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Details of Event: 6 January 1940: KILLED IN "MYSTERY" ACCIDENT - In the inquiry into the death of Duncan M'Galloway (54), colliery washerman, Tushielaw, Lochore, witnesses said they were unable to state definitely how the accident had occurred. McGalloway died on January 6 in the coal washery at Lochore Colliery, having been killed by falling into a water channel and suffocated. George Anderson (28), colliery washerman, 4 Balbeddie Terrace, Lochore, said that he missed M'Galloway about eleven o'clock and wondered what was wrong. He went to the first floor, but M'Galloway was not there. He was returning through the second floor when he saw some rags attached to a flywheel. Witness stopped the machinery immediately and informed the surface foreman. After search they found McGalloway’s body about 15 to 20 feet from where they had seen the rags. Apart from the clothing caught on the flywheel, he found nothing to give him a clue as to how the accident had happened. Only Evidence - George Hutchison, Belmont, Cowdenbeath, agent for the Lochore Colliery, said it was possible that McGalloway had come in contact with the key on the flywheel in stepping round about it when the machinery was in motion. The only evidence they had was the clothing lying about the flywheel. Sheriff Umpherston returned a formal verdict. [Evening Telegraph 1 February 1940]