The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-25 00:00:00

A CORONER IN HIS COURT.

The following paragraph, taken from the Lin-
coln, &anion( and Rutland Mercury, affords a sad illus-
tration of the condition of our lamming poor. As to
moons, we do not know whether they are above the law,
bat rarely there moat be some way of dealing with a person
like Mr. Holdg►te. We shall be curious to see what steps
are taken by the local magistracy

At Yaddlethorpe, nee; Brigg, on the 6th instant, the
steam thrashing machine belonging to Messrs. Foster and
Lockwood, of blesaingham, was working on the farm of
Mr. John Barley. A girl named ElizaStooks, aged 16, the
daughter of John Stocks, labourer, of Yaddlethorpe, had
been cutting bands upon the stage, and when they had just
Welted a smart shower of rain drove the men to take
shelter, and some loose straw was thrown over the drum
hole and the steam partly shut off. The girl had forgotten
her knife, and on returning for it it appears that she put
her foot upon the straw, which immediately gave way,
and her foot was caught by the drum, which dragged In
her leg, smashing it to atoms and the machine was not
stopped until it reached her thigh ; then it brought the
works to a stand. Assistance was on the spot in a mo-
ment, but it was more than ten minutes before the poor
suffering creature could be extricated. Every attention
was shown to her by the neighbours, and messengers
posted off for medical assistance, and on the arrival of
Dr. Terreweat, of Meesingham ; Mr. George, of Kirton ;
and Dr. Moron, of Brigg, the limb was amputated.
Medical aid was, however, unavailing, and the poor
sufferer died at three o'clock on the following morn-
ing. Notice of the event was given to Mr. Holdgete
by Police-constable Itowbottom, of Ashby, and the
coroner gave orders that the inquest should be held on
Monday at twelve o'clock. On the Saturday afternoon,
however, it was found that the corpse would not kecp,
and the constable was sent with an urgent request for the
coroner to hold the inquest as early as possible; but Mr.
Holdgate still refused to hold it before twelve o'clock.
The house in which the parents live fs a mere hovel, and
their only dwelling room is not more than ten feet by
twelve. The family consists of nine persons, who have to
live in this room, where all their cooking, getting
their meals, and other household transactions have
to be done, and in this room, not more than five or
six feet from the fire-place, the corpse was obliged
to remain. The body became so offensive on Sun-
day morning that it was absolutely necessary to
remove it ; and on the return of the six young women from
bearing a daughter of Mr. Linley to the grave at Messing-
ham church, they proceeded to take the corpse to Bottes-
ford church, when part of the funeral service was read by
the Rev. F. Moon, and the body then left for the inquest
on the following morning. Tphreopisouiry was held at 12
o'clock, at the house of Mr. John Bar ,at Yaddlethorpe.
The jury being sworn, they Bottesford church
to view the body, returning again to Mr. Barley's to give
their verdict. The jury consisted of Mr. Peacock, F.S.A.,
of Bottesford Manor (foreman) ; Mr. Godfrey Twi-
dale and Mr. Jollands, of Bottesford ; Mr. Charles
Middleton, Mr. Straw, and Mr. Maw, of Yaddle-
thorpe ; Mr. T. Wakefield, Mr. Boult, Mr. IL Lock-
wood, Mr. Taylor, Mr. R. Hyde, and Mr..f. D. Powley, of
Messingham. The coroner, on being remonstrated with in
• perfectly becoming manner by the foreman, as to the
cruelty, be, to the pour went. that his delay bad occa-
sioned, used most offensive terms, calling him a " natural
fool," and using other improper language. The verdict
of the jury was that Eliza Stocks, aged 16, " died from an
accident caused by a steam thrashing machine ; that no
blame whatever attaches to any one ; that the jury are of
opinion, and recommend that women should nut be per
nutted to work on the stage of the machines that they
consider that the coroner acted in • most unfeeling manner
in not holding the inquest at an earlier time; that they
consider the coroner has conducted himself in • most im-
proper manner in using abusive language to the foreman
of the said jury."