HUNTLY DISASTER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 56, 8 March 1915, Page 8

HUNTLY DISASTER

MINE MANAGER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE. (Bf TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMILTON, This Day. The trial of James Fletcher, late manager of Ralph's Colliery, Huntly, on acharge of manslaughter at the recent pit disaster, was commenced to-day, before Mr. Justice Cooper and a special jury of twelve. The charge read : That on or about the 12th September, 1914, he did omit, without lawful excuse, to observe a legal duty in regard to the safety of the lives of the miners employed in Ralph's Colliery, and in consequence of such omission he did cause the death of William Burton and thereby commit manslaughter. Mr. Ostler is appearing for the Crown, and Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr. Tunks, for the defence. There are about twenty witnesses in the case, which is expected to last a week. The grounds of negligence alleged are : (1) That it was accused's practice to allow miners to go into the workings with naked lights to remove rails, in spite of the fact that he knew gas was being constantly found .there by , the deputy inspectors ; (2) that knowing the presence of gas in the mine and of ignitions and explosions that had taken place, arid that the mine was a dusty one and that coal dust is highly explosive, he did not order safety lamps to be used in the mine ; (2) that contrary to special rules he did not keep the door leading to the old workings locked ; (4) that he did not carry out the watering of the mine as instructed by the Government inspector ; (5) that he "did not cause a daily inspection of all parts of the mine to be made as required by the special rules, nor did he cause an adequate inspection of the old workings to be made.