Mexborough and Swinton Times May 20, 1892
A Week of Accidents At Wath
On Saturday two inquests were held at the Cross Keys Inn, Wath, by Mr. D. Wightnian, concerning the deaths of George Hunter and Esther Oliver, both of which occurred accidentally.
Henry Hunter, deputy of the Manvers Main Company, living at Gore hill, said that George Hunter was his son, and was three years old. On Wednesday last, at noon, deceased left home to play with two children, about the same age, one being a brother. In a quarter of an hour they heard that he was drowned.
Mrs. Lant, wife of Herbert Lant, stated that her little boy was with the deceased. She had no idea they had gone to the place they did go to.
William Henry Hutchinson deposed to seeing a crowd gathered on the canal side about noon on Wednesday, and went there, and began to drag the water. Not finding the body, he got a proper drag, and then he recovered it.
The jury returned a verdict that the death was accidental, but suggested that a gate should be placed at the entrance to the road, which the children took to the canal, to prevent further accidents.
The Canal Inspector promised that this should be done.
It was stated that there had been a gate before, but it was broken down. The place is a very dangerous one, and should not be unprotected.
The evidence relating to the death of Esther Oliver was then taken.
The mother, Edith Oliver, wife of Richard Oliver, of Barnsley-road, Wath, said that the deceased, who was a year old, was sent out in a perambulator in charge of a cousin named Mary Middleton, on Thursday afternoon, and was brought back dead.
The girl Middleton said she was in Chapel Street, Wath, and put the perambulator up to a wall to look in the schoolyard fur someone. When her back was turned the perambulator ran off the footpath and tipped over into the horse-road.
An M S. and L. dray was passing at the time, and the child was thrown on to the wheel and the concussion killed it instantly.
Sergt. Woods said that there was no doubt the perambulator overturned just as the dray was passing, and the child’s head was caught by the wheel and the child was killed.
Several jurors remarked on the danger of the path there, and Sergt. Woods said it had been referred to in the Mexborough and Swinton Times.
No blame was attached to the driver of the dray. Mr. Bowring, stationmaster, was present on behalf of the M. S. and L. Company.
A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned.
The Foreman remarked that that had been a fatal week at Wath. Four fatal accidents had occurred in the township, and there had also been three or four accidents that had not ended fatally. Further than that, there were two very sudden deaths.
The Coroner: It is wonderful how they come in batches.
It was mentioned as a curious coincidence that the last time a jury assembled at the Cross Keys, it was far a double inquest.