At the Llandilo Petty Sessions on Saturday the adjourned prosecution
of Thomas Michael, a collier formerly employed at the Garnant Colliery,
Cwmamman, who was charged with causing the death of the ten men killed
at the colliery on January 16 last by the breakage of the shaft rope,
was resumed before Mr. H.Peel and Mr. Thursby Pelham. It will be remembered
that the defendant was accused of having unlawfully tampered with the
lever working the "keeps" which support the cage, by which
means the rope received a sudden and severe jerk, and to that the breakage
was attributed. The coroner's jury, in their verdict, considered Michael's
conduct reprehensible, but not culpable. Mr. T.G. Williams again appeared
for the prosecution, Mr. Howell for the defendant (who was on bail)
and Mr. Simons represented the colliery company.-Further evidence having
been taken, Mr. T. E. Wales, the Government inspector of mines, was
called for the defence. Mr. Wales stated that he examined the broken
rope on the day of the accident, and again on the following day. He
also looked at the "keeps" on the side where the accident
happened. The bar of the horse door was produced at the inquest to show
where the "keeps" caught, so it was said; but the marks were
really where the "keeps" passed over it. Mr. Howell was then
about to call further evidence, when the Bench interposed and said they
had heard enough. The case would be dismissed. The result was received
with marks of approbation by a number of the defendant's fellow workmen.