Employment of Old Men – Road Sweeper’s Fate

May 1936

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 8, 1936

Employment of Old Men
Coroner’s Comment at Conisbrough Inquest
Road Sweeper’s Fate

At a Conisbrough inquest on Saturday morning on a 72-year-old roadsweeper, James Albert Abbey, known as “Old Jim,” 3, Ferry Terrace, Conisbrough, the Doncaster district coroner, Mr W. H. Carlile, commented on the employment of old men as road sweepers by local authorities.

Abbey was knocked down and killed by a bicycle while following his employment. Mr Carlisle said he knew that councils often employed old men out of sympathy, and that they did not wish to dismiss their old servants, but it seemed that there might be some cruelty in this sort of kindness. These old men were exposed to the traffic and the dangers of the road. It had been shown by the medical evidence that even though Abbey had been knocked down had he been a younger man the injuries which he sustained might not have been fatal.

The son of the dead man, George Henry Abbey, 4, Trent Terrace, Conisbrough, labourer, said that his father, who was a roadsweeper employed by the Conisborough Council, left home on April 17 to go to work. His hearing and his eyesight were good, he had been doing this kind of work for 12 or more years, and was an active man.

Active for his age.

Inspector A. Wolfe asked witness if it would not be more proper to say that his father was “tottery.”

Witness: he was active for his age.

The inspector suggested that the witness did not know much about the physical condition of the dead man, as he had had very little to do with him for a number of years.

Clarence Attwell, 1, Halifax Avenue, Conisbrough, miner, said that about 4.15 p.m. on Friday, April 17, he saw Abbey crossing the road. He was carrying his broom in his hand. His barrow was on the right side of the road, and when the witness first saw him he was standing by the barrow. Then he “just left the barrow and commenced to walk across the road.”

Witness then saw the boy on the cycle coming from the direction of the new village. Abbey was in the centre of the road when he saw the boy. The road was rather narrow at this point, and there was a slight gradient in the direction of Denaby. He did not hear the boy give any warning of his approach. The next thing he saw was the boy, Abbey, and the cycle lying on the ground.

At the time of the accident the boy was going fast. The front wheel of the cycle hit Abbey in the middle of the back. Knocking him down. The boy was from from the machine. He sent for assistance and the dead man was taken away in the ambulance. He could not see why the boy could not avoid the man, and he did not make an attempt to pull up.

Replying to the coroner, witness said that Abbey could not get about like a younger man, but he was very active for his age.

A jury man: was a boy riding faster than he should have been?

Could not have gone faster.

Witness: He could not have been riding faster.

Witness also said that the old man looked both ways before he crossed the road.C. F. T. Harrison said he examine the cycle after the accident and found that the brakes were very good. In reply to the coroner, witness said that Abbey could not be described as an active man. From the scene of the incident it was possible to see 150 yards in the direction of the new village, and it would have been possible to see the cycle coming. After the accident the boy made a statement after being cautioned.

Dr. Forde said that Abbey was admitted to the Fullerton hospital on Friday, April 17, and was attended by Dr. McGuire. He was found to be suffering from a fracture on the left leg. He (Dr. Forde) saw him on Saturday, April 25, and at that time he was practically in a dying condition and was suffering from extreme shock. He died on Thursday about 2 a.m., death being due to shock following the fracture of the left leg.

Dr Forde agreed with the coroner that in a younger man it was possible that the injury would not have been enough to cause death.

Jack Williams, 8, Prior Road, Conisborough, glass worker, the boy who was riding the cycle, said that he was wish to give evidence. His father also consented. He said that he was 16 years of age. He first saw the roadsweeper when about 20 or 30 yards away. He was standing against the barrow, which was outside the paper shop. He rang his bell and put his brakes on. Abbey looked round and then started to walk across the road. He turned to the right in order to miss him, but Abbey turned back, so he swerved to the left. Abbey stepped back, and before he could pull up he hit him. At the time of the accident he was freewheeling and was not going very fast. He did not remember seeing Mr Attwell, but he did remember someone attending to him when he fainted after falling from the cycle. He was taken into Gillis’s shop.

The coroner remarked that there was a considerable difference between the evidence of the boy and that of Attwell, but it was a matter which would have to be left to the jury.

After retiring, the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death” and said that the boy was in no way to blame.

Mr Spencer Baker represented the Conisborough UDC.