Fatal Accident at Denaby Main Inquest

On Saturday, at the Montagu Cottage Hospital, Mexborough, Mr G Whiteman held an inquest on the body of Henry Hall, aged 13 years, who was injured at Denaby Main Colliery on Wednesday, and died the same day.

Mr Ritchie and Mr Rose attended on behalf of the Denaby Main Colliery Company, and Mr G Robinson Wilson, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Mines, was also present. Mr William Clark was foreman of the jury, which was composed of Messrs W Taylor, H Platt, W Nicholson, A Lee, G Crossland, S Hart, R Dickinson, P Emery, J Hives, W Davies and I Blunt.

William Hall, father of the deceased, said his son was 13 years and seven months old, and he was a motty-hanger at the Denaby Make up Colliery. He was an healthy lad, not subject to fits or anything of that kind. Deceased was injured on the 14^th inst and died here the same day. So far as he knew he could not blame anyone for the accident.

Joseph Woodward said he was a labourer on the pitch shot. It was his duty to push tubs in and out of the cage. He knew the deceased very well. He was a mottier, but if any of the other lads were not working he had to go and do their work. About 8.45 on Wednesday morning deceased was breaking some corves down an incline. Witness went away from the place for a few minutes, and when he came back he found the deceased with his head fast between the tubs and an iron girder. He helped to get the lad out. They had only the tub that was holding him to move. He thought the lad must have put his head through the hole.

The Inspector: Can you imagine for what reason he put his head through the hole?

Witness: No, sir.

A jury man: Do you think it possible for him to have slipped and his head to have gone through?

Witness: No, sir, I don’t.

The Inspector: You can see the corve is coming down without putting your head through; can you not?

Witness: Yes, sir.

A jury man: Was he speaking to anyone down below?

Witness: No, sir.

A jury man: How long has he worked at the pit?

Witness: I have seen him knocking about all the summer.

Coroner: How many times has he done this work?

Witness: sometimes three and four days a week.

A jury man: Do you think he was capable of doing this work?

Witness: Yes, sir:

A jury man: How old is the boy that usually does this work?

Witness: He will be about 13.

Coroner (to Mr Ritchie): Can you give us any idea as to how it happened?

Mr Ritchie: No sir; I cannot. The hole is only 15 inches wide and 19 inches high.

Coroner: can you (Hall) give us any idea?

Hall: No sir

A Jury Man: Was he on the flat sheets at the time?

Witness (Woodward) Yes, sir.

The coroner said he did not think they could make it anything but accidental death.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.