Fatal accident in Newspaper?

[crayspond]

Hi to everyone at TS,

I wonder if anyone who has access to the Glasgow Newspapers c.1924 could have a look for the following accident which happened to my poor Great Uncle Martin.

He died the year my father was born and there was always a mystery about how he died - i was told he was a Roofer and fell to his death. I have now printed a copy of his death cert . It came under Hillhead although he lived in Hallside St Glasgow.


Martin Flannigan 7th July 1924 Slater journeyman 30 years old Father Thomas Flannigan Mother Bridget Devine deceased
Cause of death spike wound of root of neck - witness J. Flannigan brother.

The RCE states at 6pm on 7th July 1924 in the Western Infirmary Glasgow accidental fall on to the top of a spiked railing per verdict of July.
Sounds a bit gruesome and i would be interested if it was reported in the newspapers of the day.
Any help greatly appreciated.

Regards
Ailsa

[Montrose Budie]

Hi Ailsa

The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) series of records at the National Archives of Scotland will hold info of interest; in this case, -

SC36 Glasgow Sheriff Court 1748-1988
SC36/30 Records of Fatal Accident Inquiries 1900-1983

Reference SC36/30/1924/78
Title Fatal Accident Inquiry: Martin Flannigan, slater, 34 Hallside Street, Glasgow, died on 7 July 1924
Dates 1924
Access status Open


An email to NAS should result in copies of the papers, for the cost of the photcopies.


As you suggest, it's also very probable that the Glasgow newspapers will have reports of his unfortunate death.

mb

[crayspond]

Hi Montrose Budie,

Thanks for the info - I will send an email off to them and see what happens. I am not sure if there is still free access to the newspaper archives as it seems to go off and on! does anyone know?

Ailsa

[LesleyB]

Hi Ailsa
If memory serves me right (and it does no always!) I don't think there was ever access, free or otherwise, to Glasgow newspapers for the period after 1900. You would, I think need to go the the Mitchell Library and trawl through the papers one by one, either in bound books or microfilm.

Best wishes
Lesley

[trish1]

Hi Montrose Budie,

Thanks for the info - I will send an email off to them and see what happens. I am not sure if there is still free access to the newspaper archives as it seems to go off and on! does anyone know?

Ailsa

Hello Ailsa

It has been my experience when dealing with NAS by mail that there is a minimum charge of 10 pounds - which covers the cost of the first x number of pages (I don't know the number for x - as my purchases have always cost the minimum). I have always found them to be very prompt in returning a quote for the information using email.

Trish

[Currie]

Hello Ailsa,

If you’re unable to access the microfilm or paper copies, and if no kind person can help, it may be worthwhile keeping an eye on the progress of what Google News Archive is doing with the Glasgow Herald. They have digitised it from 1937 for quite a few years. Maybe, hopefully, they’ll do some earlier years as well. I’ve no idea when or if this will happen as they don’t advertise their future plans or past progress. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=G ... 7&b_mode=2

Searching for Martin Flannigan as a phrase in The Scotsman free search only brings up something in December, 1922. I don’t know how common the name was but maybe there’s a connection, that’s if it wasn’t a false hit. http://archive.scotsman.com/search.cfm? ... tyType=all

That form of death is a popular one in the movies but I think your Great Uncle’s is the first real-life one I’ve heard about.

Not much help,
Alan

[crayspond]

Thanks Lesley, Trish and Alan for replying. I had an automated reply from NAS so i will wait to see what they say.
It does seem unfortunate that he fell onto a spiked railing - he might have survived if he had landed elsewhere.
I imagine the inquiry is not going to be pleasant reading - but it would be interesting to hear what actually happened on that fateful day.

Thanks again,

Ailsa

[crayspond]

Hello to all,

An update on the enquiry email i sent to the NAS re Martin Flannigan. I received the following email today.

14th May 2010
NAS6/B3/2.3/2/41515{May}

Dear Ms. Reynolds,

Thank you for your enquiry dated 28th April requesting a copy of the 1924 Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death on 7th July 1924 of Martin Flannigan, a slater from 34 Hallside Street, Glasgow [SC36/30/1924/78].
This paper consists of the Proceedings in Inquiry which is a collection of examinations of witnesses giving proof to the fatal accident. Acquiring paper copies of these 16 pages will cost £15 (including postage and packaging).
If you decide to proceed with an order, please send a crossed cheque, drawn on a British account, or international money order, in sterling, made out in favour of the ‘National Archives of Scotland’, to: Accounts Department, National Archives of Scotland, General Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY.

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I will maybe leave it for a while until i purchase the copies- i thought it would be of interest to anyone thinking of contacting NAS.

Ailsa