Inquest was resumed Tuesday 24th May
Henry Hales said he was a collier, and on the morning of the explosion he was engaged in the bottom level. By the direction of Wood, the fireman, Hales, punched a borehole in the face, one yard two inches in length. About 9 am. He saw some water was leaking on the side of the heading, and left the place to help Joseph Biddulph to put out a fire near the shaft bottom and while he was thus engaged, the explosion occurred. Before going he told William Biddulph about the water leakage. Hales had previously worked in the heading in question three days and he did not see any bore holes till the one he punched on the morning of the explosion.

If there had been any, he must have seen it. He also said, he had worked in the upper level, where there were no bore holes done to ascertain whether there was water while he was working there.

William Tabbenor, engine tender, said he was in the pit at the time of the explosion, he went with Philips to connect some pipes to the Tangy pump that was being put down, and he had been there for about half an hour, when he heard a report and there was a big flame that came from down below. Tabbenor was badly burnt and Philips had since died from the effects of being burnt on the occasion. William Biddle, a pit fettler, gave evidence of finding the dead body of Edward Clewlow, about sixty yards down the dip after the explosion.

Peter Kirk, colliery manager, stated that he had been the certificated manager at Lillydale, but left on the 9th March. The top level was driven and the bottom one was just started when he left. They had 12-foot boreholes in the heading. When they noticed dampness in the boring they stopped working in the top level. They did not have side boreholes, because they thought they were far enough away from the old workings. The top level had been standing since he left.

The adjourned inquest took place on 21st June. Anthony Hargreaves, loader, said he was at work on the 3rd of May and took the stuff from Elijar Cratton. There were two bore holes, one in the heading and one in the side in the level above where the accident took place. He went into the lower level to see the place where the water was leaking on the morning of the explosion. He did not notice any bore holes. He did not think there was one there and he believed if there had been one, he would have seen it.

Hargreaves was in the level above till the explosion took place. When the water broke in he started up the dip and when he was halfway up, the explosion took place.
That would be a few minutes after the water coming in. He could not move after the explosion and remained in the dip till he was brought out. The flame came out of the thirling, up the dip and met him. Before the water came in he had seen very little gas in the pit.

Mr. Sawyer, Assistant Inspector, said the heading had been driven with entire disregard of the general rule of the Mines regulation act of 1872 which enacted, that where a place was likely to contain a dangerous accumulation of water, the workings approaching such place should not exceed eight feet in width, with a bore hole not being less than five yards in advance and sufficient bore holes on each side.
The 7th general rule was also ignored which stated, the use of locked safety lamps in every working approaching any place where there was likely to be an accumulation of explosive gas. For it was well known among mining engineers that the workings often contain both water and gas. The disturbance produced by the sudden inrush of water displaced the gas and it was ignited at the lights of the men who were trying to escape from the water.

There was other evidence given through cross-examination about the fire, water, gas and plans. The Coroner summed up at great length, and the jury after deliberating upwards of half an hour returned a verdict of manslaughter against Mr Perrins as manager of the colliery. Mr. Perrins was admitted to bail.