MINE MANAGER ON TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1915, Page 8

MINE MANAGER ON TRIAL

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE. (Bt TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMILTON, This Day. The Huntly manslaughter charge againsfc James Fletcher, mine manager, was continued at the Supreme Court this morning. Under cross-examination by Mr. Skerrett, Frank Reed, Inspecting Engineer of Mines, said that from the position where the body of the miner Martin was found he came to the conclusion that Martin was walking in the direction of the door from the winch level. The d»« • leading into No. 6 bord was no element in the causation of the explosion, which was brought about by an eruption of gas from the blower in No. 5 bord. Under re-examination by Mr. Ostler, witness said that it was feasible for deceased Martin to have gone round by what was known as the Little Dip, which was about ten chains longer than the route taken by the other men ; but as he was a young man and alone he would travel faster. A hundred cubic feet of gas of a most explosive mixture would cause a violent explosion. Further evidence was given by. Frederick Berry (stableman), Joseph M. Brownley (horse driver), Alexander M'lntosh (machine man), Patrick Kennedy (tracker), and Daniel Weir, who had carried out the inspection of the old working over a period of four years. The last three witnesses said they had known of small quantities of gas in the mine previous to ' the disaster, and on one occasion a miner named Kelly was burned about the arms. All these witnesses were in the mine on the morning of the disaster. [Other evidence is 'reported on page 4 of this issue.]