Single Record

Full Details

Surname

KINGSFORD

Forename

Arthur Jnr

Day

27

Month

09

Year

1917

Age

Occupation

Filler

Mine/Quarry Name

Dalbeath, No.2 Pit

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Fife Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Crossgates

County

Fifeshire

Details of Event

27 September 1917: Hill of Beath Boy's Death - The next [Fatal Accident Inquiry at Dunfermline Sheriff Court under Sheriff Umpherston] was concerning the death of Arthur Kingsford, jun, filler, lately residing at Main Street, Hill of Beath, who died on 27th September in No.2 Dalbeath Pit, from injuries received by a quantity of coal falling on him from the face. After evidence had been given by James Graham, colliery manager; Stephen McDonough, fireman; Christopher Simpson, Robert Lockie and Neil Macallum. The Sheriff, in addressing the jury, said the jury would agree that the impression of the whole evidence was that the boy had gone down to the end of the part where he knew there was some coal lying, and put it in the hutch, and that Macallum and Lockie were so keen engineering some method of bringing down the coal that they failed to notice what Kingsfor was doing. He thought that the jusy would be justified, without imputing any blame for the boy's death - which one did not want to do upon any individual - to make a verdict in general terms which might be useful in avoiding a similar case. He suggested that the jury add to their formal part of their verdict “That we are of opinion that the men with whom Kingsford was employed assisting should have made certain when engaged in bringing down the length of coal from the face, that the boy under their charge was out of danger from the face coal.” The jury concurred. [Dunfermline Journal 3 November 1917]