Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Friday. December 1. 1922
A Fatal Mistake.
Wombwell Motorist’s Collision After Policeman’s Warning.
Yesterday Mr. C. J. Haworth, West Coroner, held an inquest Barn ley concerning the death of Geoffrey Outram, aged 24, a gasfitter, of 1, Hawson Street, Wombwell, who died in the Beckett Hospital on Monday night following injuries he received in collision with a motor charabanc at the Viaduct Bridges, Stairfoot. He was riding a motor-cycle.
Deceased father, George Outram, of 1, Hawson Street, Wombwell, said deceased had good eyesight and hearing end was a very careful driver.
Police-constable Large, of the Barnsley Borough Police, said he was on point duty at the Viaduct Bridge, Stairfoot, on Saturday, when he saw a characanc , oming down Doncaster road proceeding in the direction of Barnsley at about 5 to 6 miles an hour. Witness signalled the charabanc to come on and then heard a motor horn. He turned found and saw Outram corning up Grange Lane in the direction of Wombwell.
The Coroner:— What did you do? —As I had already signalled the charabanc I put my hand up as a signal for him to stop. He was then a matter of about 50 yards away. I stood facing him all the time, my and against him until he was within 20 yards. Then I moved slightly forward, waved my hand, and shouted to him to stop.
What speed would he be coming at?—About 12 miles an hour. He failed to stop and attempted to pass in front of the charabanc with the result that he collided with the charabanc.
Witness added that the left mudguard of the chara caught the motor-cycle and deceased was thrown off being pinned between the cycle and the chara. The chara did not go over deceased, who was found to have sustained a broken leg.
How do you account for him coming on after he had received your signal?
He seemed to be looking down at his engine or his pedals.
Wouldn’t he hear you shout —He must have done, he could not help but hear me.
Dr. Murray, house surgeon at the Beckett Hospital, said a post mortem examination showed that death was due to meningitis and pleurisy.
The Coroner: Do you say death was accelerated by his being thrown on the road?—lt is a very difficult question to answer. It is possible that if he had not had this accident he might have been alive to-day. On the other hand it is possible the accident had nothing to do with his death.
Alice Mary Handley, 50. Park Street, Wombwell, Outram’s fiancee, said deceased told her in hospital he thought the signal he received was to go forward. He could not see the chara because it was in the shadow of -the bridge.
The Coroner asked Police-constable Large if he thought deceased was deliberately trying to pass him against his signal.
Police-constable Large: My opinion is that he lost control.
Jacob Gleadall, 11. Bond Street Wombwell, a miner, said the cycle seemed to shoot forward when the constable had his hand up. Witness said the constable’s signal to the deceased to stop was perfectly clear to him.
The jury returned a verdict that death was due to meningitis and pleurisy; and on the point of signalling they exonerated Police-constable Large from any blame.