Inquest on Blacksmith at Denaby Main

November 1895

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 22, 1895

Inquest at Denaby Main

An inquest was held at the Reresby Arms, Denaby Main, on Wednesday, on the body of Henry Briggs, blacksmith, lately employed at the Denaby Main Colliery. Mr D Wightman conduct the enquiry. The widow of the deceased was overcome with her trouble and did not give evidence.

Deceased was identified by Henry Briggs, his son, who said his father had been a healthy man, and was not subject to fits or giddiness. Witness saw his father on the morning of the fifth inst and when he saw him again in the evening he was unconscious. Deceased told witness that his hand was injured, but did not give any account of the accident. Witness did not attach blame to anyone, nor did his family.

Joe Crossland, Butcher, of Denaby Main, was the next witness. He said that on the morning of the 5th about 8 o’clock he invited Briggs to accompany him to Doncaster on business. On returning in the evening they stopped on the outskirts of Doncaster. Witness alighted, and on returning two or three minutes afterwards he found that Briggs had gone off with the trap. After waiting about an hour to see if Briggs would return, witness returned to Conisborough by the 6.30 train.

On arriving home witness found there his horse and trap, and learned that Briggs had reached home about 10 or 15 minutes before. He did not see Briggs until next morning. He examined the trap but could not see any marks to indicate an accident. Deceased was sober at the time he left him.

George Wardell, labourer, Balby, was the next witness. He said that on the evening of the fifth inst, about 5:45 he was driving his father’s dray along the Warmsworth road, when he met a man driving a trap. Witness moved on one side of the road, but the trap collided with the rear of the dray and then turned over, throwing the driver into the hedge bottom. Witness and a boy with him ran to his assistance and helped him back to the trap. His left hand and temple were bleeding. Deceased did not blame witness for causing the accident. Witness advised the young man Church to drive the injured man home. If Church could not have driven him, the (witness) himself would had done so. Deceased was not drunk. He had had a drop.

Joseph Church, labourer, Doncaster, deposed that he was with the witness Wardell on the evening of the 5th, when a man driving a trap came along and collided with the hind part of the dray. The trap spun about 5 yards on one wheel and then turned over. Witness and Wardell went to assist him found the deceased bleeding from his hand and temple. He was almost too “numb” to speak. He had had about “two glasses of beer.” Witness drove the deceased home.

The Coroner remarked that “two glasses of beer” would make no impression some people, and a good deal on others. He had a letter from the doctor stating that Briggs had died on the 18th from tetanus, or lockjaw, consequent upon his injured hand.

The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.