ACCIDENTS & DEATHS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9874, 23 July 1923, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & DEATHS

FALL FROM A LADDER. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. About 10.20 a.m. on Saturday, Walter Victor Carpinter, a married man, thirty-two yearb of age, ail employee of the Sumner Borough Council, was engaged fixing a water-pipe at the gasworks, Sumner, when he fell from a ladder to- the ground. He was removed to the Christchurch Hospital, where he died some hours after admission. The inquest was opened yesterday, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, District Coroner.

Benjamin Thomas Carpinten, contractor, of 95, Edgeware Road, St. Albans, gave evidence of identification. He said that deceased, who was his brother, enjoyed good health, and was not subject to fits. Tom Gordon Prebble, labourer, employed by the Sumner Borough Council, said that about 10 a.m. on Saturday he and deceased were engaged in fixing up a tar and water pump in the yard of the gas-works. About 10.20 a.m. deceased went to remove a pipe leading to a tar tank and bring it to the ground. Witness did not see him (to up the ladder, and did not see the accident. He was first informed by a stoker at the gas-works They found Oarpinter lying at the foot of the ladder with the pipe alongside him. Witness considered that deceased, in coming down, must have overbalanced and fallen to the ground. Deceased was unconscious when picked up, but later became semi-conscious, and complained that his head ached terribly. He did not say how the accident had happened. ~ , Ronald George Shac-kleton, house suigeon at the Christchurch Hospital, said that deceased was admitted at 11 45 a.m. on Saturday in a semi-con-scious condition, suffering from concussion combined with cerebral irritaton. There were no signs of external injury, and witness concluded that the base of the skull had probably been fractured. Two hours later Carbinier showed definite sign? of compassion of the brain, and was sinking rapidly. Dr. Foster was summoned, and ne performed an operation to relieve the pressure on the brain. The braih was found to be very much lacerated and contused, and recovery was_ impossible. A. large fracture was found in the tom pie hone. Carpentir died at 3.55 p.m- ---| Death was due to haemorrhage and laceration of the brain v in i ul V[fj were consistent with a. fall on the head. . e Alfred Austin Cheshire, manager ot the gasworks, said that deceas-ed had been employed at the works for two and a, half years. He was a very reliable workman, and was steady ana hard-working , At this stage the inquest was adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday,

KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAM. CHIUfSTCHURC, This Day. John Edward James John stow, a single man 48 .years of ape, who resides at Yaldhurst, was riding a bicycle about 6.30 p.m. 'em Saturday wheai he collided with at tramcar at the corner ot MoorhouSt Avenue and Colombo Street. Johnston was thrown heavily to the ground and was admitted to the hospital in an unconscious conditiom. Later lie regained consciousness aim his condition was reported to he-much improved last night. Some difficulty was experienced in establishing Ins identity, as he is both xteif dnirtb.

DEATH ON LITTLE BARRIER. AUCKLAND, July 22. At the inquest into the death of Herbert Georgo Wiedeman at Little Banner Island William Clever, caretaker of the island, said he last saw Wiedeman alive on the evening of June 15, when he retired to bed at 715 He found the body on June ii at the foot of the cliffs, lying face downwards and the arms outstretehe . R was in a decomposed state. deceased was fully dressed except for hat and 'boots, the latter being found above high-water mark about a mile and a half away. They appeared to have been kicked off the feet. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

BODY IN RIVER.

AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN

DUNEDIN, This Day. The decomposed body of a well dressed man, as yet unidentified, was found in the Molvneux River, ueai Alexandra, yesterday.