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Details of Event: 3 September 1918: Blantyre Pit Accident - J. Rodgers v Wm. Baird & Co. (Ltd.) - In this action, James Rodgers, coal miner, 1 Watson Street, Larkfield, Blantyre, sued William Baird & Company (Limited), coalmasters, 168 West George Street, Glasgow, for £750 in name of solatium and damages in respect of the death of the pursuer's son, Patrick Rodgers (24), on 3rd September 1918, through being thrown out of a cage in which he, and other workmen were descending, or about to descend, the shaft of the defenders' Priory Pit Number 4, Blantyre, where he was employed. The pursuer averred fault and negligence on the part of the defenders in respect that the mechanism of the cage was defective, inefficient and dangerous, and also in respect that the defenders failed to take steps to ensure that the gates were regularly lowered by the pithead man. The defenders denied fault, and said that the accident was caused entirely by the fault of a pitheadman, a fellow-servant of the deceased Rodgers, and engaged in one common employment with him at the time of the accident, in that he failed to lower the gates, as he ought to have done. This was denied by the pursuer. The jury, after an hour's absence, returned a verdict for the pursuer, assessing the damages at £300. [Scotsman 5 March 1920]