The Haslingden Gazette. — 1910-08-06 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE.  WITNEOS SAYS HE HEARD SCREAMS. The Foreman said the jury wished to have a witness called named Thomas Wright. Inspector Garvey said they had his evidence, and he could be nailed. He could call another hundred witnesses if the jury liked. Thos. Wright said he seas branch manager of the Lancashire Daily Post," living its Dutton-street. At a quarter totters on Saturday night he heard the cry of fire. He ran into Holme-istreet, and at that time flames were coming out of one window. When he got to the back no flumes were coming front those windows. He did not see Mrs. Williams coming out of the back door, nor Mr. Harding. As he was entering Mrs. Williams' yard, P.C. Dewhurst was pitching a man out. That man was not drunk, but had had some drink. The contable also pitched another young man out, so witness went into Sharpies' yard. He then shouted as hard as he could for a ladder, hose pipe, or anything of that hind. The Coroner: What made you do that? Had you heard something ?—Yes, shrieking. (Sensation.)  Do you say you heard fomeone shriekittg?— Yes.  Were the flames then coming out of the back windows!—Out of one window.  Did you tell anyone?—Yes, P.C. Deshurst, and he said he had hoard them as sell. What else?—fle said it sould be suicide to enter. (Sensation.) Do you think rescue might have been possible at that time?—Yes.  In an-nor to quetions by Mr. T. Wain* nitfloat said the man that sas thrown out was nett drunk. He should say it sas 35 minutes before the host pipe °sine doss rhe back. If anyone had been there midi a, ladder he thought the somen could hare been got out. The Foreman: Did you ever wke steps to let _ . _ . . . .  the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade know ? I told P.C. Dcwhurit, and he appeared to be in charge there.  But you never took any steps- to let. the Superintendent know ?—I tried to get round to the front. after I told P.C. Dewhurk, but it was packed with people, and I could not get there. MT. Velmaley: Would Dewhurst let yOU paw? —He was driving us back, and telling us to clear off. When Don hurft said it would be tuierdal to enter I said, •' Well, we cannot but try." .By the Town Clerk: Ho did not sec anyone at  the fitting-room window. The Town Clerk: You did not think of breaking  this window ?—I could not see it from the yard where I was. He said Inspector Garvey called at his house the same night to ascertain whether any of Williams girls were there, but he did not tell the Inspector he had heard shrieking. Mr. Wahl...ley asked how it was Mrs. Williams had not been called. .  Inspector Garvey replied that she would be unable to throw any light upon the inquiry. Mr. Gray, the Electrical Engineer, called at the lan witness, said it was very dangerous to put inflammable material near flesltlo wires. The previous bra at Williams' was not reported to him, otherwise the Corporation nould have gone over the installation and inspected it for themselves. THE CORONER'S SUMMING UP. "PROBABLY LOST THEIR HEADS."  In the course of his summing up, ,Mr. Robinson said that in less than five minutes after the alarm the whole premises appeared to be in a blase, but although, as it turned out afterwards, fivo persons were left in, it seemed that if &ere had been a back staircase they might have o caned, and the drop from the -window was very little. It seemed to have been a pity that one of the men did not run upstairs, but they probably lost their heads. When a thing came as suddenly as that fire they must make allowances for everybody. The appearance of the bodies was entirely against them having been burnt; they were suffocated. There had been a good deal of questioning about the lire brigade, and he dare say it was not as up-to-date as it was in many towns. For ! one thing, they don't keep the horses on the establishment. They must remember, however, that in Lancashire towns the streets were always very crowded on a Saturday night, and there maw be more time lost .in getting the engine out than at other times. There did not appear to have been much time loet here. The Superintendent. said he was at the place before 10, and other witnesses mid the brigade was playing on the firs St live minutes past 10, so there certainly did nor appear to have been much time lost. As fax as he could ace, there was only one verdict for the jury to find, and that was that these women came to their death accidentally. If the jury liked to add a reoommendation or anything elm they were quite welcome. but he did not think it wou!d do touch good. It would have to come before the I Council in the ordinary way. THE VERDICT.  After an absence of come 40 Ininutes the Foreman announced that the jury had tmanimemly comc to the following verdict:—  " That the deceased all accidentally came to their death by suffocation. That in the opinion of the jurors the arrangemetua of the borough in respect cf fires are very defective, and should at once be taken in hand by the Corporation; also, that sent° better means of communication should be adopted between the police and the Fire Brigade." 

Article type: NotIncident