TROVE TUESDAY - DEATH OF MOTOR CYCLIST

On 29 January 1938, my Grandfather, John William 'Bill' Leach was riding pillion with his mate Michael Robert Andrews.  A car driven by Frederick William Gray, overtook the motorbike three times on a journey from Mascot Bridge. The third time, the driver swerved towards the bike and on the corner of Botany Road and Coward Street, Mascot, the motorbike struck a post and the driver was killed. Gray was charged with murder.

Bill Leach with wife, Florence on his own motorbike in the early 1930s
Source: Nichols Family Archives

This was the 1930s and times were tough. Bill often fished around Botany Bay and then went around to some of the local hotels to sell his catch. On the day of the accident, Bill and Michael had been to Kogarah Bay.  Bill gave evidence at the inquest, he said that they were returning to Sydney when he noticed a car "that after crossing the Mascot Bridge and turning the corner 100 yards farther an Essex car crossed in front of them and to avoid it the cycle swerved from the concrete road to the side of the street." Andrews and Leach said together, "That was close." Further along the road, the car slowed down and the cycle went past. As drove past, Andrews shouted to the driver, "You fool" and words were exchanged.  Bill then stated that the car "seemed to swerve in upon the cycle" and he shouted, "Look out! Look out!" but the back wheel or some part of the car caught the front wheel of the cycle. He continued, "I had an impression of Andrews being hurled against a post. The next thing I remembered was sitting upon the roadway about 20 feet from the cycle. The car had gone on." 

A witness to the accident, Mrs Irene O'Donnell of Botany, "said that she saw the collision. She would say that the car was deliberately aimed at the motor cycle."

Mr Sabine, a Detective said that Gray had told him he had not stopped because he did not think he was responsible for the accident. Witnesses also mentioned that despite Gray seeing the accident he had not stopped. Andrews was admitted the Royal South Sydney Hospital but died within thirty minutes of admission, from a fractured skull. The coroner found that the death of Andrews was due to a fractured skull and brain injuries that were suffered in the collision. Michael was aged 37 and a fireman living at Alexandria. 

Evidence was given that Gray was an acceptable driver and his car in a satisfactory condition. Gray denied he was guilty but did admit to having consumed several drinks on the day. His version of events were supported by his two passengers, his wife and his brother-in-law.

The original charge of murder was reduced to the lesser charge of manslaughter. "There is no doubt that this is homicide," said the coroner, Mr. Oram, "and, to me, it certainly is punishable homicide. But there is no evidence of express malice, such as is necessary to sustain a charge of murder." Mr Oram said "the evidence did not indicate criminal maliciousness." Bail of £200 was set with two sureties of £200 was allowed. He was later sentenced to two years gaol for the manslaughter.

My grandfather was 27 years old and a building labourer. As a result of the accident he severely injured his wrist, arms and knees. The injuries plagued him for the remainder of his life. Due to his injuries he was in out of hospital and was unable to work for about six months. My Grandmother, Flo had to return to work as a box-maker to make ends meet. Joyce, my Mother, aged four and her two year old sister, Fay had to attend a special nursery school while she was at work. Andrews also left a widow and family.  

Sydney Morning Herald  22 February 1938, p. 12

References
MOTORIST FOR TRIAL. (1938, February 22). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12. Retrieved March 28, 2016
Drove Cyclist Off Road To His Death (1938, March 27). Truth, p. 25. Retrieved March 28, 2016
ROAD ACCIDENTS. (1938, January 31). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), , p. 14. Retrieved March 29, 2016

Accidental death of John Belshaw - Trove Tuesday

Fatal railway accident reported in The Maitland Daily Mercury 29 Aug 1902,  p. 3

Last week I attended a conference at the Australian Technology Park (ATP) at Eveleigh. This locality has always interested me due to a family connection. ATP was originally the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops was the locality of the shocking death of John Belshaw in 1902.

An interior view of the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops, Redfern
Photo: M. Nichols, 2015

The Belshaw family originated from County Down in Northern Ireland, and travelled on-board the steamer Orizaba departing from London in 1888 via South Australia to Victoria, finally arriving in Sydney in January 1889 with their four children Clara Crawford, born 1883; Georgina Mary, born 1885; Robert, born 1886  and Jane Allen born 1888. (To put it in context, Robert was the father of our maternal Grandmother). 

Sadly eight month old Jane succumbed to bronchitis on the voyage out, just a few days before the boat arrived in Adelaide. They made their home in Sydney and John found work as labourer. Times were tough as it was during the depression of the 1890s.

Shortly after arriving in Sydney, Georgina fell pregnant and gave birth to daughter Muriel Helen, late in 1889. After a large gap (nine years) she fell pregnant again, and had a son, Rodger. By 1898 the family were living in Redfern and John was still recorded as a general labourer.

However tragedy struck the family when John aged 45, was killed on the 29 August 1902. He was run over by a locomotive at the Redfern Railway Station. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported at the time of his death:

The City Coroner…held an inquest on Saturday morning concerning the death of John Allen Belshaw, a truck examiner, who was run over by a locomotive at the Redfern Railway station on the preceding day. Evidence was given to the effect that on Friday morning, deceased was the line behind two cars, when an engine came out from one of the platforms. Someone called out and deceased looked round, seemed to hesitate and was immediately knocked down and run over. The fireman of the engine stated that when deceased was first seen he was only a yard or two from the buffers. The whistle was blown and the brakes applied, the engine being brought up by its own length. A verdict of accidental death was returned. 

The Inquest was held at the Lloyd’s Hotel the following day with J. C. Woore the Coroner.  The Daily Telegraph article was a little more revealing. It stated that the “shocking fatality” happened about 8am and that the body was “fearfully mangled.” It also reported that Belshaw was “picked up in a terrible condition, his head being badly smashed and his right thigh crushed. The Civil Ambulance Brigade was summoned and the man removed to the Sydney Hospital where Dr. Webb pronounced life extinct.”  

Many years ago, and before Trove was conceived, the above articles were consulted from the main Sydney newspapers and the information duly added to then family archives.

More recently I decided to search Trove to see if any additional information could be located. Surprisingly a general search reveals 94 articles for this decade and of the 46 of these were from 1902 the year the accident occurred. Most of the articles were printed in New South Wales papers but the accident was also mentioned in all of the other states, as well. I have corrected some of the text but I do need to ensure that all of the articles are corrected and tagged.

Entries for the accidental death for John Belshaw on Trove in 1902

The point of the story, it pays not to narrow your search to just the locality where an event took place. You may miss out on some treasures.

The accidental death was reported as far away as Western Australia.
This small paragraph appeared in the Kalgoorlie Western Argus 2 Sep 1902, p. 31 

John was employed at the Darling Harbour yards in 1902. At the time of the accident the Belshaw family were residing at 7 Prospect Street, Surry Hills and Roger, the youngest child, was only 4 years old. 

7 Prospect Street, Surry Hills

His wife Georgina did not remarry and it must have been tough raising her family without a breadwinner. Georgina spent much of her remaining years as a volunteer at her local church in Darlinghurst.

Death certificate issued for John Belshaw in 1902
Source: Family archives

Charles Jennings' wooden leg - Trove Tuesday

My father, Ernest Charles Nichols 1932-2004, often spoke about his mother's father, Charles Robert Jennings 1867-1936. One of the stories he told was about his Grandfather's wooden leg.
 



Helena and Charles Jennings, Nichols family archive

In the early 1920s, Charles Jennings was sent from Wyong where he lived with his wife, Helena and family, to Richmond. He was to assist with the establishment of the Sawmill located near Richmond Railway Station. His family followed soon arriving in Richmond in August 1921 and they settled into March Street, Richmond. Family knew that Charles was involved in an accident and was rushed to Windsor Hospital. His leg was amputated and it was a miracle his other leg was saved. He wore a wooden leg for the remainder of his life. However no-one in the family knew the exact details until recently that is.

Some keen searching on Trove, the digitised newspapers revealed a small article about the circumstances and also provide a date. The article from the Hawkesbury Herald 1 December 1921 states: The unfortunate accident which happened at Goldsmith Bros & James'
saw mill, resulted in Mr Jennings losing
his foot. 

It also mentions that this was not his first accident,apparently Charles was most unfortunate in the following of mill work, having lost a thumb, and a couple of fingers. Another article in the Hawkesbury Herald (same issue) confirms that Charles had his left foot amputated at the ankle.  

After his recuperation the family decided to move to Riverstone and a property of 6 ¼ acres was purchased in Hamilton Road. There the family established a poultry farm and had about 500 hens which were sold to the Egg board. The family also had about four or five pigs, a couple of cows for milk, cockerels and fruit trees. Charles died 26 August 1936 and Helena died 24 March 1943. Both are buried in the Church of England (Anglican) section of Riverstone Cemetery.

Charles Robert Jennings 1867-1936, was the son of Robert Jennings 1844-1885 & Lucy Jessie nee Havens 1845-1913. If you want to find out more about Charles, you can check him out in the family tree.




Sources:

Charles Robert Jennings - Local and General. (1921, December 1). Hawkesbury Herald (Windsor, NSW : 1902 - 1945), p. 2. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66367248
District Illnesses. (1921, December 1). Hawkesbury Herald(Windsor, NSW : 1902 - 1945), p. 2. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66367261
Interviews with Florence Nichols nee Jennings, Ernest Charles Nichols & Geoffrey Alan Nichols
Death certificate of Charles Robert Jennings and Helena Bridget Jennings