THREE DEATHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 8

THREE DEATHS.

INQUESTS HELD.

SCENIC DRIVE ACCIDENT.

FATAL FALL ON SHIP.

Verdicts of accidental death were returned in three cases to-day by the coroner. Mr. F. K. Hunt, who coiirlude'l inque>ts into the deaths of an able seaman, a road labourer and an old a"e pensioner. Edward Olsen. a married man. was found to have received fata! head injuries on April 19 when be icridentallv fell against an Iron tip-truck a> fc* e stepped back to avoid ;i >ii)all f a l| 01 - eartli in a cutting on the "VVaitakerc Scenic Drive. Dcceu.-cd. who uh- enijilnxedas a labourer, died in the Auckland Hospital on the same day. It was stated in evidence that the nature of the country on the whole jo'u was constantly watched for any dangerous propensity, and that all men were warned if anything appeared unsafe. Mr. L. T- McKenzie. a>«istant road engineer in the Public Work? Department, expressed the opinion that decer.sed had moved bac-k when he saw the slip in que-tion coming, tripped and fell back, striking- his head against the truck. Able Seaman's Fall. The coroner found that Charles Albeit Motz. 31. an able seaman received fatal he:.d injuries while he was workin«r on the vessel Waipiata in port on April 21. Death occurred at the Auckland Hospital three days later. The evidence showed that deceased fell from the bridge of the ship about 20ft, striking his Lead on a steel hatch. At the time of the accident he was lowering the protection board from the wheelhouse windows. Death of Old Man. A verdict of accidental death was also returned by Mr. Hunt in the case of an old age pensioner. Walter Frank Freestone. (»S. of Torbay. who died in the Auckland Hospital on April 26. He had been arrested for alleged drunkenness two days before and placed in a cell in the central police station. His condition on the morning of April 26 was not satisfactory and he was pent to hospital. Death was stated to have been the result of severe haemorrhage in the abdominal regions, which could have been caused hv a fall.