DISTRESSING FATALITY AT BOUGHROOD<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n CRUSHED BY A MILL-WHEEL<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Touching the terrible death of William Powell (17), Boat row, Boughrood, an inquest was held before Mr F.L. Green, Presteigne (coroner for the Eastern Division of Radnorshire), at Mr C.S.W. Powell\u2019s residence, Boughrood, on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rev. Prebendary Jackson-Taylor was elected foreman of the jury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr James E. Ashworth, inspector of factories, Swansea, attended.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Immediately after the jury had viewed the body and inspected the scene of the fatality, Mr C.S.W. Powell, deposed that he was inspector of weights and measures for the county of Radnor and lived at Boatside villa, Boughrood.\u00a0 He identified the body as that of William Powell, who was employed by witness\u2019s father (Mr Charles Powell, the Castle, farmer and miller), as odd-jobs boy, that was, his duties were of a general character.\u00a0 Witness understood he was between 16 and 17 years of age. Deceased lived with his mother, who was a widow, at Boat row, Boughrood.\u00a0 The widow, he believed, got her living by sewing, and witness could not say whether she was, to any extent, dependent on deceased.\u00a0 Witness was with the lad at the time of the accident, that was, about 7.30 on the previous Wednesday morning.\u00a0 He went down to the mill to take a stick, or prop, from out of the water-wheel, and, in passing through the building, saw deceased with a bucket half full of water.\u00a0 Witness remarked \u201cWhat are you doing, Billy?\u201d\u00a0 He replied \u201cgoing to feed the pigs\u201d.\u00a0 Nothing further was said, and witness proceeded round to the wheel at full walking pace – not knowing that deceased was following him.\u00a0 While Mr Powell was in the act of taking the stick away, he saw the boy clutch, in stooping position, with both hands at the bottom of the stick, and, consequently witness let go his hold, allowing the lad to remove the stick \u2013 an act he did.\u00a0 Witness then turned to the right \u2013 an opposite direction to where deceased was standing \u2013 to place a bar against the railing.\u00a0\u00a0 After that, and just as he turned to go away, he caught sight of the boy falling into the wheel.\u00a0 Witness sprang towards him, but failed to secure hold only just touching his coat.\u00a0 The wheel was then going down rather fast, because the river had swollen, and caused the water to overflow the sluices.\u00a0 That, coupled with the fact of the wheel being top heavy, caused it to revolve rapidly for half a turn or so, and take deceased right down under.\u00a0 Witness thereupon tried to lift the wheel, but found the task utterly impossible, and ran for help. He also shouted, and Thomas Weale, a postman, responded to his call.\u00a0 Weale came running down after him to the spot, and, in a few minutes, several others, who heard the call, were on the scene.\u00a0 They tried hard to get the wheel back round, so as to extricate the body, but the body prevented the wheel from turning.\u00a0 After endeavouring to remove the wheel for some time, more help was secured, and, with the aid of levers, they got deceased up.\u00a0 The work of extricating the body occupied an hour or more, and, when raised, the lad was quite dead.\u00a0 The stick, or prop, witness had referred to, was put to stop the wheel going round when the river was swollen, and the water therefrom overflowed the sluices.\u00a0 Witness sometimes worked the wheel for his father, and, as he placed the stick in it the night before, he went to remove it on the morning in question.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: Had there ever been an accident at the mill before?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes; but before my memory.\u00a0 A man is said to have been killed there many years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: Had this boy met with an accident at the mill before?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes; he got meddling with the chain. He was probably climbing down the chain inside the mill, but no one seems to know exactly how he hurt himself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: Do you know anything about a notice having been given for the wheel to be fenced?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes, notice was received from the Inspector of Factories last October, requiring a fence to be placed alongside the water-wheel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: Was that notice complied with?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: When?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: At once.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: What do you mean by \u201cat once\u201d?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Within a few days of its receipt, or with all possible speed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: Had you used the prop for the purpose described before?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes; several times in flood, when the river had overflowed the sluices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: Could you remove the prop alone?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n `\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: What I mean is, there must be a deal of pressure on the wheel sometimes, when you might not be able to remove the prop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: I could do so on the occasion in question, because the river had fallen a great deal snce the night before.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: To remove the prop it was necessary for someone to go inside the wheel?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: If the fence were placed, say 18 inches nearer the wheel, the prop could be removed without going inside?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: It might.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth (to the coroner): I say the fence is a little too far from the wheel, because, at present, anyone, going to remove the prop, must get inside it.\u00a0 The fence, as far as it goes, is good enough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Foreman: Could there not be some arrangement to sprag the water-wheel from inside the mill?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: I think there should be.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: Yes, if that could be done, it would be better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Foreman: There would be less danger, anyway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr W. Jones (juror): Did you ask the boy to help you?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: No; he followed voluntarily. He might have thought he would be wanted to hold the light.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: The boy was in the course of his employment?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: He was about to feed the pigs, and was at the wheel with me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Foreman: Had the lad been there before?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Foreman: Then, very likely, he thought he was wanted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: Yes; no doubt he did, to hold the lamp, or something.\u00a0 That, of course, was only known to himself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: You, as far as you know, say he was trying to help you?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: I saw him clutch, and remove the stick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mr W. Jones: But that was contrary to his orders, if he were told to feed the pigs?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: I only asked him what he was doing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: Had he ever removed the prop before?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness:\u00a0 Not himself; but he had been with others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inspector Ashworth: Then, he might have thought he was wanted, and went to help as part of his duties?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: He might, of course.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Foreman: It seems the boy thought he would be useful by going to the wheel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Witness: If anything, he saw the lamp, and thought he could hold it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mary Ann Powell, mother of deceased, said her lad was 17years of age on November 9th<\/sup> last. He was not her only son, but she was trusting him to help her get a living.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr Frederick James Jayne, of Tagarth, stated that he was called to Boat row, Boughrood, about 10 o\u2019clock, on the previous Wednesday morning, and found the body (dressed) lying on the table.\u00a0 Deceased face was very swollen and bruised, and a ittle blood was issuing from his left ear.\u00a0 Witness removed the clothes, which were wet, and made a close examination of the body.\u00a0 He found considerable bruises on the chest and back, there was also a fracture of the spine in the region of the neck, several ribs were broken, &c. The injuries were consistent with falling into, and crushed by, a wheel.\u00a0 Witness considered death was due to the fracture of the spine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Coroner: Thomas Weale, the postman, who ran down to help Mr Powell to get deceased from under the wheel, is here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The jury considered his evidence unnecessary, and, consequently, did not call him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Briefly summarising the evidence, the coroner thought the jury would not have much difficulty in arriving at how, when and where the poor fellow met his death, that was, there could be no doubt that his end was accidental.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A verdict of accidental death was returned, the jury recommending that the present fence alongside the wheel should be placed closer, so as to prevent anyone getting inside to take away the prop, or that the wheel be spragged by means of a bar through the wall from inside the mill.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Letters, embodying the recommendation, were ordered to be sent to the landlord and tenant.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The funeral was at Boughrood church, on Saturday afternoon, Rev. Prebendary Jackson-Taylor officiating.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/boughrood.wales\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/mill-death-wide-384x1024.png\")
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