Accident at Leney Brewery (1895)

Extract from Kent Times - Thursday 14 November 1895

WATERINGBURY. A FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday evening, a man named William Burton, a cooper by trade, from London, was engaged at the extensive alterations being carried out at Frederick Leney and Sons' Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury. and by some means fell from the second floor to the ground, a distance of about [?] 30 feet. Dr. A. Houghton-Brown was immediately summoned, and did everything possible for the poor fellow, but the case wee a hopeless one, and he died within half-an-hour of the incident. We understand his father was buried only a fortnight ago. His mother is very seriously ill. He had been married but a few months.

Extract from Kent Times - Thursday 10 December 1896

WATERINGBURY.

SEQUEL TO A FATAL FALL.—In the Queen's Beench Division, on Friday, before Mr justice Hawkins and a special jury, the case of Burton v. A. N. Pryer and Co was heard. Plaintiff was the widow of Mr H. S. Burton. who met hiS death whilst working at the Phoenix Brewery, Wateringbury. At the time defendents, builders of Maidstone, were re-building the brewery. There was a well hole which ran from the top of the premises to the bottom, and there were ladders which led from floor to floor. On the 13th November 1895 deceased came down one of these ladder and tripping over a plank lying at the bottom of the ladder he fell 25 feet down the well hole, fracturing his skull and died the same evening. Mr. Kemp Q.C. and Mr Peel were for the plaintiff and Mr. M?? for the defendants.The defence was that there was no evidence of negligence for which the defendants were liable. The jury returned a verdict for the defendants but they expressed a hope something might be done for the widow of the deceased. Mr. Justice Hawkins explained to them how dangerous it would be for defendenants to make any such offer once proceedings at law had begun. A juror suggested that the jurors might subscribe their guinea fee to further the object referred to ; no response was made and the matter fell through.