Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
Three parish-related deaths appeared in the Family Notices column. One of those listed had a Leeds residence, but the Batley cemetery burial was conducted by a St Mary’s priest. They were as follows:
BATLEY
HOWLEY.—On the 10th, inst., aged 23 months, James, son of Michael Howley, 36, New Street
WILSON.—On the 12th inst., aged 61 years, William Wilson, 3, St James’ Street.
BURKE.—On the 14th inst., aged 80 years, Bridget Burke, 86, Meanwood Street, Leeds.
News came through of the death of Private Patrick Lyons:
BATLEY CATHOLIC’S DEATH
The death of Private Patrick Lyons (27). K.O.Y.L.I., son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lyons, 16, New Street, Batley, is reported. Official news was received on Saturday that he died of wounds at a casualty clearing station in France on December 6th.
He worked at Soothill Wood Colliery as a hurrier and joined the Army in July, 1915. In January, 1916, he went to France, and had since been invalided home suffering from shell shock as a result of being buried by a shell. He returned to France early last year. Locally he was highly respected and connected with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Cross Bank.
Also in the news this week was Patrick’s father, John Lyons.
CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.
Interesting Point Raised in Dewsbury County Court.
Batley Mason’s Labourer who Lost Four Fingers Whilst Working at the Old Mill.John Lyons, mason’s labourer, 16, New Street, Batley, in Dewsbury County Court on Wednesday, sought to recover compensation for the loss of four fingers from his late employers, G. and H. Mortimer, Ltd., builders and contractors, Batley.
Mr. C. L. W. Nicholson (Messrs. Chadwick, Sons and Nicholson) appeared for the claimant, and Mr. R. A. Shepherd (instructed by Messrs. Day and Yewdall, Leeds) for the respondents.
Mr. Nicholson said Lyons had been in the respondents’ employ about 12 years. He and a mason named Riley had been carrying out certain work at Messrs. J. Blackburn and Co.’s Old Mill, Batley, Lyons being under the direction of Riley. On [1] September, 1917, Riley was told by the engineer of the mill, Mr. Gomersal, to get some wood to construct a platform for the glaziers who were to put in window lights. Riley told Lyons he would require his assistance, and they went to the blacksmith’s shop for a hand-saw. That could not be obtained, and they were told to use the circular saw. Riley fed the saw, and Lyons in taking off the pieces lost four fingers of his left hand. Lyons was entirely under orders of the mason, and was bound to do what he was told.
Lyons, in his evidence, said he did not notice whether the circular saw was guarded or not. He had no grip in his left hand now, and could not follow his work as a labourer. A fortnight after the accident Mr. George Mortimer went to his house to pay his wages but said he had no instructions to pay compensation. He had not worked since the accident.
A Circular Saw Not Part of a Mason’s Work.
Edmund Riley, mason, said he had no idea how the accident happened.
By Mr. Shepherd: He did not consider the use of a circular saw was included in mason’s work. Mr. Mortimer was not there when he used the saw. He had no experience as a joiner, and regarded a circular saw as a very dangerous machine, especially so when combined with a planing machine.
Do you suggest that it was ever contemplated by your employers that you should use a circular saw?—No.
Mr. Shepherd, in reply to the Judge, said the engineer did not tell Riley to use the circular saw. What he did say was “Help yourself to the wood which is lying about.” He could not conceive a more dangerous extension of the sphere of unemployment than for these men to be engaged on a circular saw of which their employers knew nothing.
The Judge: They have to do a great many things when the Mortimers are not about. It is an interesting point. A man says he has to obey the orders of another workman, but if a man gets an order entirely outside his ordinary work is the employer liable?
Mr. Shepherd: My point is that he is not.
C. W. Gomersal, engineer at the mill, said there was plenty of timber in the yard which could be used for the platform. He had no idea Riley intended to use the circular saw.
The Judge: But the timber must be of a size. Timber lying about would not be all of one size; there must be some cutting.
Witness says if he had known Riley intended to use the circular saw he should certainly have said there was no need for it. They kept a man for general repairs, which included machinery and occasional joinery work.
Mr. Geo. Mortimer said Riley and Lyons would not have been permitted to use the circular saw.
Mr. Nicholson: Do you think Lyons [was?] doing anything unreasonable in taking w[ood?] off the circular saw after Riley had cut it?
No. If he was taking wood off Riley it was all right, if Riley had told him to take it off.
Mr. Shepherd: But would you have permitted Riley to use the circular saw if you had know he was using it?—I should not, nor would I have allowed Lyons to assist him.
His Honour Reserves Judgment.
His Honour reserved judgment, which he intimated might be given in Leeds next week.
The final snippet of St Mary’s News this week came from the previous Friday’s sitting of Batley Tribunal, which dealt with about 200 cases in a marathon 5½ hours sitting. These were:
P. Colleran (33), Whitaker Street, Field Lane, presser at Bankfoot Mill, m[arried]., A. —Personal application. —Temporary, March 15th.
The above referred to Patrick Colleran.
The decisions on claims by Messrs. J., T. and J. Taylor included a Temporary Exemption until 1 May for Michael Merriman (34), 25, Cooper Street, pressman, s[ingle], Cii.
And:
Richard Kelly (28), 32, Victoria Street, spinner for Simon Cooper’s executors, s[ingle], Cii, previously rejected, mother dependent. —Temporary, May 1st.
‘A’ meant Patrick Colleran was fit for general service overseas. ‘Cii’ meant Michael Merriman and Richard Kelly were deemed free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service in garrisons at home, and were able to walk five miles, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes
Past To Present Genealogy 