DEATH OF PRISONER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 5

DEATH OF PRISONER.

KILLED BY TRUCK. AT WORK IN MT. EDEN QUARRY. CORONIAL INQUIRY. An inquiry into the death of Ernest Bechre, a prisoner at Mt. Eden Gaol, last Thursday through being run over 'by a truck while working in the quarry, was conducted at the gaol this morning before the coroner, Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M Edward James MeLelland, a prisoner, stated that ho was working at the quarry running the trucks down beyond the bend in the line after they were tripped off. Witness was coming back to get a second truck which was being brought down in charge of the deceased. Witness saw the deceased coming along just round the bend when he apparently made a half turn to reach over to work the trip. Deceased stumbled on something near the line and fcil with his legs hanging over the line. The truck passed over him and came down to witness, who stopped it. The horse was then clear of it. The truck did not seem to be running freely, and it came round the bend slowly. If the truck was running freely it was usual to cast off the horse before coming round the bend. At the time of the accident the horse was walking smartly. The obstruction referred to was inside the rail of the line.

Stanley Reginald Harvey stated that he went to Beehre's assistance when he heard him cry out. Both of deceased's legs were lying across the rail near the wall. The truck was then coming to a standstill about a chain from the deceased. At Beehre's request witness got some water and deceased said, "Look at that:" pointing to his legs. Deceased then asked witness to look at his 'boots, and he saw that one of the soles was hanging off. Deceased said that he had asked Leggett to change the boots three or four times, but he would not. In a general way deceased said that if there had been anyone else on the truck the accident would not have happened. There were others in the vicinity, including an officer. By this time the stretcher had arrived, and witness helped to put deceased on it and convey him to the goal. Deceased then, in the presence of several officers, asked witness to bend down. He asked witness to get into communication with his brother and tell him what witness saw of the accident, and let him know that, in deceased's opinion, the accident happened through Leggett's refusing to change his boots. Deceased also said that the place where the accident had occurred was nothing else but a death trap, that there was no room to turn round if a man happened to 'be jammed. This was before the arrival of the doctor.

To Mr. Leggett (deputy superintendent) : Witness did not inspect the truck. He made no statement to any officer on the morning following the accident. The superintendent asked if he had seen the accident, and witness had replied "that he came to deceased's assistance" after the truck had passed over him. The superintendent also asked if it was through any failing of the brake that the accident had happened. Witness said it was possible, tut he could not say. At the time of the accident witness had just had a drink, and his back was toward the oncoming truck.

Francis Fletcher, who was working near the scene of the accident, Slated that he went to deceased, who said, "I've tripped ever my foot." He also said that he had asked for boots without nails, but he could not get them. Witness remained with Beehre until he was put in the ambulance, and was attending to his head. He saw no one bend over deceased, nor did he hear Beehre make any reference to the brake.

To Mr. Leggett: Harvey had threatened witnesß with violence if his story did not corroborate? with his own.

Joseph Frederick Windsor, who was working on the loading bank about 20ft away, said it appeared that in the act of releasing the horse deceased tripped over a piece of iron inside the rails. He endeavoured to get clear, but could not do so. He heard deceased say that he had asked Mr. Leggett for a pair of boots, but had not got them.

Charles Ruddick, who was also working on the loading bank, said that deceased was uncoupling, when his foot slipped on the rail- One foot was inside the line. Deceased fell parallel with the rails, and in trying to get clear he got caught and the wheels of the truck went over both legs. Witness was the first to arrive on the scene, and remained with deceased until he was brought inside. Deceased said: "I knew this would happen. I asked Mr. Leggett for a pair of boots without nails." The brake was on the left hand side at the back.

To Mr. Lcgegtt: He felt sure that deceased slipped. The trip worked smoothly. Witness saw the boots, and they seemed intact.

James Morrison stated that it appeared that deceased had some difficulty in releasing the trip.

Evidence was given by J. Jenkins that Beehre took the tripping rope off the truck about eight weeks ago, stating that he did not require it.

David Dunlop, chief warder, stated that in April last he supplied deceased with a new pair of blucher boots at his own request. He was given an extra strong pair of boots to keep his feet dry. He tried on the boots and said that they would do.

The Coroner found that the cause of death was shock following laee-ation of his legs and loss of blood through being run over by a loaded metal truck. He further found that the injuries were the result of deceased slipping or stumbling while operating the mechanism, releasing the horse from the loaded truck, and that the deceased had discarded the Bafety rope provided by the prison authorities to operate the release trip.