DEATH OF BENJAMIN WALTERS 1912

(Derby Mercury 7th June 1912 p2)

STANLEY COMMON MINER'S DEATH  

   The resumed enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Benjamin Walters (61), collier, of Oakwell Place, Stanley Common, who was found injured on the Midland Railway line, near the Cresswell Colliery, on May 25th, was resumed by Mr J Close (Derby Borough Coroner) at the Guildhall on Thursday.

   Lucy Walters, the widow, said her husband left home between five and six o'clock on the morning in question to go to work. A fortnight previously he had complained of being unwell, and of being dizzy at times. On May 23rd he refused to take any more medicine he had been getting from the doctor, saying he was better. He had never threatened suicide. She saw him after the accident, and asked him if he fell from a bridge, but he said he did not remember anything after passing the late under-manager's house, a quarter of a mile from the bridge where he was found. Deceased would have to cross over the bridge on his way from the colliery. He had often sat on the bridge to have a pipe of tobacco. The bridge crossed a single line of the Midland Railway.

   Evidence as to finding a man in the four-foot way was given by Thomas Massey, a Midland Railway driver.

   George Daff, a fireman on the engine, said deceased indicated that he had fallen from the bridge. Witness, on examination, found the mark of a boot on a sleeper, and of a heel on the slinkers at the side as though the man had fallen feet foremost. An examination showed that someone in colliery clothes had climbed on to the wall of the bridge and sat there.

   Police Constable Roome, of Mapperley, said deceased told him he fell off the bridge, but could not say what he was doing there. He was dizzy at the time he fell. There were marks of feet at the top of the bridge, and finger-marks on a ledge as though someone had tried to grasp it when falling. Deceased had fallen 25ft 4in.

   Dr Smalley, surgeon at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, described the injuries. Death was due to internal hemorrhage and shock following injuries received. Death took place on the day of the accident.

   The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from internal hemorrhage and shock from injuries which were caused by accidentally falling from the bridge on to the line below.

(Webmaster's note: Despite the jury's verdict, the vicar of Stanley wrote "suicide" against Benjamin Walters' burial record)

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