South Yorkshire Times September 29, 1956

Natural Causes
Verdict on Conisbrough Fitter

“There is no evidence to show that this works incident had any connection with this man’s death,” said the Doncaster district coroner (Mr WH Carlyle), when at Saturday’s Conisbrough inquest he recorded a verdict of “natural causes” and Alfred Smith (37) Parkgate Iron and Steelworks maintenance fitter, of 1, Trent Terrace Conisbrough, who died on September 19 through coronary thrombosis.

Arthur Gibson, Smith’s mate, said in evidence that when he and Smith were working in the scrap they opposite the Parkgate Iron and Steel Company on Friday, September 14 the bourse sensed the smell arising from a pretty partially buried disused gas cylinder that men were disposing of about 100 yards away.

“The odour was like pear drops,” said Gibson.

Smith’s wife, Mrs Vida Smith, said Smith came home at the weekend but had to sit down and complained of stomach trouble. On the Wednesday after when he came home his wife was next door. He sat down a kitchen chair and shortly afterwards when reaching out for something collapsed and died. None of the family news Smith was suffering from coronary thrombosis.

Smith’s father, George Henry Smith, said that he was in the house on the Wednesday when his son came in, and some normal comment was passed between them.

“He must have been reaching for his slippers when he collapsed,” said Mr Smith.

Owen Hayward, materials manager at Parkgate Iron and Steel Works said that the cylinder which had been discovered before the Friday in question had been temporarily buried under 2 feet of sand. A large piece of brass had fallen where the cylinder lay, and had partially unearthed it. Men were working on the removal of the cylinder on the day Smith and his mate complained of the smell.

In evidence the pathologist, Dr Henry Lederer, said that Smith’s death was due directly to coronary thrombosis and any complaints regarding the gas cylinder could have had no connection with it.