Single Record

Full Details

Surname

JOHNSTON

Forename

David

Day

14

Month

01

Year

1916

Age

Occupation

Mine/Quarry Name

Minto

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Lochgelly

County

Fifeshire

Details of Event

14 January 1916: Cause of a Contractor's Death – In Dunfermline on Thursday an inquiry was held into the circumstances connected with the death of David Johnston, pithead contractor, lately residing at Station Road, Cardenden, who died on 14th January at Main Street, Townhill, in consequence of an alleged injury to the third finger of his right hand on 29th December 1915 at Minto Colliery, Auchterderran, when pushing a loaded hutch. Dr Angus Walker, Cardenden, deponed that on 3rd January deceased called for him complaining of a pain in the third finger of his right hand. On the occasion of a subsequent call, witness came to the conclusion that the malady was a whitlow. Witness lanced the finger on 5th January. He advised a further lancing, but deceased said he would go to Townhill where he had a sister-in-law, who was a nurse, and whom he would get to look after him. Witness did not see the man again alive. As a result of a post mortem examination on 17th January, it was disclosed that the man had an old-standing heart disease. There was not much evidence in the way of septic trouble in the finger. Witness was of the opinion that the cause of death was blood poisoning. There might have been a connection between the original finger injury and the death, but he could not positively say that there was. Dr Ramsay, Dunfermline, who also attended at the post mortem examination, expressed the view that the injury to the finger had nothing to do with the death, which was due to the condition of the man's lungs with probably a weakened heart. James Deas, pitheadman, Cardenden, a partner of the deceased, spoke to deceased having complained of a pain in his finger. Deceased continued at his work all day and continued to work daily up to the New Year holidays. James Haxton, a weighman at the Minto Colliery said he had heard deceased say, with reference to his finger, that the only thing he could think of getting was a bit of a jab putting a hutch on No 3 tumbler. The jury found the cause of death might have been blood poisoning, which might have been the result of an alleged injury to the third finger of his right hand at Minto Colliery when pushing a loaded hutch. [Lochgelly & Kelty News 16 May 1916]