The Derbyshire Times, Saturday, January 20th, 1923

Brassington man's Death on Roadside.

A sad fatality was investigated by Mr. Sidney Taylor, Coroner at Buxton, at Mouldridge Grange Farm, between Brassington and Bakewell on Wednesday, when an inquest was held on the body of George Roose (53), farm labourer at the Grange, who met with a tragic end on Tuesday.

The body, identified by Samuel Roose, farm bailiff, Cromford, deceased's brother, who said that Roose was a married man but had not seen his wife for 14 years, and it would be 11 years since he heard from her.

William A. Taylor, farmer, of the Miner's Standard Inn, Winster, said he was driving past the Grange about noon the previous day and saw deceased carting manure into a field with two horses. Witness knew the man well and he drew on one side to let him, (Taylor) pass with his float. Witness passed by and had got some 40 yards away when he heard deceased shout to his horses to stop, and looking round, saw the chain horse was through the gap and the shaft horse had its head through the gateway. Roose had hold of the shaft horse's head with his right hand and was holding the rein of the chain horse in his left hand. Deceased must have kicked a stone or slipped for he seemed to stumble and he disappeared from witness's sight behind the wall. The near wheel of the cart caught the wall. Witness hurried to the spot and found Roose on his knee with his nose in the mud and the cart was then over 50 yards away. Roose only moaned when spoken to. Witness got him to the roadside and made him comfortable on the grass before running for deceased's employer. When they got back Roose had moved over on to his stomach and he died soon afterwards. The time that would elapse would not be more than 20 minutes. Mr. Taylor added that he knew Roose to be a careful man, as he had worked for him some time back.

Thomas Robert Dunn, deceased's employer, said that Roose had worked on the farm since 1912 and he was a very careful man. When witness got to him he moaned, “Oh, dear, I doubt I'm done”.

In reply to a question the man stated that the cart wheel had gone over his body. He then repeated “Oh, dear!” a few times, went into unconsciousness, and died by the roadside.

Police-Constable Goodall, of Brassington, said that he examined the body, but could find few injuries. There was a bruise on the left thigh and also a mark across the stomach as though a wheel had passed over him. He could find no broken bones.

The Coroner: There was no actual breaking of the flesh? - No.

Mr. Taylor recorded a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Information compiled by Rosemary Lockie from various sources, 2000-2008.