The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

TIM PORTLAND POPULAR READINCTIL—We under.
stand that the following gentlemen are the corn.
mitt., of management in getting up a testimonial to
be presented to Mr. George Harvey, MI mark of
esteem from the inbabitanta of Portland, and in
appreciation of his exertions in organising the popuim
readings in connection with the Mechanics'
Institute :—Capt. Granville, Dr. Carruthers, Mr.
(leach, Mr. R. Combos, Rev. A. Hill, Mr. Rhodes,
Mr. Patten, and Mr. Waters. Lists are open at
both Mews. Eliot's and Memo Willi3olll' banks,
and we trust that the appeal of the committee for
eubscriptions (which are not to exceed ss. nor be les
than 6d.) will be numerously responded to.
THR FATAL ACCIDENT TN TRZ QUARRIES.—An
inquest was held on Wednesday. before F. C.
Steggall. Esq., touching the death of a convict
named Frederiok Goodey, aged 34, who was killed
by the fall of • atone upon him in the West Quarries
on Monday. After being sworn and viewing the
holy, the jury proceeded to inspect the some of the
accident. The following evidence was subsequently
taken :—George Clifton, Esq., governor of the
convict establishment deposed that the deceased
was received into the prison on the 9th of Nor.,
1664. He was then aged 32 years, and was under
'pentanes of seven years. He was • moonvicted man.
On his former conviction it was stated that he was •
marred man with children, and on his second con-
viction that he was a single man. The body viewed vras that of Frederick Goodey, who was killed in the
West Quarry on the morning of the let of April,
and it was received into the prima at &30 a.m.
Dr. Bluer, medical officer attached to the estakdish•

Malt, deposed thah, on examination of the body of
deceased, be found the bead completely smashed.
Besides this there were eight ribs broken, both
legs fractured, and the oollar•bone broken, the
liver as well being ruptured. Death must
have been instantaneous front the very severe
nature of the accident. —John Treater, one of the
c,nvicts in the prime, deposed that he was em-
ployed irt the 'A rut Qratry on Monday morning
with the deceased anti others. About ten minutes
before the accident he cautioned the men below to
keep away. He was ordered by Mr. Kitson to re-
move the stone which killed the deceased, and while
placing the jack in the proper position to do as, the
stone unexpectedly fell over and killed deceased.
Witness was not aware whether the deceased and
other men heard the order Mega for him to turn the
stone over; but he could tart see if any one was
underneath. —Robert Kitson, one of the warden of
the prison, dcpoied that he was employed in the
West Quarries on the morning of the lot of April,
and was in charge of 17 convicts. He had given
general directions in the morning for clearing the
quarry in which the men were at work, and had also
intimated that the stone which unfortunately killed
the deceased was to be turned over; but there was
no particular time given. The deceased at the time
the stone in the quarry was slung must have run
directly underneath where the stone fell en him.
Witness was looking after the engine, which he saw
coming up at the time, and did not see the accident,
hut heard the stone fall. His attention was imme-
diately called to the deceased, who was underneath
the stone, and measures were at epee taken to ex-
tricate him.—William Conner, one of the convicts,
deposed that he was working in the Wed Quarried
on the day in question, with the deceased and other
omelets. He was equariog stone. He saw the tint
witness (Treater) turn the jack about live times, when
the stone fell over, and be (Tranter) let go the jeek,
which fell after tho stone. Treater then walked away.
Deceased had hold of the rope in bringiag the crane
: round.—James Thompson, another convict, deposed
that he was on Monday at work in the West
I Quarries. He and others, includiog deceased, were
ordered to remove a block of stone, and went to the
jib for the purpose ef doing so. He, deceased, and
another man were pulling the jib round for the pur-
pose of removing a block of stone. Deceased had
hold of the end of the rope, and suddenly let go.
On looking round he sew declassed underneath the
! block cf stone. Witness did not know the stone
WWI to be tipped over, otherwise he would not bays
gone near such a dangerous place. —The jury
returned a verdict of " Accidental Death," and
requested the Coroner to intimate to the Governor
their impression that the utmost oars should be
taken when stones wets to be tipped, and that two
more experienced quarry inspectors should be
appointed to inspect the various quarries and give
directions where needed. —Mr. Clifton, on being
informed of the opinion of the jury, said ho would
difall in his power to awry out their suggestions,
and, if the wiliest were reduced to writing, he
would forward it to the proper authorities. The
utmost caution had always been taken to prevent
aivideuts of this nature; but some of the couvicts
showed great recklessness in regard to their lives.
Ho saw himself • most norrow escape, in which a
convict ran himvelf into great danger. He (the
convict) aotually passed underneath a place where a
large block of atone was being tipped over, and on
. priming by, the stone, weighing perhaps ten tons,
descended with a tremendous crash, and actually
grazed the man's arm and side. Sometimes when
cone.cts were warned of danger it was hard to make
them believe it. His instructions to the warders
and others were very explicit, and he enured the
jury that every possible precaution to prevent
accidents were embodied in them instructions.