The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-15 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE NINE LOCKS

PIT, BRUMLEY HILL.

On Saturday morning last a fatal accident occurred in
the Nine Locks Pit. Wallows Colliery. Brierley Hill. the
scene of the recent inundation, and the identical pit iu
which the thirteen miners were so long incarcerated. A
young man named George Harkins, who resided near the
'Whimsey Inn, near Brettell Lane, descended into the pit
on Friday evening, with five or six others, for a night
turn. Towards tire ...dock the following morning he
hd nearly completed his " stint" of work, hut to con- •
chide he had to" head" .mt a" tree," or support. This
is a kind if work which requires a vigorous effort of •
strength, a steady hand, quick eye, and great caution on
the part of the inimr The "tree" is a atout piece of
thnber, placed in various ports of the mine to support
pieces of coal which may appear dangerous, or where the
tet ner may be at work. for his protection. When the
coal has been gotten in such a manner that the collier
does not require this protection it is headed out. The
workman attacks the coal around the " tree at the top
With a pike, and clears away the mineral to a errtaiu
lance t tennis the "tree.' He then descends to the
thim • and eats away the rest with a long " iMber " or
"prick.r," an instrument win, hi allows hun to stand a
good distance from the coal to come dorm. This is
hard. r work than using the short pike, and therefore the
men very frequently disregard all caution, and cut too
near the head of the tree with the easier implemeut.
When the coal is obtained from the top of the tree the
support is pushed out, and the coal generally falls it lar6e
quantities. Shoull the wiser cut too near the tree arid
the superincumbent weight cru.hes the support, he has
but little chance of escaping, with his life. Harkins was
at this kind of work. Twu boys who were near him
culled out to him the time. Ile advised thew to carry
away all the tools lying about that they might not be
buried in the coal, and get themselves mit of the reach of
danger. The boys did a 4 they were bidden, and weal t”.
wards the pit mouth. In a few seconds they heard &tre-
mendous crash, and upon minder( back they discovered
that the coal had hdlen, and that Harkius was nowhere
to be seen. The boys rinsed an alarm, and the men at
work in the other part of the pit crime to the spot. A
slated was given et the font of the shaft for assistance.
Mr. tireeuway, the mine agent ,if the colliery, Mr. Plant
(the butty who behaved so it ell during the rescue), and
twenty wen, went down the pit to search for Harkins'n
body, for there was not the slightest hope that he was
alive. After strenuous eirortn the great hulk of th, earl
was removed ; but the dangerous character of the era.
ployment several timeer aerionsly interfered with the men.
It was mix o'clock in the evening when the shocking y
mangled remains of poor Harkins were found. The
sickening spectaele was quickly hidden, aud the body
taken to the home of the deceased's parents. •
•
THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held en the body on Monday last, at
the Whunsev lon, before Mr. W. H Phillips, Deputy
Coroner. During the inquiry Mr. Greenwry, grouiri
Messra. Plant aril Deiuty, butties ; sad Mr.
Hughes. surveyor, were present.

The first witness called woo illehard Hoskisi, who said
he woo working in the pit at the time of the accident.
Deceased liad been pulling some coals down. He had
been taking timber out to cause the coat to fall. It WOO
a proper place for a man to he working in, and, as him
fillow•man. be bad no rea4on io nttach blame to anyone.
The cause ef the sudden fall of C',ll was the taking away
of timber by the deceased. He told lain several times
to leave tic timber in. He said he would not; he would
get it down for the' band." There was nothing unuti•
ally dancer Ills in the work deceased had to do.
By a Juryman . He rout,' not say whether deceased
was ordered to "throw 'the coals. _

...
By another Juryman : It was part of the deceased's
duty to see to the safety of the other men.
John Price. a boy, said he was assisting deceased, who
was 'rating.' that is, pulling coals down from the sides
of the pit. Deceased told him to take away the tools.
and when he returned he found the coal had fallen upon
deceased from the top. It Was at the stop where he had
been previously been working. He told witness that he
Was going to knock the tree out. He had prickers but
he did not use them. He used the pike. It W.-lf custo•
mary to use the prickers when a tree was being gut out.
Thomas Drown, who acted conspicuously as one of the
rescuing party daring the recent inundation, was then
called. He said when he Woo going down this shaft, on
the morning in question. he heard at cry for help, and he
heard that deceased was buried under the coals. He had
seen the place where deceased was working. It was a
fit place for a man to he employed in. Deceased had
been accustomed to that kind of work. He should have
had no objection to be occupied at the same work. He
had not the least reason to Maine any one on account of
the accident.

Samuel Thompson, doggy, said he set the deceased his
work, which was that of " rating," that is, pulling the
coal down at a spot where it is swagged." Deceased
was not told to touch the trees. He (witness) did not ex-
pect him to draw the timber.
After hearing the above evidence, the jury returned •
verdict of accidental death.

SERIOUS CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

Henry Fox Wright, landlord of the Castle and Falcon
Hotel, Dudley, and the well-known commercial traveller
for Mr. Willis, wholesale grocer, was charged at the
Dudley Police Court, on Monday last, with embezzling
£37 12s 2d, the money of his employer.
Mr. Stokes appeared for the prosecution, and in his
opening statement observed that he had a very painful
duty to perform in supporting a criminal charge against
Mr. Wright, who was very well known in Dudley, and
who he was bound to nay was greatly respected in the
town. 'The charge against him was that of having eon
bebzled certain sums of money, the property of Thome
Willis. Prisoner was only apprehended that mornings
and therefore it wan not possible to go into the case. He
should, therefore, have to ask the Bench to remand tine
prisoner for a week.

Detective-sergeant Davies was then called, and said
that by virtue of a warrant be apprehended the prisoner
that morning in the presence of his employer. Mr. Wil•
Jig. Prisoner said to Mr. Willis, 'lf you will allow no-
three hours, and go with me. I will find the money." It
was about tea minutes past eight o'clock when he appre-
hended the prisoner. Witness had not had sufficient
time to get up the case, hut if a remand was granted be
should be able to substantiate the charge. He had not
been able to secure the attendance of Mr. Willis that
morning. .

The Magistrates' Clerk inquired of the prisoner what
he had to say why he should not be remanded?
The Prisoner: I have no objection, sir.
Mr. Stokes: On behalf of the prosecution. I shall say
nothing one way or other.
The Prisoner: Well, gentlemen, the unfortunate posi-
tion in which I am placed.
Mr. Stokes (interrupting) : You had better not say any-
thing now.
Mr. Barradale (magistrates clerk) : It is for you to
make the application for bail. That is the question
now. Have you any objection to be remanded ?
Prisoner: I have nothing to say against remand, but I
have respeetfolly to ask the 8en..11 In allow
The Mapw: 11.1. at 1. the stut•otta emit. ,y.h-,1••

. .
Mr. Stokes : The amount stated in the warrant is tn.
bat my instructions are that up to the present time about
£3OO have been embezz:ed by the prisoner. Thee are
iny instructions; whether they are correct or not I can.
sot tell.

The M'ay., 1, Yeq, and ther e
I a faMily. Ile ke. U the town.
The Mayor We ',hal • pa twil—tha prison ill
OW, awl two sitreti,w in t-2.-wi each.
IThe termer was then rernaraleil till Monday next.