South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 23 May 1942

Coroner Warns Parents

Comment on West Melton Accident

A warning to parents to keep small children off the streets was given by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile) at a Mexborough inquest on Monday, when a verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded on John Senior, thirteen months old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Senior, 71, Winterwell Road. West Melton, who was fatally injured by a car on Friday.

John Senior (28), miner, father of the child, said he had been trying to get the baby to sleep, and put him down about 12.35 to get ready for work. While he was getting ready the child had gone into the street.

Harriet Waistnage, 72, York Street, West Melton, said on Friday at about 12.20 she was standing in West Melton at the junction of Winterwell Road and York Street. She saw a car standing outside Rawson’s butcher’s shop facing uphill towards Oaklea Avenue. Soon after she saw Arnold Rawson come out of the shop and get in the car. She did not see the child until after the car had moved off. She thought the rear offside wheel had run over the child’s head.

Peter Rothery (10). 7, Stokewell Road, West Melton, said he saw the car, and in front of it he saw the little boy partly under it, playing with the radiator. He saw the car move off.

Coroner: Didn’t you shout when you saw the car start ?—No. because I thought I should not have been heard.

Dr. H. Taylor, House Surgeon at the Montagu Hospital, said the child was dying when she saw him. He had abrasion on the left of head and a fractured skull base. She did not think the car wheel had passed over the head. Cause of death was shock due to a fractured skull.

Arnold Rawson, butcher, 78, Avenue Road, Wath, said his car was close to the kerb. He walked round the front of the car and got in through the offside door. About five minutes previously he had come out and walked right round the car. Witness said when he walked round the car the second time he went out he was practically touching the radiator, but did not see the child. He got in and started, and when he felt a bump thought it was probably a brick.

The Coroner said it was clear the child had wandered from home and had started to play with the front of the car. It was the second such case he had had to deal with in the last fortnight and there had been numerous similar accidents over the last few years. They had all been caused by parents letting small children roam about public streets. This sad case should be a warning.