Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 14 April 1933

Killed By Fall

In Presence of Son

Cortonwood Accident

A verdict of “Death from misadventure” was returned at an inquest conducted by the District Coroner (Mr. C. J. Haworth) at Barnsley last Friday on Arthur Kenworthy (54), miner, of Milton Street, Wombwell, who died in Beckett Hospital last Thursday following injuries received at Cortonwood Colliery the previous day.

Evidence of identification was given by deceased’s son, James Kenworthy, trammer, of George Square, Wombwell, who said he was working with his father. They had been drawing timber and his father had taken out a prop when a piece of stone fell from the roof and struck his father.

Witness told Mr. C. S. Scott (H. M. Inspector of Mines) that a Sylvester had been used to loosen the prop, and expressed the opinion that even if the prop had not been removed it would have been possible for the stone to have fallen.

A deputy at the colliery said he examined the place where the mishap occurred at the termination of the night shift on Tuesday. The place appeared to be in order and there was a plentiful supply of safety appliances

The Coroner: You deprecate the practice of a prop being held by a miner when it has been loosened by a Sylvester?

Witness added that deceased had been a good workman.

Reviewing the evidence the Coroner urged that no risks should be taken which could be reasonably avoided. Deceased, apparently been deceived by the appearance of the roof and had decided to remove the prop. At that moment the roof fell, and there was little doubt, that the movement of the prop was responsible for the fall.