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Full Details

Surname
MURRAY
Forename
William
Day
07
Month
10
Year
1903
Age
47
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Ashington
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Ashington Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Ashington
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Died 5th September 1904. Deceased met with two slight accidents in the mine on the October and 7th November neither of which were reported to me. The first was caused by a piece of coal falling from the face and displacing a prop which struck him on the side he finished his shift but was off work about a fortnight. He then resumed work for a fortnight when he appears to have strained his side on 7th November while lifting a tub he again finished his shift but was off work six weeks. He started work again on 4th January and worked intermittently until 11th March after which date he worked no more and slow progressive paralysis set in and he died of exhaustion from disease of the spinal cord. An inquest was opened and adjourned for a post mortem examination and part of the spinal cord was sent to Dr. Bolam of Newcastle Infirmary for examination. Dr. Bolam was not present at the adjourned inquest but a written report from him was produced in which he stated that he found the spinal cord diseased and added "I am of opinion that it is of old standing." The local doctor who had attended deceased and who made the post-mortem examination thought the symptoms might have been caused or accelerated by the accidents. The Jury found that death was due to disease of the spinal cord resulting from the accidents.