ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1926, Page 8

ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

FINDING OF INQUEST. PRISONER'S SKULL FRACTURED. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. & Hunt, S.M.. at the inquest yesterday afternoon concerning the death of Joseph Crook, a prisoner at the Mount Eden gaol, who died in the Auckland Hospital on S .nday evening as a result of a fracture of the skull. Evidence of identification was givea by Catherine Jane Crook, widow of the deceased. A prisoner who had been working with Crook for the past four months, stated that on August 16. at about 4.30, two trucks came up the incline from the quarry. He saw deceased stoop down to unhook ths hauling cable from the front one and then saw him stoop down to uncouple the two trucks. Hβ had evidently not taken off the cable, because the roil of it got round the roller, suddenly stnppins the front truck. The rear one bumped into it, crushing the deceased"? head between the two. Witness considered it a pure accident. The superintendent of the prison stated that as the sraol surgeon was not available. Dr. J. H. La wry was summoned and arrived about a quarter °* an ho.ir after the accident. He ordered Crook to be removed to the hospital.