Cradley Heath & Stourbridge Observer. — 1864-04-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ROWLEY REGIS.— An inquest was held at the Ward Arms, Rowley Regis, on Tuesday last, over the body of Samuel Portman, a boy only nine years of age, who died on Saturday last. Mr. E. Hooper, one of the coroners for the county of Stafford, held the inquest. Much excitement was manifested in the neighbourhood, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances attending deceased's death. It appears the unfortunate boy on Tuesday week was with two little girls and a boy named Heath, and that they went to the colliery at I I awes Hill, near to the poor unfortunate boy's residence, and they remained there for a long time playing near the boiler. The deceased, from the information we have been able to gather was either sitting or lying upon the boiler upon which was a large stone about 30Ibs. weight. It seems the lad Heath pushed the stone over and it fell on deceased's arm and side, and almost immediately he because insensible. Two girls afterwards assisted the poor little fellow home, and during the afternoon, he complained of being unwell. The following day, a medical officer was sent for, and everything that human skill could think of was applied ; but the sufferer gradually sank under the sufferings, and expired this day week. The companions of the boy Heath have taunted him about the circumstances, and told him he would go to prison. The lad, however, firmly denies having pushed the stone over, and says le is perfectly ignorant of doing any thing to hurt the deceased. It comes out in evidence, however, that Wm. Heath, who is 14 years old, rolled a stone on to deceased. It was a large one, and took two boys to carry it. It remained on the shoulders of Portman santil Joyce Siviter, a girl of 12 years of age, and another lifted if off. The poor boy fainted, and Joyce and her companion fetched some water. It was about a quarter past two when he was taken home, and about four o'clock he complained to his mother that his arms and legs had gone stiff. Before he died he told his mother, that "William heath had done that to him by rolling a big stone on him." After patiently hearing the es idence, the Coroner summed up, and said there were only two verdicts, which could be returned either "Accidental Death," or "Homicide by Misadventure." There certainly was not according to the evidence, any malice existing between them; lint as the boy was above fourteen years of age, he was liable to the latter verdict. The jury Immediately returned the following verdict, " Homicide by Misadventure.  FATAL ACCIDENT AT ROWLEY Rms.—An inquest was held by Mr. kl. Hooper, District Coroner, on Saturday last, at the Portway Jim, touching the death of Wm. Simpson, aged 18 years, who it appears on the preceding Tuesday was driving a hone and cart laden with stone, for the repairs of the public roads when .by some cause or other the animal jibbed and knocked if messed down, the wheel of the cart passing over him. A man who was near heard Simpson cry out "Oh ! good Lord," and he immediately rendered assistance. Ile was at once taken to a public house close by, and -afterwards conveyed home. Medical aid was procured, but the unfortunate man gradually sank under the injuries he had received, and died the following day. -Verdict, "Accidental death."