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I was a hewer in No. 4, and I was down the pit on the 17th of April. I came to bank at 12 o'clock. Ralph White was my deputy. I walked to where the caution board was, and I saw Ralph White blow the lamp out. I am quite certain it was not left burning. He was before me nine or ten yards, and he stayed at the door till I got there. He then closed the door and blew the lamp out. No one has been talking to me on this subject since I left the pit.

(The Coroner.) Did anyone say anything to you at the office? — I have not spoken to anyone about it. I did not know what I was sent for. The pit was quite safe when I left it. I have never seen any trace of gas since I went to the colliery : and I have been here 12 years, since Tudhoe Grange was stopped.

(Mr. Bowey.) Have you seen White this morning? — No, sir.

Have you not come up to this court with Ralph White? — No, sir, I came up by myself.

(Mr. Bowey.) Just call Ralph White.

(The Witness, Ralph White, was called, but could not be found.)

(Mr. Bowey.) Who told you to come? — I was sent for out of the pit. They said I had to come to this place, and I came straight away. The waggon-way man came for me.

Do you mean to tell the jury that you have not come along the road to this court with Ralph White? — I am confident I have not.

(The Coroner.) Have you seen White since you came out of the pit? — No, sir.

(Mr. Bowey.) I have very strong information that he has.

(Witness.) And I have very strong information that I have not.

(Mr. Bowey.) Perhaps this witness may sit here for a quarter of an hour till White comes. I want to have this matter unravelled.

(The Coroner.) Are you quite sure that you have not spoken to White? — I have not seen White since I came out of the pit, and I have only been out of the pit half an hour.

(The Coroner.) I am inclined to believe this witness.

(Mr. Bowey.) That may be, but it will be more satisfactory to have the matter investigated.

(Mr. Edge.) Mention the name of the informant, and I will cross examine him to see whether there is any truth in his story or not.

(Mr. Bowey.) Another way of doing it is to have White here.

(Mr. Edge.) If your informant is telling you the truth, why should you hesitate to bring him forward? If he is telling you an untruth, the sooner you know it the better. Give me his name, and I will put him in the box.

(Mr. Bowey.) I ask the coroner to order this witness to remain till White arrives.

(The Coroner.) This man might go home and get washed. You see he has just left the pit.

(Mr. Bowey.) Have you been at the colliery office? — Yes, I went to see what I was wanted for.

(Mr. Stanton.) I sent for him, and ordered him not to speak to anybody till he came here.

(Mr. Bowey.) He may be re-called in an hour when White is here.

(The Coroner.) You may come back in an hour.

(Mr. Edge.) Do you live far from here? — I live at Mount Pleasant, near Spennymoor.

(Mr. Bowey.) I do not need to put any further questions to the last witness. I am quite satisfied there has been a mistake in the identity of the man.

(Mr. Edge.) You may go home, Mr. Forster, and get your "bait."

(Mr. Bell.) Who came first through the door on the night of the 17th, you or the deputy? — We both came together. He was sitting at the door to close it after we came out.

Did you shut the door? — No, he shut the door.

Did he put the light out? — Yes, he put the light out.

Did you both come out together? — Yes.

Then how could you be 10 yards behind him? — It was before we got to the door that I was 10 yards behind him.

Did he wait for you? — Yes, he is compelled to wait till all the men are out.

Which of you came out-bye first? — We both came out together. I cannot tell exactly which was first. He might follow me, or I might follow him.

What made you take particular notice of him blowing the lamp out? — We always take notice of it.

How many times have you seen him blow it out? You are quite sure he blew it out? — Yes, I am quite sure he did.

Have you ever been left in when the deputies have come out? — No, the deputy stays till all the men are out.

I came to bank at five minutes before 12 o'clock on the 17th. I had been working in No. 4 for about six weeks. The ventilation was good, and I did not see any gas that night. I did not see anything to cause me any anxiety as to the safety of the pit.

[(Mr. Edge.) I will call a hewer from each of the other districts, and then I will go on with the evidence of Mr. Johnson.]

I was a hewer in New No. 5 night shift. I came to bank at a quarter past 12 o'clock. I did not see any trace of gas. The ventilation was all right, and there was nothing to make me uneasy as to the condition of the mine. I have been in the pit 11 or 12 years.

(Mr. Bell.) Did you look for gas? — Yes, I examined my place.

Did you do so every day? — No, I did not do it every day.

You are sure you examined it that night? — Yes, sir, I am positive.

(Mr. Bell.) What made you look that night? — Because it was a fresh place I had got into.

I am a hewer in the night shift of No. 6 district. I have been in the pit 3 or 4 years. I went down at 5 o'clock, and came to bank at ten minutes to one o'clock. I did not see any signs of gas that night. I never tried for gas myself, but I have seen it. I saw nothing remiss in the pit that night.

(Mr. Bell.) You have seen gas in this pit when it was pointed out to you. How often? — Once.

When was this? — It was a good while back.

Where? — It was in the third West.

(Mr. Morley.) Where had you been working? — In the No. 6 way.

I am the certificated manager of Tudhoe Colliery. The last time the colliery was examined on behalf of the men was a week previous to the explosion. I produce the report books, and I confine myself to the Brockwell seam. This is the book in which the men enter the result of their examination. Under date April 13th is the following entry :— "Travelled in Shieldfield and all working places. Found little gas in the second right-hand flat and in the return. We found all things in good order and free from gas. Travelled with Charles Hetherington, Michael Mahady, and John Golding." The entry is signed by these men. On the 12th April Michael Mahady and John Golding travelled into Croxdale North Brokens, and in the return to Coldstream and the working places round about, and Sunderland Bridge and Pipeway Works, and in the return to Shieldfield off-takes. This entry is signed by Mahady and Golding. April 11th, "Travelled Croxdale whole and in return to the Fan, and to No. 1 engine plane, into Team Valley workings and back to the return, and found all places in good order and free from gas." Signed, Charles Hetherington, Michael Mahady, and Charles Golding. April 7th, "West Pit travelled with Michael Rivers from up-cast shaft by the return from No. 4, and through there into No. 6 from the return. Went into the return on the east side of No. 6, and travelled back over, and found all in good order and clear of gas." Signed on behalf of the men, J. Lindsley and Robert Blenkinsopp. April 6th, "Travelled from shaft with John Nesbitt in No. 6 workings, back over by engine plane into No. 4 workings, and found all right and clear of gas. Travelled with T. Thompson into No. 5 workings, and back over by the return, and found all right and clear of gas. Signed, James Lindsley and Robert Blenkinsopp. It has been very frequently examined since 1874, but it is not recorded in this book.

(Mr. Edge.) As I understand, there is only one entry showing any gas found in the Brockwell seam? — Yes, that is so.

(Mr. Edge.) I propose to relieve the doctor, a professional man. I just want to ask him what these men died of.

(The Coroner.) I wrote to Dr. O'Hanlon saying I did not require his evidence.

(Mr. Edge.) I suppose it was to save the expense. Then, Dr. O'Hanlon, we will provide the guineas.