Express and Evening Chronicle (London, England), June 9, 1798 - June 12, 1798; Issue 575.
Friday last an inquest was taken upon the body of Thomas Roach, of Nailsea, in Somersetshire, who for many years past was foreman in one of the coal-mines belonging to Mr. White. The deceased was the first man who every morning went down the said coal-mine; the men who worked at the pit always made it a rule to wait for him, if he was not there. This circumstance was known to most of the inhabitants of the parish. On the morning of the 29th of May the deceased, in the presence of many of his brother miners, fixed the pit-rope round his thigh in the usual way to go down into the pit; his head was just out of sight, when the rope gave way; the deceased then fell full sixty yards, to the bottom of the said pit; the end of the rope that was round the drum was examined, and proved to have been cut with a sharp instrument nearly off, and round that end of the rope was tied a long strap of leather cord, much used by the miners for tying up their hair. The miners then proceeded to go down after the deceased, and soon drew the poor man up. Strong suspicion took place against Elijah Rodgers, a coal-miner, who was in consequence taken into custody. The Coroner's Jury consisted of the most respectable people of the neighbourhood - Sir A. Elton and many other Gentlemen attended. The Jurors verdict was, that the said rope was wilfully and feloniously cut by some person or persons unknown, by which means the deceased Thomas Roach was murdered. Elijah was the discharged.
Stan
