Western Mail Thursday April 8th 1926.
A tragic story of a four-year-old Abercynon boys' death by scalding while on holiday
at Gillingham, Kent, was related at a Rochester inquest.
The lad, Arthur HEALEY, was the son of Arthur Declan HEALEY, a Poor-law relieving officer
at Abercynon. The boy left Abercynon last Thursday, accompanied by his mother, to spend
Easter with his grandmother, Mrs. Constance HERRING, of Church-road, Gillingham.
On Friday evening he was standing in front of the fire at his grandmother's house
chatting about his progress in school, and turned around to look in the glass over the
mantlepiece. "Haven't I grown a big boy?" he said. He turned around again
and fell back into the fireplace, knocking the spout of a kettle with his arm. The boiling
water scalded his stomach and his back, and he died at St. Barthelmew's Hospital,
Rochester.
It was stated at the inquest that there was no guard on the fire. The boy must of caught
his heel on the fender.
The coroner, returning a verdict of "Death by misadventure," offered his sincere
sympathy to the parents.
Walter POPLE 70, 29, Nantymoel-road, Nantymoel, a labourer at the Wyndham Colliery, Ogmore
Cale, died at the Csardiff Royal Infirmary, following an accident while loading trams.
A verdict of "Accidental death," was returned at the inquiry by the city coroner
(Dr. R.J. SMITH, J.P.) at Cardiff on Wednesday.
Mr. STOCKWOOD, the Bridgend district coroner, recorded a verdict of "Death from
natural causes" at the inquest on Wednesday on Mr. L.J. WARDEN, 75, of 2,
Railway-terrace, who collapsed in Bridge-street, Blaengarw, last Saturday morning and died
in the road.
Alfred THOMAS, a ten-year-old boy, of 3, Penhevad-street, Grangetown, Cardiff, was running
across Penarth-road on Wednesday when he was knocked down by a motor-car.
He was admitted to the Cardiff Royal Infirmary suffering from a fractured skull.
Ezekiel PHILLIPS, 21, tinworker; Daniel O'CONNOR, 27, labourer, and Frank SLATER, 17,
labourer, were indicted for stealing a quantity of lead, the property of the Port Talbot
Graving Company (Limited). O'CONNOR, was also indicted for breaking and entering the
booking-office of the Great Western Railway Company at Aberavon with intent to commit a
felony.
Mr. Frank DAVIES, (instructed by Mr. D. PERKINS) prosecuted and Mr. Glyn EDWARDS,
(instructed by Mr. WHERLE) defended SLATER.
A dairyman named John MORT said three mornings in succession he saw the prisoner pass a
private road near his house from the direction of the graving dock carrying heavy sacks.
Thomas EVANS, a general dealer, spoke to a number of visits paid to his store by the
prisoners PHILLIPS and O'CONNOR, who in the names of Steve MORRIS and William DAVIES,
sold him lead in quantities of about 1cwt. at a time, for which he paid the market price.
After the second transaction he became suspicious and informed the police.
The jury found the prisoners PHILLIPS and O'CONNOR guilty and the prisoner SLATER not
guilty.
SLATER was discharged, and PHILLIPS was detained pending the hearing of a second charge
against O'CONNOR.
A two-year-old child, Edna DAVIES, of Burrows-road, Swansea, has been admitted to the
Swansea Hospital with a shoulder injury, as the result, it is stated, of falling through a
grating.
Harry Field WARD,22, and Oliver BROWN, 20, were sent for trial at Bedwas on Wednesday,
charged with breaking and entering the shop of Montague FINE, Cwmfelinfach, on March 31,
and stealing goods to the value of £10.
GOLDEN WEDDING.
Mr. and Mrs. G.A. MARTIN, of Belgrave House, 37, Tynewydd-road, Barry Dock, attained their
golden wedding on Wednesdsay and received congratulations of their two surviving sons,
three daughters, and eleven grandchildren.
Mr. George Adam Martin, younger son of the late Mr.Thomas MARTIN, builder and undertaker,
of Stanmore, Middlesex, and Miss Lisette DAVIES, daughter of Mr. John DAVIES, builder and
undertaker, of Sully, were married on April 8, 1876, at Llandough Parish Church. There
were twelve children of the marriage, but only five are now alive.
Mr. A.G. MARTIN has been in South Wales for fifty years. During that time he was in the
service of the Taff Vale Railway Company at Penarth, removing to Barry shortly after the
opening of the first dock in 1889. Mr. Martin became foreman at the Barry Commercial
Graving Dock, retiring from the company after 27 years' service.
The next NEWS ITEM, will carry a WARNING. (What the bride wore).
John Patrick.- (eyes are very good, fingers sore now using a pencil to type).