Barnett, Henry 1911 Dec 8th Broughton
Fatal Accident on the Road
The sad story of a young labourer’s fatal accident was related to the City Coroner (Mr S Buchanan Smith) and a jury, or whom Mr T B Bridie was foreman, at an inquest held in Salisbury Infirmary on Monday evening. His name was Henry Barnett, and according to the evidence, he was attempting to get into a wagon attached to a traction engine which was proceeding from Broughton to Danebury, when he slipped and fell on the road, the wheel of the wagon passing over his body. The accident happened on Friday afternoon and he died on Sunday afternoon.
Walter Barnett, an engine driver living at Nether Wallop, said that the deceased was his cousin. He was a labourer, single, and about 24 years of age, and lived with his parents at Upper Wallop. On Friday afternoon they were engaged in hauling gravel from Dunbridge Gravel Pit to Danebury. He was driving the engine. Shortly after leaving Broughton he heard someone shout, so he stopped the engine and got down. Then he found the deceased lying under one of the wagons. They moved him to the side of the road and sent for Dr Cusse who arrived shortly afterwards and ordered his removal to the Infirmary.
James Mould, of Winterslow, a labourer in the employ of Mr J W Barnett, said that he was riding on the front carriage of he second wagon, and the deceased was waling on the right hand side of the road. Then he said to witness, “I think I shall have a ride now, Jimmie,” and put both hands on the wagon and his foot on the draw-bar which connected the two wagons. His foot slipped down the bar and he fell directly in front of the wheel of the wagon, which passed right over him. Witness shouted to the driver, who stopped immediately. With the driver’s assistance he moved the injured man to the side of the road and cycled off for Dr Cusse, who came in a few minutes. They obtained a motor car and brought Barnett to the Infirmary. He was conscious the whole of the time. The accident happened at about a quarter past three.
The House Surgeon of the Infirmary said the deceased was admitted about 5 o’clock. His trousers were saturated with blood, and blood was flowing freely from a wound in the upper part of the thigh. He sent for Dr Kempe who came immediately and made preparations for an operation. They found the pelvis was fractured and some of the muscles stripped and lacerated. They filled the cavity with gases to arrest the hemorrhage. Barnett recovered from the operation, but was suffering from shock and got worse on Sunday morning, and died in the afternoon. In witness’s opinion death was die to shock, following the injuries.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 