Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 11, 1908

How Bennett Died.
A Ten Ton Stone.
The Inquest.

Mr D Wightman, the District coroner re-appeared on Wednesday afternoon with the sunshine, to enquire into the circumstances of Walter Bennett’s death  at the Primitive Methodist Institute. Mr John Clayton was foreman of the jury. The Denaby Main Colliery Company was represented by Mr C Bury, and Mr W H Pickering, Chief Inspector of Mines, was also present.

George Bennett (barman) identified the body, and said that he was brother of the dead man, who was 33 years old, and was described as a coal miner at Denaby Main. He had been a miner since October 1907. Before that he was a professional footballer and earlier still a glass hand. They (witness and his mother) had lived with their mother all their lives. Witness last saw him alive at home at 6 o’clock on Sunday more evening when he was having tea.

The last he heard of him was that he was killed. This was at half past two on Monday afternoon.

The man who saw Bennett killed, Benjamin Gethen, said he lived at Mexborough and was a miner. He had been working in the mine 56 years. The accident occurred on Monday. He and witness were engaged at 12.30 in the afternoon in driving a head over the top of the coal. They had been working at this for about a month. Witness was the contractor, and had Bennett for a partner. The night deputy, Joseph White had been round at 5:15 in the morning. Deceased and he were filling dirt, and when they had finished they had a rest for 10 minutes, sitting about 60 yards from the face.

Then Bennett said, “We’ll go and shove that tub out, and fill another, and then that’ll do.” He went and stooped to lift a pick from the ground, when suddenly there fell on him a large stone from the face, weighing about three tons. His head and shoulders were covered. Witness shouted “Help,” and assistance being obtained, the stone was broken, and at the end of 46 minutes Bennett was released. He never spoke all the time, and when picked up was quite dead.

In reply to the, Coroner, witness said that the danger could not have been seen. The slip at the back of the stone which brought about the accident was not visible before the fall.

The roof was a strong stone roof, and was propped at intervals. At the point where the accident occurred it was not propped, because they had not worked up to that point.

In reply to the Inspector, witness said, that the stone was not overhanging. He never allowed Bennett to work alone, and this particular morning witness, had examined the place before Bennett came to work.

The Inspector explained that it was the intention at this point to prepare a road for an engines-house, and the heading was unusually wide, being 34, feet in extent, so that two roads were laid.

A discussion arose between the Coroner and the foreman on a question of responsibility, and the Coroner expressed the opinion that Gethen, as the elder man, with all the experience, took responsibility for what happened during the work.

In reply to questions, Gethen said that Bennett always did what he was told, and  never did anything on his own initiative.

Chas. Bury, manager of the Denaby Main Colliery, said he had known the last witness for 14 years as a dataller. He instructed Gethen to drive the heading in question, he being a very competent man. Witness sent deceased to work with Gethen, the contractor, who had entire control and responsibility for the work, so far as Bennett was concerned.

Mr. Bury said that the weight of the stone had been incorrectly stated. It was ten tons in weight.

The Foreman: There is no legal restriction against setting men on whether they have been down the pit before or not? – 0h, no, we set on hundreds.

But in cases of lack of knowledge?

Oh, don’t think it would have made any difference at all. The men received absolutely no warning.

A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned.