Sheffield Independent – Thursday 28 November 1929
Denaby Pit Fatality
Robert Lawley (16), Ravenfield Street, Denaby Main, was yesterday afternoon run over and killed by tubs in the Denaby Colliery.
He is the son of Mr. William Lawley, the trainer of the Denaby United Football Club.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 30 November 1929
Denaby Mine Fatality.
Youth’s Death Caused by Breaking Rule.
A verdict of Accidental death was recorded by Mr. W. H. Cairlile at the inquest at Denaby yesterday on Robert Lawley (16), son of Mr. William Lawley, the trainer to the Denaby United Football Club, of 56, Ravensfield Street, Denaby, and who sustained a fractured skull at the Denaby Colliery on Tuesday.
Two pony drivers. Walter Pugh, of Denaby, and Stanley Milaure, of Mexborough, said the train of 12 tubs which Lawley had on the run on a gradient of one in 50 had to pass through a door which was closed.
Lawley went to the front of the tubs to open the door, and was knocked down between the door and the post at the side.
The Coroner said, although the primary cause of death was accidental, it appeared that the boy was walking in front of the tubs assisting them down the gradient with his hands. It might be found that the Inspector of Mines would try to prevent that practice, which was against the company’s regulations. He had no doubt that means would be adopted by the management to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.