Sheffield Independent – Thursday 14 April 1898
Singular Fatal Accident at the Conisbro’ Glassworks.
Yesterday at the Mechanics’ Institute Denaby Main,an inquest was held by Mr. Bagshaw, deputy coroner on the body of Mary Donlan, who died under peculiar circumstances on Sunday morning.
She bad been employed at the Glassworks of Messrs Kilner Brothers, Conisbro’.
John Donlan, miner, identified the body as that of his daughter, and said she was aged 22 years. An accident occurred to his daughter, and her nose began to turn black. Witness asked her what was the matter, and she told him that piece of glass had struck her in the face.
She died on Sunday morning at 10 minutes past two.
Doctor Twigg attended the deceased Friday about noon and he said he thought she had a bad cold. He was not home when Dr. Foster was sent for.
The deceased did not blame anybody for the accident
Eliza Davies of Cliff View, Denaby Main, said she was employed at Messrs Kilner works, Conisborough. Witness saw the accident occur to the deceased on Monday the 28th of March. She was grinding marbles, which were used for bottles. The marbles were ground on a grindstone, and while the deceased held a marble in a pair wooden nippers, a piece of glass flew off striking her in the face. Deceased had said that it only cut her, but did not remain in the flesh. The deceased worked until three days before death.
Dr Craik said that the deceased was suffering from blood poisoning.
Commander Smith: How long have you worked at grinding’—Seven years.
How many girls are employed in the works?—Twelve.
Have you ever known anyone get cut before? — Yes, I have been cut many times myself but only very slightly,
Mr. Kilner, owner of the works explained the nature of the work in which the deceased was engaged.
The Coroner said the deceased had died from a very minor accident indeed. There was doubt death was caused by blood poisoning.
A verdict of accidental death was returned.
Commander J Smith said he had asked Mr. Kilner if arsenic was used in the manufacture, which would a poisonous, but Mr Kilner had told him that arsenic had not been used at the firm for 15 years.