'INQUEST AT ST HELENS'

On Monday morning about 9 o'clock as William Crooks, aged 67, who was employed as gateman at the level crossing at Sutton near to the Golden Cross, was in the act of moving some waggons to make a clear passage across the line, an engine belonging to the London and North Western Railway Company shunted some waggons from the main line into the siding, which came forcibly in contact with the waggons deceased was moving. The poor fellow was knocked down, the waggons passed over him and he died shortly afterwards. On Tuesday an inquest was held at the Golden Cross before C. E. Driffield Esq. On view of the body and after hearing the evidence, several members of the jury expressed an opinion that the crossing was extremely dangerous and that at least an over foot bridge ought to be constructed for the safety and convenience of the public. Frequently the crossing was blocked up with waggons and children going to and returning from the schools, and also other persons on business, had to wait a considerable time before they could get across and not unfrequently had to thread their way between waggons. Mr Boyle said that he thought that the jury ought to make a presentment or recommendation on the subject to the railway company. The Coroner objected to anything of the sort on the ground that the deceased was a servant of the railway company…After some angry discussion the jury found a verdict of accidental death. It was then moved and seconded (foreman acting as chairman) that a presentment should be made signed by the whole of the Jury, which was carried unanimously. The following is a copy of the original having been lodged in our hands. 'We the undersigned being the Jury appointed to enquire into the cause of the death of William Crooks held at the Golden Cross, Sutton, resolved that we are of the opinion that an overbridge is necessary to protect the public from accident. James Spencer, foreman, William Greenall, John P Boyle, James Banks, Edward Greenhough, Thomas Morris, Peter Royle, John Ball, Samuel Kelshaw, James Gee, James Grace, Neville Muncaster.'

Published in The St.Helens Weekly News on Saturday May 25th 1861