Scott, William 1891 January 24th
An inquest was held in the Infirmary last Friday afternoon, before Mr G Smith (City Coroner), touching the death of William Oswald Scott, aged 19, of New Street, who met with an accident on the 30th December at Mr Curtis’s, Chipper Lane, where he was occasionally employed. Mr T Scamell was chosen foreman of the jury.
John Holmes, the manager of the Salisbury branch, was called. He said that he was working with the deceased at a wool-carding machine, commonly called the “devil.” He (witness) was feeding the machine and all that the deceased was required to do was to turn the handle. But he (deceased), although cautioned not to do so, put his hand now and then down into the box to make the wool go through faster. About two minutes after they started the deceased by some means or other put his hand down too far and consequently the spikes drew it in and when he pulled back his hand the fingers appeared to be torn to shreds. He at once bound up the hand and took him to the Infirmary. The machine was a perfect one, and had it been necessary to push down the wool it was his (witness’s) duty to do so and not the deceased’s. There was a whisk provided for the purpose.
In answer to a juryman’s inquiry, witness said that the deceased was competent to do the work as he had been there a fortnight and he had been employed at Mr Harfitt’s in Exeter Street for some time. (It was subsequently stated that the deceased asked for that kind of work as he said he was competent.)
Henry George Maddock, upholsterer, who was present at the time of the accident, also cautioned the deceased not to feed the machine as it was not his duty to do so. He believed it was a perfect machine and he should say the deceased was capable of using it.
Alfred George Curtis said that the deceased was employed by Holmes and he had enquired into the case and found out that the deceased would have to put his hands down nine or ten inches before he touched the spikes. It was certainly very indiscreet for the deceased to do as he did and it was contrary to a notice on the machine. He (Mr Curtis) did not know that the premises were under the Factory Act.
The Coroner informed witness that he had telegraphed to the Inspector, who, however, had not come and probably he would hear from him shortly.
Archibald Lloyd Sharpin, house surgeon at the Infirmary, said the right hand was a good deal lacerated, the first two fingers especially, the second finger being so lacerated that it had to be amputated. The hand was apparently doing well until Saturday (the 10th) when symptoms of lock jaw set in and gradually increased and he died on Thursday (the 16th). His opinion was that he died of lock jaw, the result of the accident.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 