GEORGE PHILLIPS
KILLED BY A FALLING WALL.
On Friday afternoon the townspeople of Newbury were saddened by the news that a serious accident had happened at Greenharn, involving loss of one man's life and the injury of another. Owing to some sheds at Greenham Old Tanyard becoming useless they have for the past three or four months been in course of demolition, which work was being carried out at the time in question.
Two men were engaged on the job, one named James Tillett, who was under a contract with Messrs. Hollands Brothers, the owners of the Mills, and a younger, George Phillips, who was engaged by Tillett. They were at work on the end wall of a shed running nearly east and west. The three walls had been removed until there was only the end one standing, or at least very little of the side walls left. Tillett, who was a master bricklayer and a thoroughly practical man, expressed the opinion that there was no danger. The wind was blowing very heavily at the time and about five o'clock the wall collapsed burying Phillips and breaking Tillett's leg.
A lad happened to be passing at the time and he heard the cries for help. He went down by the side of the yard and then saw what was the matter. It did not take him long to get over the wall and get to Tillett whose leg was buried underneath the debris. The other poor fellow was unfortunately not to be seen, but a number of willing hands were soon on the spot trying to remove the mass of bricks which covered him. Not knowing where Phillips lay the work of extricating him took a considerable time, and then it was too late, for when they got him out it was only a lifeless body which they laid on the ground.
An inquest was necessary, and this was held on Saturday afternoon at the house in the yard. Being outside the borough the coroner was Mr. J. C. Pinniger, and the foreman of the jury was Mr. George White.
The first witness was Alfred Thomas Phillips, father of the deceased. He said he was a general labour living at Jack-street, and his son was also a general labourer, being twenty years of age. He worked at the Greenham Tanyard with James Tillett, who was a master bricklayer, and a man who thoroughly knew his business. He had been working there for the last three or four months pulling down the old buildings, but had never said anything about the work being dangerous.
Dr. Hickman gave evidence as to the injuries deceased had received. Death had taken place, and the body was being removed from the scene of the accident, as he arrived, but he ordered it to be brought back to the house. The ribs on the right side were nearly broken, and the face was knocked about, while a lot of blood and froth were oozing from the mouth. At the back of the head there was a long scalp wound six or seven inches in length, the scalp being detached from the skull, but the bones were not broken. The doctor gave it as his opinion that death was due to suffocation because be could not breathe.
Henry Corderoy, a lad living in Mayor's-lane, said he was going along the road towards the Swing-bridge about five minutes past five. When he heard cries of “help, help," three times but very faint. He came back over the bridge, went through the gate and down the bank. Here he got over a wall and saw Tillett lying across another low wall with bricks on his legs. He asked the lad to remove these, and he did so and then went for Mrs. Read, who lived near, while he himself went on his way to relieve a mate.
Elizabeth Read, wife of William Read, living at Greenhorn Mills, said she was called by the lad who said "Mrs. Read, will you lend me a hand?” Witness asked him what for and he replied "There's an old man with some bricks fell on him down in the tan yard." She went down and saw him in a kneeling position When she began to assist him he said “Where's my poor lad?" Witness replied “Whom do you mean, Phillips?" and he said “Yes, he’s amongst the bricks." She then went to Mr. Hollands for assistance, and he came. She saw deceased taken from under the bricks. There were several helping in the work of extricating the lad who was completely covered by the bricks.
The foreman of the jury.—How long do you think ft was between the time you got there and the time he was taken out?—Over half-an-hour.
Mr. Henry Hollands, who lives at the Mill House, deposed to being called about ten minutes past five by Mrs. Read, who informed him that the Tannery
wall had fallen and Tillett had broken his leg. He went down with his man Knight and found five men and women taking away the brickwork. He went to Tillett and ascertained as far as he could the nature of the injury; it was a broken leg. Seeing he could do no more to assist the willing hands already engaged in trying to extract the buried man he turned his attention to the living one, and with the help of another man he placed him on a door and removed him to the hospital. The contract to do the work was made by his brother with Tillett.
Mr. Alfred Hollands, although he was not sworn, as he did not know anything about the accident, informed the jury that Tillett had worked for them for a considerable time, and had done lots of jobs at one time or another. He was a very reliable man, and knew his work, and had expressed his opinion that he was carrying out the work in a proper manner.
After a short deliberation the jury returned the verdict of “accidentally killed by a wall falling upon him which he was employed to take down.”
THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Cemetery, and was witnessed by the largest number of friends for a very long time, the Cemetery being crowded. The Rev. G.A. Crawshay, curate of St. Nicholas’ Church, officiated. The Town Band, for whom the deceased was one of the collectors, was represented by Bandmaster Higgs, and they also sent a magnificent wreath.
Among the floral tributes, other than those of the family, were those from Messrs. Hollands, the Jack Hotel staff, his chums, the coachman at Goldwell under whom he had worked, and also one from the habitual followers of the Band.
The funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. H.S. Hanington.
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ALBERT THOMAS AND FANNY PHILLIPS wish to thank everyone of those who so kindly expressed their sympathy to them in their terrible loss.
- No. 1 Jack-street, Newbury.
NWN 14 March, 1901
