Denaby Boy’s Death – Thrown off his Bicycle.

May 1929

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 24, 1929

Denaby Boy’s Death.

Thrown off his Bicycle.

“In the exuberance of youth the lad probably forgot the corner,” said the foreman of the jury at an inquest at the Fullerton Hospital, on Wednesday, conducted by Mr. W.H. Carlile, into the death of Edward Price (15), a pony driver, 52 Tickhill Street, Denaby, who crashed into a fence on Monday while riding a cycle and was killed.

A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned.

Thomas Price (father) gave evidence of identification. He last saw his son about 10-40 a.m. on Monday, going for a ride on his bicycle about 11 o’clock. He had had the cycle for two months. He had no front brakes, but the brakes on the rear wheel were efficient.

Fred Moore, a Mexborough labourer, said that at 11-40 a.m. on Monday he was walking in the direction of Kilnhurst from Denaby, when he saw Price coming down a hill towards Dodd’s farm. Price was singing. Nearing the corner he crashed into some barbed wire and was flung on to his back. He (witness) did not notice if Price applied his brakes, and could not say how the accident happened. The front wheel scraped the kerb before Price was flung off, but there was no skid. He ran to Price’s assistance, and stopped a passing motorist, who took the lad to the hospital. Price was thrown completely over the handle bars and turned a somersault. His speed was very fast, and prevented him from turning the corner. The road was in good condition, and there was no other traffic.

Peter Jones, miner, 1 Melton Street, Denaby, said he saw Price coming down the hill at a ” fair “speed, and he had control of his machine.  There was another cyclist in front of Price, but he did not think they were racing. He did not see the accident, but heard the bicycle crash. He Tan to help Moore, Price was unconscious.

P.c. Harworth said he reached the scene about 1-30. He examined the bicycle and found that the back brake was in good order. The tyres were well inflated, and the only part of the machine that was damaged was the front mudguard, which was slightly bent. There were no marks to indicate a skid.

Dr. J. McArthur said he examined Price on his arrival at the hospital, and found no evidence of external injury, except a slight graze on the shoulder. The boy was dead, and his neck was broken.

The Coroner said it was a most unfortunate accident, and apparently the lad misjudged the bend. It was strange that he should not have applied this brakes, which were evidently good when he knew that he could not get round the corner at the speed he was going. His opinion was that the lad’s speed was too fast to carry him round the corner.