Mexborough and Swinton Times April 3rd 1909
Houghton Main Fatality.
A Singular Coincidence.
A most extra Houghton comes into arose during the hearing of an inquest at the Town Hall on Tuesday, on the body of John Theodore Marshall, pony driver, aged 14 years, of 70, New Street, Darfield died at the Beckett hospital on Friday from injuries received at the Houghton Main Colliery on Thursday last.
It was originally suggested that deceased, who: work, rode on the members by which the pony is attached to the corves, and while doing so cut his head against a bar of iron.
The evidence of Doctor Martin, house surgeon at the Beckett hospital, however put an end to this theory. The deceased injuries, he said, could not have been caused by a fall, nor were there any bruise upon his head which would suggest that he had been killed in the manner suggested. Deceased died from a fractured skull, and witnesses opinion was that it was more likely to been caused by a kick from his pony.
Evidence was given by a pit corporal named Tom Bladen of Sand Hills, and by pony driver named Horace Johnson, of the same place, but neither threw much light on sine the affair, and the Jury’s verdict was that deceased died “from a depressed fracture of the skull, caused whilst at work in the Houghton Main Colliery, there being no evidence to show how.
The circumstances are singularly like those connected with the death of a Monk Bretton pony driver, named Jenkinson. At the inquest on Jenkinson’s body on. Monday, several old colliery hands stated that the accident, was almost unique local pit life.
The interment took place at Darfield Church on Monday afternoon, and was very largely attended. Mr. H. Hammerton supplied a pitch pine coffin, with brass mountings, which was inscribed: “J. T. Marshall, died March 26, 1909, aged 14 years.” and was borne to the grave by Messrs., Geo. Watts. T. Copeland. H. Smith, F. Galloway. George Singleton, and Geo. Turner. The Rev. A. E. Sarby officiated