RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Warwickshire Lookup Requests => Warwickshire => England => Warwickshire Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: PurpleCupcake on Saturday 19 December 09 23:07 GMT (UK)
-
Hi (and merry christmas rootchatters!)
I recently ordered a death certificate for my ancestor, Thomas Reader who, along with Abraham Tibbits and William Matthews, was tragically killed at the Charity Colliery in Bedworth on the 17th September 1874. After reading through the newspaper report I found on rootsweb, it was only reported as an accident with no specifics on what actually happened
However the death certificate states "Manslaughter against David ?Davis or ?Devis" and I would really like to know where I could find information on what exactly happened at this accident and whether a manslaughter case was ever brought against this person.
I have put in an enquiry with the records office on the report itself but I was wondering if anyone has any information on who David Davis is or any history on the coal mine? I can gain snippets but my searches are fruitless, Im probably searching for the wrong thing :-\
Many thanks
-
Hi
You can find what happened here, but it doesn't mention David Davis though
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/home/
Julie
-
Presumably since you have the date and a manslaughter verdict there should be the records of a subsequent trial probably against Davis for manslaughter in the appropriate assize records. Such a trial will almost certainly have been reported probably in great detail in the local newspapers. Try your local archive, if you want the trial records they are most likely at the National Archive.
-
I only got very brief details on cmhrc.co.uk re my gt uncle also killed in a mining accident in 1894 but by searching newspapers I found a report of the inquest in the Aberdeen Times (my gt uncle was killed in Yorkshire)
-
Nuneaton Library has all the local newspapers from that period, you could give them a call.
-
Brilliant, Ill check those sources out, thank you :)
-
Birmingham Daily Post Sept 18 1874 (report of death of Thomas Reader) and Oct 1 1874 (Inquest on Thomas Reader.) Available online free at Lancashire Library.
If you go to lancashire.gov.uk/libraries you can join on line free. Then you can access free their newspapers. Just pick any branch at random to join.
-
Thank you for all your help guys, I have got several newspaper articles now and have the full (and unfortunately gory) details. The young man's name was David Denis who was charged with manslaughter as I now know and am seeing if I can find anything on a sentence as the newspaper articles do not cover a trial, or not one that I can find out so far
-
As a manslaughter trial would be at the Assizes you will probably find the records at the National Archives
-
Thanks Redroger
This is the next stage for me to find out what happened and if this young man was sent to prison. Ill have a fettle around for the record!
EDIT: since found out he may be called dewis and there is one recorded on the census in 1871. He would only have been 16, poor boy :( he is on subsequent censuses as well so Im assuming he did not suffer too harsh a punishment
Looking on ancestry, he was acquitted after a trial on the 25 Feb 1875. THanks once again to everyone for their help :)
-
Great, Seems as though justice got things right for once.
-
Indeed, I cant imagine how traumatic it must have been for Dewis to think he was responsible when it was mainly down to the incompetence of the higher managers etc. He had only been there two weeks prior to the accident.
Many thanks once again folks, next stage is to visit the national archives when I have time!
-
That sounds horribly familiar, some things never change, Senior management scimping on training. Why train properly when you can hire another if you lose the first one, labour was cheap then, and in my view still is!
-
you can always get in touch with the Bedworth Society if you are looking for specific things about the town
http://www.bedworth-society.co.uk/
-
Hi,
I am very interested in any information you have found on this accident - William Matthews is my 3xgreat-grandfather.
I found some details in the Warwick records office just before Christmas about William's widow (Mary Ann Matthews) and their children all receiving pensions following the accident. Unfortunately the printer was broken and I couldn't get a copy.
I plan to visit again next week.
Best regards,
Mark Ashwell
-
Hi Mark
Great to hear from you! I have quite a few newspaper articles, would you like them? Afraid it does not make for easy reading but its fascinating