Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 12, 1929

Fatal Hesitation
Mexboro’ Woman Killed by Car.
Evidence “Not Satisfactory.”

“I cannot say that the evidence is satisfactory in one way, because no witness agrees with the other. The evidence of the driver of the private car can be taken against that of the two boys and yet I cannot understand in the driver’s evidence that apparently he saw no one with the woman,” was part of the summing up of Mr. W. H. Carlile at an enquiry at the Montagu Hospital on Friday into the death of Mrs. Sarah Sherratt (57), of 8, James Street, Mexborough, who was knocked down by a motor-car on Tuesday evening. Mr Carlile sat with a jury, and there were also Present Inspector Redfern and Mr. L. H. Brittain, of Rotherham, represented the driver of the car.

Arthur Sherratt, miner, of 8, James Street, Mexborough, husband of deceased, said at 9-35 p.m. on Tuesday his wife went out with her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Sherratt, to see the latter to a ‘bus. Witness was informed of the accident and ran to the scene and found three persons attending to his wife. She was unconscious. They took her home where she was attended by Dr. J. J. Huey, who ordered her removal to the Montagu Hospital. His wife never regained consciousness and died the following morning. She had good hearing and sight.

William Henry Davies, screenhand, of 18, Clayfield Read, Mexborough, said he was standing at the corner of New Street. He saw deceased and her daughter-in-law go from New Street, cross towards the Miner’s Arms Inn, and stop a Barnsley ‘bus. The daughter-in-law got in and Mrs. Sherratt started to re-cross the road towards the New Street pavement. As she was doing so, a two-seater car came along from Mexborough and when Mrs. Sherratt saw it, she turned back and the car hit her.The motorist had sounded his horn 15 yards away and applied his brakes when five yards from the woman, but failed to pull up. The right side front mudguard knocked her down. In his opinion, the cause of the accident was hesitation on the part of the woman. The driver of the car could not have avoided her and did everything possible to avert the accident. Witness estimated the speed of the car at about 12 miles per hour. The man had only his side lamps on yet there was plenty of light. The woman had taken three steps when she was struck.

A juryman : Had the ‘bus pulled well into the side of the road?—He had one wheel in the tram lines.

Coroner: What space was there between the ‘bus and New Street side of the road—About 5 yards.

Witness added that a trackless car was approaching the back of the ‘bus. If Mrs. Sherratt had continued walking she would not have been hurt.

Ernest John Ramon, pony driver, of 26, Clayfield Road, Mexhorough, another eyewitness, gave similar evidence. The car travelled nearly a yard after hitting the woman who had stood still on the roadway instead of making for the pavement. The motorist had no room to pass. He thought the woman was too frightened to move.

In answer to Mr. Brittain, witness said the motorist could not have run onto the pavement because he would have hit several youths. Bernard Adams, apprentice fitter, of 100, Victoria Road, Mexborough, a passenger in the oar said the driver did everything possible to avoid hitting the woman,

Sidney Bettridge, of 8, Shelley Street, Mint-borough, driver of the Barnsley ‘bus, said he saw the private car approach at a moderate speed and heard brakes jammed on when passing his ‘bus. He then heard a woman scream. On looking out of his cab window, he saw a woman lying on the ground with the front wheels of the car touching her. He had never seen a driver pull up so quickly.

Wm. Knowles. salesman, of Market Gallery, Accrington, driver of the car, said he left, Halifax at 7-20 p.m. on Tuesday and was making for Doncaster, calling on the way at Denaby Main, At Montagu Street, Mexborough, be stopped to enquire his way and Adams offered to show him , Nearing the scene of the accident, no saw a, ‘bus standing and sounded his born 15 yards from it. The road was on a gentle incline with a slight curve. When he was a yard from the front of the ‘bus, he saw Mrs Sherratt looking towards the ‘bus. He applied his brakes and blew his horn again and the woman turned round immediately and faced him. She screamed and instead of taking a further stride which would have taken her to safety, she took a step into his way. He thought that if he had not blown his horn a second time, the woman would have gone on safely.

Miss C. Wesley, matron at Montagu Hospital said Mrs. Sherratt was admitted to the institution on Tuesday last suffering from a fractured skull and shock. She never regained consciousness and died the following morning from her injuries.

The coroner said they were assured that the driver did everything to avoid the accident and had given his evidence in a straight-forward manner.

A verdict of “Accidental Death,” no blame being attached to the driver, was returned.