Mexborough and Swinton Times December 22, 1906
The Cause of Thousands of Deaths.
Miners Child Burned at Denaby.
Juryman’s Act of Kindness.
In the “Reresby Arms” hotel, Denaby, on Tuesday afternoon, Mr D. Wightman, Coroner, held an inquest into the circumstances touching the death of William Hy. Piper, the 8 year old son of Joseph Piper a miner of 25, Annerley Street, Denaby, who died on Friday the 14th inst.
Mr Witty Milner was foreman of the jury sworn to try the case.
The mother of the boy, Ellen Piper, stated that about 4-30 o’clock on the morning of which the boy got burned, she got up and lit the fire before her husband went to work. She went back to bed about 6 o’clock. The deceased was sleeping upstairs with eight other children, and the first intimation she had that anything was wrong was when she heard a scream. That was about 7-15, and she immediately jumped out of bed and when into the living kitchen, where she found Willie alone with his night shirt on fire. She put the fire out and sent for Dr Twigg, who attended her son until he died on that day, the child was not insured.
Mary Galavin, a neighbour, who was called into the premises on the occasion, said she formed the opinion that the boy has been “drawing” the fire when the accident happened. She saw a flannelette singlet lying on the floor, and she thought he had been using this. It was still burning when she saw it.
The coroner, in addressing the journey, said this same thing – children going down to “draw” fires – was the cause of hundreds if not thousands of deaths. They ought not to be allowed to do it, and it was pretty certain that the parents should not allow them to do it. However, this woman had had a good record in one way. She had nine children, and had got eight of them living. That was a much better record than a good many mothers had had. He did not think they could make anything but an accident out of it. To have a post-mortem examination, would have been throwing two guineas away for nothing, and it would only reveal what they already knew – that the children had got burned. It would not throw any light on how he got on fire. The woman said she did not send the child down to the fire, but in all probability it had been in the habit of going down, and had done so a good many times without being told.
A verdict of “accidental death” was returned, and on account of the poverty of the mother, the jurors each contributed the shilling received for attendance towards the expenses of the funeral.