Gruesome fatality at Hayward Tyler

Digest of stories from the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: February 16th, 1918.

Hayward Tyler factory, Luton, 1907

A terrible fatality occurred on Thursday morning at Messrs Hayward Tyler's works, Crawley Green Road. Arthur Dorban, aged 47, a plumber at the works and a very popular man among his workmates, was caught in the revolving shaft and whirled around. His injuries were too awful to describe, and he died almost instantaneously.

An inquest was opened this morning at the Court House by the Deputy Coroner (Mr G. J. M. Whyley). From the Coroner's statement it appeared that on Thursday morning the deceased was fitting a tray under a moulding shaft which was going at the rate of 150 revolutions a minute. Somehow his clothing was caught in the shafting, and he was whirled round and was killed almost outright. The body was conveyed to the mortuary.

The Coroner added that he could not go on with the enquiry until the Factory Inspector was present.

Mrs Florence Torban, wife of deceased, of 16 Frederic Street, gave evidence of identification. She last saw him alive on Thursday morning when he left to go to work.

The inquest was adjourned until 2 pm on Wednesday.

  • There are now about 30 interned Austrians engaged in Luton, and there has been some little difficulty about their food. The Town Clerk, as Executive Officer of the Food Committee, said the interned men had to put up with bully beef one day last week, just as many Luton people had to, but unlike many Luton people they declined to do so on the second day. They were told that if they would not eat corned beef they must go without meat. It was Hobson's choice.

  • Quartermaster-Sgt James Lawson, of the Bedfords and of 167 Hitchin Road, is home on leave looking very fit. Before the war he was a member of the committee of the Luton Labour Club and a member of the Luton Socialist Party. He enlisted in August 1914 and was quickly promoted, and his splendid bravery and coolness on one occasion during the Somme battle resulted in him being recommended for the DCM. But he preferred promotion and was then given his present rank.

  • Pte G. Callaghan, of the Remount Depot, Army Service Corps, Dunstable Road, Luton, was thrown from a restive horse about ten o'clock yesterday morning and fell under three others. He was kicked rather badly and sustained injuries to the stomach. After being taken in the premises of the Luton Sanitary Steam Laundry Co, he was conveyed to the Bute Hospital, where he is now progressing.

  • A meeting was held on Tuesday in the Adult School, Leagrave, to consider the formation of a local branch of the Workers' Union. It is understood a good number joined up, and from all appearances it seems to have a successful future before it.

  • Chief Constable Griffin has received the following letter from the Livestock Commissioner, writing from his headquarters at Cambridge: "I am directed by Lord Rhondda to convey to you the expression of his greatest appreciation of the efficient manner in which the census of livestock was taken. The celerity with which the work was performed, the helpfulness and tact displayed by the individual constables dealing with farmers, and the despatch shown in subsequently returning the forms to the offices of the Ministry, reflect the highest credit on the efficiency of your department."

  • Luton Town FC preserved their unbeaten record but failed to score for the first time in a 0-0 draw with Royal Artillery visitors from Abbey Wood, the new command of Col Alexander, formerly at Biscot Camp. The game scarcely came up to expectations and at times was deadly dull.