ROSENEATH FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3114, 19 June 1917, Page 6

ROSENEATH FATALITY

THK INQUEST. 'An inquest was held yestorday afternoon by Mr. W. 0. Itiddell, S.M., concerning the death of William I'. Fitzgerald, who was killed on Saturday evening during the storni owing to a brick wall on Ms premises in Orescent Eoad, Hoeeneath, collapsing and Tajling upon him. Dr. J. S. Elliott, in his evidence, stated that in response to a call he visited the house of deceased in Orescent Eoad, Roscneath, on Saturday evening. On arrival he found Fitzgerald, whose head was exposed to view, buried up to the nedk. His cheßt was crushed by the dobrie against the corner of the house. The man was then dead. He examined the liody again yesterday morning at the morgue, lie found that the ribs over the heart were broken, and thero were slight bruises on the limbs and on the right eye. The comEression of the chest/caused injury to the eart, and was the cause ol death. . William Charles Fitzgerald, deceased's ,;eldcst sou, and the whole of the family was at. homo on Saturday nighl. Kin 'father.had been ,, anxious about the bank, and went out to examine it. The banl; had given trouble on previous occasions. The bank was aboiil. 20ft. high. Immediately aftor his father went outside there was a crash against the house. Witness followed Ms mother out to sec what was the matter. He got a light and silw his father nearly covered up with debris that had fallen from the bank. His father said.-Oet. help!" Witness called in ueiclihours arjd telephoned for the police. Dr. Elliott was called in, and ho pronounced life extinct. Constable Le Fevre said that when lie reached the house in response to a call the man was quite dead. With the help of others ho set to work to release the body, and it was not until 1 o'clock on Sunday morning that the work was com. Jlletcd. The Coroner returned a verdict, that deceased, was accidentally killed by a fall of earth, caused by the heavy rains ot the past week, and particularly on Saturday night.