Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 30 May 1930
Fatal Summons.
Boy Killed at Roman Terrace
Knocked Down by Motor-Cycle.
An inquest was held at the Mexborough Hospital on Saturday on Norman Fern (10), 209 Wath Road Swinton, who died in that institution last Thursday.
The inquest was conducted by Mr. W. H. Carlile and a jury.
Fern ran across Wath Road on May 15, behind a van and into the path of a motorcycle being driven towards Mexborough.
Addressing the jury after the evidence had been taken, the Coroner said the accident went to show how careful persons should be in crossing the road.
“It also appears to have been a very silly thing to call this boy across the road without first seeing the road was safe. Of course it was not done intentionally, bat nevertheless this boy ran to his death.”
The Coroner expressed sympathy with the boy’s and compliment one of his brothers, Edwin Fern, on the way he had given his evidence.
Albert Edwin Fern, father the child, gave evidence of identification.
Lily Fern (18), sister, said that on May 15th her brother had been on an errand. “I was sitting in a doorway on one side of the main road near Highwoods Road about 4-45, and my brother was standing on the other side. I did not see a Barnsley bus coming in the direction of Mexborough nor a motorvan coming in the opposite direction. I shouted to my brother to come to me. Then the bus and van came and I cannot say what really happened. I saw my brother lying in the road after they had passed. I ran and picked him up— he was lying near the side of the road—and a gentlemen took him from me and took him into Mr. Senior’s house. He was unconscious and a doctor was sent for. He was later taken home and the same day removed to the Montagu Hospital.”
Witness said she did not see the motorcyclist who was concerned in the accident until after it had occurred.
Edwin Fern, a brother, aged 16, said he was standing on the same ride of the road as his younger brother prior to the accident. “I heard my sister call my brother and saw the van approaching from Mexborough but did not see the Barnsley bus or the motorcyclist. My brother started to cross the road. The bus went past and at the same time the van passed it. My brother waited for the van to get by and then made to cross the road. He was knocked down by a motorcyclist who was at the back of the bus. My brother seemed to walk into the side of the Motor-cycle, the driver of whit* managed to pull up in 10 yards. Norman was knocked to ground. The cyclist did not seem to be going very fast but it took him all his time to stick on his machine. I never heard any warning given by any of the drivers. 1 do nut think my brother or the cyclist saw each other until they collided, and I do not think the cyclist could have avoided him.”
Coroner: Why could not your sister see these vehicles?—Because she was sitting in a doorway.
It was a silly thing to tell him to do it without being able to see, was it not? – Yes.
The Coroner : I think you have given your evidence very well.
Horace Gilford, 15, Chapel Street. Swinton, a colliery fitter, and driver of the motor cycle, said that on May 15th he was riding along Wath Road, Roman Terrace, towards Mexborough. “I had come from Wath and had ridden about 400 yards behind a Barnsley bus, keeping about 10 yards from it. My speed would be about 15 miles an hour. I saw the Barnsley bus approach a van coming in the opposite direction. That was the reason why I never attempted to pass the bus. I never saw the lad until he ran across the roast and into the side of the motor-cycle. The distance the lad would run would be about four yards. I never had a chance of avoiding him. After the accident, I pulled up within 10 yards and went back to give assistance.
Witness said he had been driving for five year, and had never been involved in any previous accident.
Dr Jean Jackson Smith, house surgeon at the Mexborough Hospital, said Fern was admitted about 5 o’clock on May 15th suffering from a fractured skull. He was later operated m by Dr. L. Ram but died on the 22d. The fracture was from the left side round to the base and also running over the top of the head. The cause of death was laceration of the brain and fracture of the skull.
- verdict of “Accidental death” was returned, the driver of the motor -cycle being exonerated.