From the Kentish Gazette 20 November 1838.

On Wednesday an inquest was held at the "Canal Tavern," Milton, next Gravesend, before Mr. C. J. Carttar, Coroner for Kent, on the body of John Morris, a boy aged ten years, who was killed by a blow from a capstan on the banks of the Thames and Medway Canal, adjoining the "Cock," a short distance from the River. It appeared in evidence that on Sunday last a barge was entering the basin of the Canal at Milton, by means of a hawser round the capstan on the pier, when the pressure of water caused the barge to give a lurch, and the capstan, in which several iron bars were fixed, flew round with great violence. The deceased was running past the capstan as it began moving, and one of the bars struck him on the head and killed him on the spot. It was stated that several other fatal accidents of a similar nature had occurred on the same spot, and the Jury were unanimous in their condemnation of the practice of having the bars fixed in the capstan, by which many persons had lost their lives. Mr. Heath, a gentleman connected with the Canal Company, said the spot on which the capstan was fixed was private property; but admitted there was nothing to prevent any one going near the capstan when the barges were going in and out. The Jury said the place was a public thoroughfare, and persons were constantly passing over it, and some precautions ought to be taken. The Coroner said he concurred in all that had fallen from the Jury, and said unless chains were placed across the path in such a way so as to prevent any one approaching the capstan while it was revolving, the Company might be indicted for a nuisance, and other steps taken to remedy the evil. Mr. Heath promised a compliance with the wishes of the Jury, who, after some strong observations, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." Deodand on the bar 1s.