Free Press. Friday June 24th 1898.
A CWMBRAN MAN�S SHOCKING DEATH.
At the Newport Town hall on Monday, Mr Lyndon Moore, borough coroner, held an inquest on the body of William Clarke 49, of 4, St. Thomas� Row, Pontnewydd, who died at the Newport Infirmary from the effects of injuries received whilst following his employment at the Cwmbran Patent Nut and Bolt Works. Deceased was engaged in the block house at the works on Tuesday, the 14th. inst, with other men. The men had lowered one shaft into a truck and the second was being lowered when the chain became slackened. The shaft slipped and the sudden jerk caused the hook of one of the pulleys to snap and the shaft fell to the ground. One end fell across the first shaft, causing the latter to fall off the truck and it fell upon Clarke.
The pulleys were capable of carrying 22 or 23 cwt. And the weight on the pulleys at the time was just under 9cwt. Deceased was conveyed to the Newport Infirmary where it was found that he was shockingly injured having five ribs broken most of them in three places and the left thigh and jaw bone was fractured, his head was injured and his left side was covered in cuts and bruises. Deceased died from exhaustion brought on by the injuries he had sustained.
The jury returned a verdict of �Accidental Death�. Mr F.W. Rafarel represented the Patent Nut and Bolt Company at the inquest.
.. Contributed by Joan Barker (nee Clarke) formerly of Pontnewydd ...
William Clarke was her Grandfather, and her Grandmother was Elizabeth Ann Clarke
.. Clarke's General Store - Grange Road 1910 ..
The Lady on the left is my paternal Grandmother Elizabeth Ann Clarke nee Turberville, with her youngest child Stanley outside her shop in Grange Rd in 1910. With her is her son William's wife Polly with her baby who I think died in infancy. I was born in Shamrock Villa which may have been in Thomas Row, off Grange Rd.