ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 252, 8 July 1926, Page 3

ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

VERDICT AT TWO INQUESTS Two inquests were held by the Coroner (Jlr. Ji. Page, S.JI.), in the Magistrate's Court yesterday concerning fatal accidents which occurred in Wellington on June 21 and June 29 respectively. The first inquiry touched upon the death of Edward John Knaprnan, an unemployed labourer, but formerly a hotelkeeper, married (aged G 3), who resided at lit Adelaide Itoad. Deceased died in the Wellington Public Hospital on Sunday afternoon last, as the result of injuries received through being knocked down by a motor-car in Adelaide Hoad on the evening of June 29. Dr. E. B. VV. Smyth, of the Public Hospital, said that he examined deceased about U p.m. on the night of the accident. He was conscious, and complained of having a pain in the right side of the chest, right side of collarbone. and the right leg. His collarbone and three of his ribs were fractured. “1 think,” said the doctor, ‘‘that death was due to hypostatic pneumonia (igoisture in the iungs), caused by the injuries received.” Witness stated that deceased died at 2.15 p.m. on Sundaj- “ While driving along Adelaide Road on the correct side, about 5.45 p.m. on June 29, a man suddenly stepped from the footpath in front of my car,” said Rare Simeon Flegeltaub (aged 19), cf .McClean Street, Lower Hutt, in giving evidence. “I swung my vehicle to the right, but could not avoid striking deceased.” Witness went on to say that his car was travelling at no more than 15 miles per hour. He was going in the direction of the Basin Reserve, and his mother was seated in front with him. The night was dark, but bright headlights were shining from his vehicle. Ho also sounded the horn so as to give a warning. He was a capable driver, having held a certificate for about two years and a half. Harrv Sorscn said that he observed the accident. The car belonging Io the previous witness was only travelling slowly. He saw deceased step out from the gutter, and observed him being run down. In returning a verdict of accidental death, Mr. Page said that the driver was not to blame. Ho was on the correct side of the road, and only travelling slow-ly. Deceased could not. however, have observed the vehicle approaching. “My finding is,” said the Coroner, “that the deceased died at the Public Hospital on July 4 from, injuries received through being accidentally knocked down by a car driven by Flegeltaub in Adelaide Road, on the evening of June 29.’* A PECULIAR ACCIDENT. The second inquest concerned the death of Thomas Thomason, a Norwegian seaman (aged 55), who met with a severe accident while working on the auxiliary scow Fairburn on June 21. Evidence was given by Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Hospital, to the' effect that a postmortem examination conducted by him ou the body of deceased revealed the fact that'Thoinascr died from shock and haemorrhage probably caused by injuries to the pelvis. Dr. Austen, also of the hospital, said that on June 21 he examined the deceased, who was suffering from severe injuries to the body and shock. He was operated on, but died about 12.20 the next day. Witness expressed the opinion that deceased died from shock due. to an injury to the pelvis. Albert McCormack Nalder, a stove dore, who was w-orking on the wharf ad the time, said ho witnessed the. accident. Deceased was looking after the coils of wire on the drum of the windlass during the hoisting of a boiler on lx nrd. Suddenly one of the coils of wire fastened around the drum slipped, and the wire flying off fastened itself rrou.nd Thomason’s logs, flinging him to. the ground. Witness was of the opinion that had the deceased kept one hand on the control and the other cn the drum coils to sec if the wire, was slackening, the fatality would never have Occurred. As it was. however, he was taken off his guard when the coils flew oft’. Witness said that the windlass was the same as used on all small steamers, and was perfectly safe if handled properly. He had never known an accident like the present one to have happened before. . In returning a verdict of accidental death, the Coroner said that no blaflie could tic attached to anyone, as Hie methods used were considered generally safe and sound. In his opinion, all tlie gear was in good order at the time the accident occurred.