DEATH BY STRANGULATION

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 9

DEATH BY STRANGULATION

—— MISHAP IN COOL STORE. (PBESB ASSOCIATION TBLZQEAIO AUCKLAND, September 3. A verdict of accidental death by strangulation was; returned by Mr F, K. Hunt, Coroner, at the inquest into the death of James Breen, aged 87, who was killed while wording at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's store on the King's Wharf. J. W. Wheatley, one of the company's engineers, said that at the time of his death Breen, who was a greaser and odd job man, was engaged m whitewashing ■ the walls of the pumphouse. He started work two days prior to the accident and' would be by himself part of the time. When found dead shortly after 12.80 p.m., Breen was lying over the rails of a narrow platform with the scarf he was wearmg "wrapped twice round his neck and also twisted round the rotating shaft of the machine. ■ Breen had apparently been standing on the machine platform which had been moved from its normal position to facilitate the whitewashing work Wheatley said he considered Breen most unwise to wear a scarf ' near machinery. Had witness noticed the scarf he would have ordered its removal. Breen was warned to keep away from the running machinery while whitewashing. J. 6. Lockie, Inspector of Machinery, said he did not consider the position of the platform would be dangerous for a greaser who was used to revolving machinery, although it cer-. tainly would be dangerous for a painter. "It is only by these accidents that we learn whit protection. to make in future," sai l the Coroner, in returning a verdict that Breen was, accidentally stranded by the neckcloth he wan wearing catching in an unprotected shafting.