The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-12 00:00:00

ORADLEY.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—A sad and fatal accident bap- !
pened at the Corngreaves Works of the New British Iron '
Company, on Friday afternoon, the 4th that, whereby a
man named Job Jones lost his life. Jones, who is by
trade a carpenter, was in the act of unconnecting a
weighing machine which was to go up to the company's
Nine Locks' Works at Brierley Hill, and was assisted by
a labourer named Pugh, who was holding the balance
pole. The machine plate was on four packings, and,
after raising them up, he got under to rectify some de-
fect, when the packinga nave way and the plate fell on
I im. He was extricated almost immediately, but the
oar fell 'w died instantaneously, without uttering a
word. Deceased has been in the company's service for
many years, iind was looked upon as a steady man and
skilful meclianic.—An inquest was held on Monday last.
at the Bridge Inn, before R. Docker, Esq., Coroner, and
after hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict
of "Accidental death."
FATAL PIT ACCIDENT.—On Saturday afternoon last,
an adjourned inquest was held at the Dog and Partridge
Ina, The Tho as. before Mr. W. H. Phillips, Deputy-
Coroner, on the body of Elijah R ibinaon, a boy of 15.
who came to his death by falling lit, a sump in a coal
nt at Cradley Park New Colliery on the 21th ult. Mr.
lison appeared on behalf of the father of deceased,
and Mr. Walker for the proprietors of the celliery. Mr.
King (one of the proprietors), Mr. 13aker, Government
Inspector of Mines, and Mr. Breakwell. of the Miners'
Union, were also present.—Elijah Robinson, father of
the deceased, on the Monday previous gave evidence to
the effect that his son, aged fifteen, was employed at Mr.
Joseph King's colliery, Cradley Park. He was on the
24th nit brought home with his arms broken, and inju-
ries received in his stomach, from having fallen through
scaffolding into a suinp. Ile did not blame anyone. He
died on Thursday from the effects of the injuries.—John
Edwards, miller, said Mr. Hope was manager. and Robert
Berkeley his deputy. He was standing on one side of
the sump, and deceased on the other, when he asked the
deceased to bring hint a candle. Ile warned deceased
not to come over the lump, and he did nit, but in return-
ing, went over it and fell in. He tried to catch at a
plank, bat could not. The sump was covered over with
planks, with the exception of one, eleven inches in
width, which was taken up for ventilation. Had the
deceased obeyed his orders he would not have fallen.
Mr. Hope was ground bailiff, and had charge of the
ventilation. The hole was not dangerous for men com-
ing down in the cage. as when the cage came down it
rested on H.—Jesse Hill, miner, was next called, and ex-
amined by Mr. Addison. Ho and he was present when
deceased fell down the sump. He ha/ worked at the
colliery three months. Be bail doing that time seen
the sump covered. It was not long ago—he could not
say when—a plank was taken out, about eleven inches in
width. He had heard the manager caution the men and
boys about the sump. It was left open for ventilation.
He had a copy of OA rules, but could not read them.
Robert Berkeley read them to him when first he went.
He remembered the 17th rule, which WA9 to the effict
that the manager, or, in hie absence, the deputy, should
examine the pit, in the morning before the men went
down to work. Berkeley, the deputy-manager, went
down that morning. Witness did not see him go down,
but when he came to work at six o'clock, he was at the
bottom. He bud repeatedly told them to take care of
the sump.—John Edwards, examined by Mr. Addison,
said he had worked with the last witness on the morning