SAD FATALITY AT DESBOROUGH
An inquest on the body of the lad Alfred Freeman, aged 10 years,
living in Station-street, at Desborough, who died from injuries
sustained in a gunpowder explosion, was held at the George Hotel on
Wednesday before Mr. J. T. Parker (coroner) and a jury of whom Mr. John
Ginns was chosen foreman.
—The jury having been sworn, the Coroner said that although he did
not think they would be able to return a charge against anyone, it would
be well for the jury to ascertain the usual practice of leaving
gunpowder about on the works. The lads had no right to be on the works,
but if powder was left lying about, someone would get at it. He
understood that it was only a small quantity that the lads found, but on
a future occasion the amount might be larger.
—Robert
Bindley, shoe rivetter, living at Station-street, Desborough,
deposed that deceased was the son of his wife, having been born before
marriage. Deceased was ten years and nine months old. On Friday evening
witness went to Pipewell Bridge, and there met deceased and his other
two children. Witness next saw deceased about nine o'clock at night when
he found he was injured about the face. Deceased told witness that, with
some other boys, they got some powder, and struck a match and applied it
to the powder. The match went out, and whilst deceased was stooping to
pick the match up, the powder exploded. [The witness here broke down and
sobbed bitterly.] Deceased was about as usual on Saturday and Sunday
morning, but after dinner he became very sick. Witness sent for a doctor
on the following day, but deceased succumbed on Tuesday morning.
—Richard
Baines, a lad, living in Station-road, Desborough, said that on
Friday evening he went up the Pipewell-road about six o'clock with his
brothers Frederick and Harry. They afterwards met deceased, and one of
them said, "There's a wasps' nest up here; let's blow it up." Deceased
and his brother Fred went into the pits and got some powder. They failed
to find the wasps' nest, so they knocked a small hole in the ground and
placed the powder in it. Witness struck a match, and placed it on the
powder, and as it did not explode, deceased went and took up the match
and again placed it on the powder. It went off, and deceased face was
all blackened. Witness told deceased not to go near the powder.
—Frederick
Freeman, a lad living in Gas-street, and cousin to the deceased,
stated that on Friday evening he was with the deceased in Pipewell-road.
He went with deceased into the pits to get the powder. Some other boys
had previously told witness there was some powder there. Witness found
the powder in a canvas bag under a wheelbarrow. The bag, which was about
the size of a sprig bag, was nearly full, and would hold about a gallon.
Witness and deceased took about a teacupful of powder, which they
afterwards placed in a hole in the ground. Baines first struck a match,
and on deceased going to look at the powder it suddenly exploded in his
face. Deceased told witness that he had fetched some powder before that
evening, and had exploded it.
—Dr. John More, jun., of Rothwell, saw deceased on Monday afternoon.
He was severely scarred on the face, and was suffering a certain amount
of shock. Between twelve and one the next morning a message came to
witness that deceased had had several fits, and on going, witness found
deceased practically in a state of collapse. Witness adopted the usual
remedies, but deceased died shortly after from the shock. Deceased's
parents did all in their power for him.
—Tom Panter, foreman to
Mr. Wheldon,
the owner of the pits, stated that the most powder he ever served out to
the workmen was three-quarters of a pound, in tins containing a quarter
of a pound each. The men were supposed to return to witness the powder
that was not used. The powder was kept in a magazine, of which witness
held the key. Witness could not account for the powder being left about.
Lads were frequently in the pits, and witness was constantly ordering
them away.
—After some consideration, the jury returned a verdict of
"Accidental death." The jury added a rider that Mr. Wheldon be
communicated with as to the advisability of employing a powder man on
the works, and also to see that the unused powder was returned to the
magazine every night when the workmen left the pits.
Northampton Mercury,
Friday 04 October 1895