Mexborough & Swinton Times, August 11
Denaby Road Fatality
Child Runs Behind Bus to Death
Passing behind one of the Barnsley motor buses, a Denaby boy on Thursday last was killed by a Ford van. His name was James Legat and he was five years old.
Mr. Frank Allen held the inquest at the Denaby Main Hotel on Friday, when the boy´s father, Sam Legat, miner,of 76, Blythe street, Denaby, identified the body. He had been in hospital and had not seen the child for some weeks.
Philip F. Jeffries, a Leeds motor driver, employed by Messrs. Pulleine, bottlers, of South Emsall, described the accident:
On Thursday afternoon he was driving his employers light Ford van through Denaby to Conisbrough, travelling at about eight miles per hour. Opposite the Denaby Main Hotel, he met one of the Barnsley omnibuses. The boy came from behind the bus and one of the van wheels must have gone over him before he (the driver) could pull up, when he got out a man was holding the child in his arms.
Corroborative evidence was given by Thomas Robinson, miner, of 71, Clifton street, Denaby, and Police-Sergt Sparrow. Robinson said some children were running across the road. Some of them stopped but the deceased boy went on and a front wheel of the van passed over him.
The Coroner returned a verdict of “Accidental death”, and exonerated the driver from blame.