Mexborough and Swinton Times July 5, 1919

Swinton Railway Fatality

Schoolboy’s Sad Death.

Wilfred Cecil Petty (10), of 267, Queen. street, Swinton, who, a fortnight last Thursday, was ‘found lying unconscious on the .Mrdland Railway line near the Wath Junction, died in the Montagu Hospital on Thursday last.

An inquest was conducted by Mr. Frank Allen on Friday.

The deceased’s mother, Mrs. Annie Petty, a widow, said she last saw the boy before the accident at 8-30 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, when he left home to go to Masbro’ to inform his aunt of the death of his grandmother. He was given money for his train fare, and told to return as early as possible. Witness heard of the accident about eight o’clock the same night, from her brother, who had made enquiries at the Swinton railway station.

Mr. Augustus Dale, a platelayer on the Midland Railway, said that on Thursday, June 19, shortly after one o’clock, while returning home from work, in company with another man named Erie Kitchen, the fireman of the slow passenger train from Rotherham drew their attention to a boy, lying across the signal control wires, face downwards. He was severely injured about the face, and unconscious. They wrapped him up in their coats, and attracted the attention of some miners, who applied first aid. A stretcher was obtained, and deceased taken to the Montagu Hospital.

The last train to pass on the line near which, the body was found was the 12-27 p.m. express from Masbro’. A railway ticket from Masbro’ to Swinton was found in the boy’s pockets.

Mr. O’Connor Almey, District Controller for the Midland Railway Company, of 40, Firth Park Crescent, Sheffield, said the accident was reported to him on the same evening. He had since made enquiries, but had had no report of any of the carriage doors of the 12-27 train having been found open, or of any defective locks.

The Coroner: It is not impossible that the boy might have fallen out of the window?—It is not impossible, but it is very unlikely.

Witness said that the opinion he had formed of the accident was that the deceased became panic stricken when he passed through Swinton, and, that he jumped out. The train had not travelled more than a quarter of a mile past the station.

The Coroner: I think it is quite possible he may have fallen out of the window’ —Well, it is possible.

The Coroner said that it was rather surprising that no one had witnessed the accident, and that deceased had been able to obtain a carriage to himself.

Witness said that a great number of soldiers disembarked from the train at Masbro’, and there were a number of empty carriages. In reply to the coroner, Mrs. Petty said she did not believe for a moment that the boy lead deliberately jumped’ from the train. He had travelled often by himself, and was too sensible to do anything so rash. She thought he had been leaning too far out of the window and overbalanced.

The Coroner said he was inclined to agree with that view, though, of course, it was all hypothesis

Sister Annie Stevens said the deceased was admitted to the Hospital about two o’clock on the day of the accident. He was unconscious and was suffering from a scalp wound, a broken jaw, and concussion. His death was the result of shock, following his injuries.

Mrs. Petty said she was satisfied that the whole thing was a pure accident, and she wished to attribute blame to no one.

A verdict of ” Accidental death” was returned.