Single Record

Full Details

Surname

McMORROW

Forename

Francis

Day

08

Month

01

Year

1937

Age

Occupation

Mine worker

Mine/Quarry Name

Lindsay

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Fife Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Kelty

County

Fifeshire

Details of Event

8 January 1937: Mineworker's Death - Fife Coal Company Sued Bing Fumes Allegation - In Dunfermline Sheriff Court, yesterday, Sheriff-Substitute F.A. Umpherston allowed a proof in an action under the Workmen's Compensation Act in which it is alleged that a mineworker met his death as a result of inhaling fumes or gases from a redd bing. The claimants are Mrs Margaret M'Inally or M'Morrow, residing at 287 Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath, widow of Francis M'Morrow, mineworker, who resided there; Jane M'Morrow (16). and Francis Joseph M'Morrow (15), minor children of Francis M'Morrow; and the said Margaret M'Inally or M'Morrow, as tutor and administrator-in-law for her pupil son, Andrew M'Morrow. They are suing the Fife Coal Company (Limited) for £321 as compensation in respect of the death of Francis M'Morrow. Claimants state on record that the deceased Francis M'Morrow was in the employment of the respondents as a mineworker at their Lindsay Colliery, Kelty, and for some months prior to his death he was employed at surface work at the colliery. On December 30 and 31 1936, he was employed at work on the redd bing at the Lindsay Colliery. The Lindsay bing, claimants aver, is on fire internally and at times gives off noxious fumes and noxious gases. They allege that, on the dates mentioned, while in the course of his employment on the Lindsay bing he was injuriously affected by inhaling the fumes or gases emitted by the bing. As a result, they aver, he became seriously ill on December 31 1936, and died on January 8, 1937. His illness and death, claimants' allege, were wholly due to or were at least materially contributed to by the accidental inhalation by him of the noxious fumes or gases, given off by the Lindsay bing, to which he was exposed in consequence of his employment thereon. Respondents, who deny liability, state in their answers that on December 31, 1936, M'Morrow only worked on the bing from the start of his shift at 6 a.m. until, about.9 a.m., at which time he stopped work on the bing and finished his shift at the picking tables at the pithead. Respondents admit that the Lindsay bing is, in part, on fire internally, but they deny that it gives off noxious fumes and gases. They explain and aver that the death of Francis M'Morrow was due to natural causes, and that the illness which resulted in his death was neither caused nor contributed to by any accident arising out of and in the course of his employment with the respondents. Proof in the action was fixed for October 7 and 8. [Scotsman 23 June 1937]