The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-04 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

Two FATAL CoLugar Accnon coo. On Thuraday
fienloo,, two inquests were held by Mr. B. Babies ii,
Borough Coroner, at the Croon Inn, Cinder Bonk. The
inquisitiorni Were upon the bodies if George Jordan,
miner, aged twenty•eight. Netherton Hill, and Thomas
Woodball, deputy-doggy, forty, ltaptint Eat. Mr. Baker,
the Goveinnient inspector of mine,., wa.s resent, to-
gether with Mr. JeltriTS nod Mr. M. Fletcher for the
Earl of Dudley and the Messrs. Dunn. Jordan wag
killed at No. 15 Pit, Salt Wells Colliery Wooathll was
killed at Messrs. J. and it. Dann's Colliery, Baptist End.
Jordan's death was caused by a fall of coal, weighing
about 2511,0, upon his head. The Jury returned a cornet
of "Accidental iloath—ln the ease of Woodhall, tho
deceased was killed by a fall id cosl weighing a ton or
more. There appeared to be some negligenoe in this
ease, the engineer and persons repairing the shaft hav-
ing left the deceased end nix others in the pit. When
the deceased was hurt, it was some time briar, he could
Le raised to tho top. A verdict of Accidental death "
wee also returned in this cage, but it is probable proeeed
lags will be taken clamber*.

_
o

Tali LATH gii,.CIWG DEATH OF A GEHL.—The Imam-
rifles at Round Oak Works have commenced very wisely
to build a wall at the soot where the unfortunate Maria
%miry lost her life a few days ego. It is hoped that
this will prevent the recurrence of suoh an &addend It
iMould not be forgotten, however, that the deceased had
no
business near the spot. and that she was on trespass.
STNALTNO I°l.ol:R.—At the Stafford Epiphany Sea/Ilona
(Crown Court), on Thoraday, before Mr. T. F. Teresalow.
Aseletent•Chairmen, Edward Freeman (241, miller, and
George Wilkes (V), engineer, were indicted for stealing,
on the 12th of October, two hundred weight of bran end
two casks of flour, the property of Edward Webb. Mr.
itrindley prosecuted. Dr. Kennaly appeared for Free.
man, and Mr. )lotteram for Wilkes. Our readers will
remember theta full report of this rase appeared In our
columns some time back. It was alleged for the proseention that Wilkes went to Messrs Webb's mill on the
day mentioned, and, after lowing received the bran and
flour from Freeman, who RAB proseentor's foreman, took
them away ins cart, and sold them for lees than their
proper value. This was done at four o'clock In the after-
noon, a labourer employed at the mill helping to load the
ercks, at the request of Freeman. When Wilk se won
afterwards waited upon by • police•officer, he acknow-
lodged to baring hat tlie two cwt. of bran, and when the
same officer called upon Freeman. this prisoner said he
bud entered the transaction in his ticket-kook--a slate.
ment which proved tube incurs./ et. On his way to the
lock-up, he said, "I'll tell you the truth ; Wilkes had two
sacks of flour when he had the bran." It was contended
for the defence, that the transactiol was of the ordinary
character, and that Freeman, in the harry of business,
simply forgot to make an entry of it in his book. It wail
also suggested that his statements t , the po'ice-0111,or
were such ar might have been by an innocent nein
when so taken by surprise, awl removed, through the
public streets. Is the police-station. 8./th prisoners were
found guilty, but recommended to mercy by the Jury.
They were sentenced to a term of six months' imprison-
ment each.
VELONY AT KING3WINF.HID. kt the St ifford S,avio es,
on Thursday last. before Mr. T. 1, Tweailow, As/sesta:it-
Chairman, Ann Dunn (on he'll was scalto,c.el to fourteen
days' imprisonment, for feloniously reeeivin,f, on the
20th Noveinber, a quantity of coal, she wol knowing it to
have been stolen.

INqUKST.—An inquest was held turturday, at the house
of the Royal Oak, before Mr. \V, It, Phillips. Coroner,
touching the death of Mary Bagley, whoae death was re-
ported in onr last weeks issne. Evider ce WWI given as to
fluting deceased on the railway at Round (tab, eith bar
clears over her head, also that a Lulli.., was on the
back of the head, form the evidence of Mr. Pear te, MI
was caused by suffocation, and a verdsot to that othuit
was returned.

TRH LATE COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT 11121ERLEY HILL.
—ADJOURNF:D INQUENT.—An adjourned inquest won held
on Wed noaday teat, at the Maypole Inn, Bradley. before
R. Docker, Esq., Coroner, touching the death of Willi.tin
FIMIOD, who was killed at Messrs. Haines and C,ohett'a
orn the 19th of December. Mr. Baker, Minaig
Inapeetor, was present, as was also Ffr. Corbett, tile • of
the proprietora of the colliery.—ltichard tiroweutt,
ground bailiff at Messrs. Haines and Corbett's at-
tende I and produced a plan of the workings in the nit,
and printed oat the plata, who, ,lecea,ed was killed.

Ffe7arlso. gave • description of the pit, which he maid wad
worked with great precaution.—The Coroner: Is it a
part of the ground bailiff's duty to aee that the men are
acquainted with the :ulna t Mr. Baker miid perlimis he
could enlighten them up:in that rule. Whitlll is the •iff L
rule, and ea)a that every collier lama sprag or spurn the
the coal while "holing," either in coal or ironsrone

trifles; and also prop, ft7here-necessary. the roof—Wit-
hero Brooks dip I an eliarter.master at the fitt
question. I live at Brettell Lane. I know my duty and
give each man a copy of tbs roles when he if engaged.
If Ido not, the doggy does. Griffiths is my dopey. anl
he can read. I hay* given him three copies of the rules,
'tooth could not read, hot was well acquainted with the
rule,,—Mr. Gri.e.scutt If the Owe had been enraged
or epurned, the accident would not have occurred ; and
sump, might to hAve sfit..—Mr. Docker said he
thought they It a got to the fects. Pert of the cello ry
roles bad not bean cum:flied with. Them mimes the
queetion. It ie quite clear that the ra to II eats thonght
this cafe. He, accordiug to evidence, epploinol to wall
understand them (the ritleel. nod if he hit.] not thought
tide safe he would not have riske.l life. He did mit
think it was neceelary t r aprag. If the jury thought
there had been any nechet of the midi it would amount
to mana'aaghter ; but lio thought the qu,stion had been
' fairly met. KIM it 111,1 not amount to menslunglitor.
However it was a question for the jury t deal le. They
' lied all the evidoni a before thein they *mold have, and he
would leave the flue-lion for thifn.—The room as.
cleared, and after a short con...illation Mr. F. W. Gower.
the foremen. BALI : Mr. Doak,. no dud II verdict Of
.• Accidental death." and consider that the colliery role*
were disobeyed. end thet there ann Ore.lll(qeiStllei,
tire narts of Griffiths (the deg,fy). and Booth and tVaiivar
(aolliers).—Mr. Baker. Inspector, said it was quite clear
there waa a violation of the rule,. and it eots hif in!en•
lion to carry the ei•ie further —Mr Docker remarked :
that after some jory had made up their •
minds in thi, COW.. It is quite dear that the ra!fis have
been disobeyed according to the evidence of two witnes-
ses, and emording to the evidence of a third Ito eon rirler.A
the pit ouite safe. But he (the comfier) faufit nets that
that belief did not justify the latter, according to Ito,
in throwing the lives of others away. It lie did Ire was
liable to he indicted for manslaughter. Gridiths niitl
Birth were then called in and severely reprimanded, the
Coroner telling them that they hail had a very aarraw
indeed, and he did not hesitate to nay that
Mr. Baker would do quite right to take them before the'
nnefistrates to try th in f.r ineeelen4liter.—Nlr. Baker
sai I he ehould certaiuly an into the ca,e.