FRACTURED SKULL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1936, Page 14

FRACTURED SKULL.

FALL FROM AFIRE ESCAPE. MAN WHO HAD HAD DRINK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A finding that the deceased died in the Wellington Hospital on April 10 from a fracture of the skull received when lie accidentally fell front', a .fire escape at the Railway. Hotel, Lower Hutt, on April 4, was returned at the •inquest into the circumstances of the death of-James McPherson to-day. ■

William Maxwell Scott Greig, engineer, who lived at the hotel, said that he saw several boarders arguing with the deceased, who was in a drunken condition. When told that they wanted McPherson put out, witness put .his arms round him and lifted him out on to the fire escape landing. The deceased suddenly overbalanced and fell against thg railing surrounding the fire escape landing, which gave way. The.deceased fell 14 feet to the ground. Witness tried to catch hold of him, but it was too late. He found, the deceased unconscious, and assisted to carry him inside. Witness did not strike or push deceased when oil the landing and did nothing to cause him to fall as he did.

The coroner said he was satisfied that the deceased was 'drunk and unsteady on his feet. He thought that the deceased lurched in a drunken state against the railing which gave way. The railing was not safe, but the question of safety rested with the inspector. Aapparently, since the accident, the inspector had concluded that the railing was flimsy.