From the Kent Herald, 25 March 1824.

On Friday afternoon some boys were gathering sand beneath the rocks on the London-road in Tunbridge Wells, one of them, of the name of May, was picking, and another of the name of Huesman, was collecting it, when the former heard a noise overhead and rushed out, but the latter, it is supposed, being in a stooping position, either had not sufficient warning, or was too far in to effect his escape. The part of the rock immediately over his head gave way, and he was buried beneath a vast quantity of earth; measures were instantly taken to dig him out, but fresh masses of earth continually falling rendered it dangerous to work. The body was in consequence reluctantly left till the next morning, when 14 men were set up to work, and at length they succeeding in finding it, but from the immense weight of the superincumbent earth, it was nearly flat. The poor boy must have been instantly killed. The deceased was about 12 years of age. The body was carried to the "Hare & Hounds" to wait the Coroner's inquest.

On Monday I. N Dudlow, Esq. Coroner for the Maidstone District, arrived, and a Jury of the parishioners of Spelhurst were sworn. Two witnesses were called, Mr. Robert Hart, and the boy May, whose evidence went to establish the above circumstances, and the jury, after a few remarks from the Coroner, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."