Alfred Freeman

Inquest, 2nd August 1895

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