who had conducted the post-mortem, said Woodhead was in an extremely wasted state. He was deeply jaundiced and was suffering from distension of the gall bladder, cancerous growth of the pancreas and recent haemorrhage under the membrane of the brain on the left side. There was no pelvic fracture, and nothing to indicate that he had had an accident. The cause of death was due to cancerous growth of the pancreas which could not possibly have begun until 1940.
The Coalowners Indemnity Association was represented at the inquest by Mr. Barker Rhodes.