Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

JOHN SHAW (1896 - 1928)

John Shaw was a Labourer employed by CWS Building Department, engaged in the construction of the new CWS building in Corporation Street, Manchester. He and three other men were using a hand-operated crane on scaffolding when the crane collapsed and all four men fell to the ground, killing all four.

He was born in 1896 in Salford. His father was John James Shaw (born 1864 in War-rington, Lancashire), who was a L&W Railway Lampman, and his mother was Margaret Ellen (nee Birchall) Shaw (born 1867 in Salford). They were married 1886 at St Philip's Church, Salford. Their other children, all born in Salford, were: Alfred (born 1886), Mary (born 1889), Robert (born 1899), Ada (born 1901), Florence (born 1903), Margaret (born 1906) and Norman (born 1911). In 1901 the family lived at 12 Grove Place, Salford and in 1911 and 1921 they lived at 8 Browning Street, Salford.

On 31st March 1923, John Shaw married Annie Berry at St Stephen's Church, Salford. Annie was born in 1899 in Salford, and was the daughter of Thomas Berry (born 1876 in Salford), who was a Coal Carter, and Fanny (nee Bentham) Berry (born 1877 in Salford), who became a Shopkeeper after the death of her husband.

On 24th September 1928, John Shaw died, aged 32, as described above. He was buried at Weaste Cemetery, grave J/DISS/1810 on 29th September 1928.

A Coroner's Inquest was held and identified three men who died within hours of the accident as John Shaw aged 33, of Browning Street, Salford; Benjamin Burnett aged 31 of Arthur Street, Seedley; and Alfred Lees aged 23 of Geoffrey Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. (A fourth man was fighting for his life at Manchester Royal Infirmary, but lost that fight). The Foreman, William Mason was the first person to give evidence. He testified that the steel being hoisted by the jib crane weighed approximately two and a half and tons and that the crane had a safe working load of two tons. However, in his experience a safe working load of 2 tons could safely hoist up to 3 tons. He also said that the crane was inspected that morning at 8.30 am, and that the crane and the men were about 60 feet above the ground. The Coroner said that crane inspections must be entered into a prescribed Register, but Mr Mason was not aware of that rule. Mr Mason thought that the failure of the crane was probably due to an unseen defect.

The Foreman of the Plant Department, William Long said that the crane had not been used before this job since 1920 (eight years ago) and had lain uncovered in a yard. It also had no safe working load marked on it. A Police Sergeant giving evidence said that a portion of the woodwork was in very poor condition. The Clerk of Works, over the project, said that he was unaware of keeping an Inspection Register for cranes.

The Jury reached a verdict of Accidental Death, which was due to the overloading of the crane, to the breaking of rules and regulations, which should be enforced, and to the employment of inexperienced men on the job. Furthermore, the Jury added, that they consider that there is bound to be deterioration in a crane which has lain for eight years in a yard.