MINE DISASTER

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1938, Page 2

MINE DISASTER

Gresford Death-Roll i’, ' - *• • • LONG-DELAYED INQUIRY. LONDON, November 1. More than fqur years after the Gresford Colliery disaster, which occurred on September 22, 1934, the inquest on the 264 victims was carried al stage further yesterday at Wrexham when verdicts were returned in regard- to 57 of the 253 men whose bodies have not been recovered, and on 11 whose bodies were found. When the proceedings were adjourned yesterday until November 9, the inquest on 196 men had still to be completed. The jury returned a verdict in each case that death was due to coal gas poisoning as the result of- an explosion, and that there was no evidence to show the cause of the explosion in the case of the bodies recovered. The East Denbighshire coroner, Mr. Maurice V. Evans, told the jury that since the inquest was last adjourned a further body—that of John Lewis, a rescue man—had been recovered. He had taken evidence of identification so that a burial certificate might be issued, but he called the evidence again before the jury so that they might return a verdict. —— ■- Mr; Edgar Hamilton .Erazep, North Western Divisional' Inspector of Mines, said no further exploration of the mine had taken place since the bodies were recovered. The Coroner: There is no immediate prospect of further exploration? Mr. Frazer: I am afraid not. Even if there were,, do you think that all the evidence has been destroyed by now? Will there be any evidence?—Not about the cause of the disaster. That would be destroyed by subsequent explosions. . The coroner said that was all the

evidence to be called on the recovered bodies. He did not see any object or need for inquiring further into the cause of the disaster, as an exhaustive inquiry had taken place, the commissioners had reported to Parliament, and the report had been considered. All that remained for the. jury was to return the cause of death;