INQUEST

Evening Star, Issue 16093, 19 April 1916, Page 8

INQUEST

_ The Coroner (Mr- H. Y. Widdowson, R M.) held an inquiry yesterday afternoon at the Dunedin Hospital into the circumstances surrounding the death of George Ruthven. a_ well-known resident of Moseiel, who died on Monday evening as the result of injuries received through a fall from a dray loaded with hay on the previous Saturday. Robert Ruthven, lahorer, son of the deceased, save formal evidence of identification. His father was 68 years of age, and had been a strong, healthy man. Alexander Strachan, retired" farmer, of Mosgiel, said that he was assisting deceased on Saturday to cart in hay from one of his fields, witness forking up the hay and Ruthven loading it. Shortly before 5 p.m. they were employed on the last load—in fact, were putting "on the final coil—when witness advised Ruthven to stand back from the front of the load, as he considered it unsafe for him to be standing so near the edge. The latter replied: " I'm all right; throw up the hay." Witness, however, refused to proceed, and repeated his advice a-s to standing back. Almost immediately after this Ruthven fell, calling out as he did so: "Sandy, I'm falling; save me." Witness tried to catch him, but failed. Deceased turned a complete somersault in falling, and landed on his feet, but immediately fell upon his back. He said: "I'm cooked now." He was removed to his house, and first Dr Allan (of Mosgiel) and then Dr Batchelor was called in. He was then taken to the Hospital. Deceased had always been a sober and industrious man. Dr Gibson said that deceased was admitted to the Hospital about midday on Sunday. Witness saw him about 8 p.m., but meantime he had been attended by two other doctors. Deceased was suffering from injury to his spine, this causing paralysis from the upper chest down. He was conscious when witness saw him, but the case was hopeless from the first. He lingered until 6.40 p.m. on Monday, when he died. The cause of death was spinal injury, which could have been brought about by a fall such as described by the last witness. The coroner's verdict was—" That deceased died on April 17 at the Dunedin Hospital from spinal injuries resulting from an accidental fall from a, loaded dray."