Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 30 May 1930

Fatal Wobble.

Lundhill Motor-Cyclist Killed

A Queer Accident.

A verdict of “‘Death by misadventure” was returned at the inquest at Barnsley yesterday on Charles Oxley (22), miner, of Lundhill, who died in Beckett Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Oxley was involved in an accident at Stairfoot on the afternoon of Sunday. May 18th, and did not regain consciousness.

William Sharman, clay-worker, 70, Wombwell Lane, Stairfoot, stated that at 1-30 on May 18th, Oxley was riding a motor-cycle along Wombwell Lane, Stairfoot, i n the direction of Wombwell, when he seemed to be in difficulties. His front wheel was wobbling, and he appeared to be endeavouring to get out of the tram-lines. He got his machine under control, but another 150 yards ahead he again got into a wobble and skidded about 30 yards. Finally, the machine fell over and the rider was pitched into a wood fence on his near side, his bead striking it.

Oxley was travelling at a speed of between 15 and 20 miles an hour. He was picked up and taken to hospital at Barnsley in an ambulance.

The evidence of the injuries was that Oxley had abrasion of the face and paralysis of the left side. The right side of his skull was fractured. The cause of death was fracture of the skull.

The Coroner (Mr C. J. Haworth), said the accident may or may not have been caused by the wobble. It was an extraordinary thing; there was no means of ascertaining exactly what did happen.