I've got this record now, it seems to fill in all the gaps; it confirms this is the correct Tom Thomas and clears up the carter question. It is a sad story but it's good to at least be aware of it. Thank you all for your help!
Oldham Chronicle, 27th June 1905
THE MILL FATALITY AT HEYSIDE – INQUEST AND VERDICT
Today (Tuesday) Mr F N Molesworth, district county coroner, held an inquest at the Lancashire Hotel Heyside on Thomas Thomas, a Welshman, who was killed at the Moss Lane Spinning Company on Saturday morning. Margaret Thomas, 16 Boston Street, off Ashton Road, identified the body as that of her husband who she said was 53 years of age and was an out-door labourer with some slight knowledge of carting. William Dawson 14 years of age, son of Edward Dawson, carrier, Henthorne street, Oldham, said that he and deceased went to the Moss Lane Mill on Saturday morning in charge of two horses and a lorry laiden with fifteen bales of cotton. When they reached the factory he told Thomas not to take the lorry further until witness had been to see the warehouseman and came back again. Deceased replied that he could get round the boiler house all right. When witness came back he found deceased had not taken a big enough round and had been pinched between the lorry and the wall which caused his death. Deceased was quite sober. If he had waited until witness came back the accident would not have occurred. John James Len, cardroom operative at Moss Lane Mill said the horse swerved and knocked deceased down. When he went up to him he died in his arms. P.C Jones stated that there were bruises on the neck and chin and a mark across the chest where a wheel of the lorry had passed over. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was recorded. Mr Crabtree, factory inspector was present as was also Mr Wm
Managing Directorof the Moss Lane Spinning Company. The coroner complimented the witness Dawson on the smart manner in which he had given his evidence.