ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

Evening Star, Issue 21092, 3 May 1932, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

FALL FROM WINDOW. AGED HOME INMATE’S DEATH. A verdict that death was due to shock and injuries caused by falling from a window at the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Anderson’s Bay yesterday was returned by the coroner (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.), at the inquest on Henry Mannix, aged eightyone years, an inmate of the home. Dr Charles Wills Greenslade gave evidence of identification. In response to a telephone call, he ' arrived at the home at 1.15 p.ni. ■ and found the deceased lying in bed. He was dead. Ho had abrasions of the left side of the face, forehead, and nose, and a small cut on the left wrist. There were no obvious fractures of the limbs. Ho had known deceased for at least two and ahalf years. He was eighty-one years of age, and suffered from advanced arteris sclerosis. He last saw him alive on April 25. Ho was in very frail bodily health, being practically confined to his bed. The injuries were consistent with his having fallen from a window, oa the top floor, a height of about 40ft. The actual cause of death would be shock.

Sister Julia Coady said she had known deceased since his admission three years ago. He was in frail health and required constant attention. He was practically confined to bed, but got up for a few hours when the weather was fine. He had breakfast as usual yesterday morning at about 8.20 o’clock, and bail a light dinner about 11.20. She last saw him alive about ten minutes later, when ho was in bed. He had been told to stay in bed -all day if he wished, as it was cold. Deceased must have fallen from the window at 11.30 when dinner was being served in the general dining room. Her attention was called to deceased lying on the ground by two boys from the Anderson’s Bay School who had seen him fall. He was dead then. Ho had been very ' depressed lately owing to his state of health, but he had never attempted suicide. Neil Garvey, ah inmate of the home, said that at about .12.30 deceased left the ward for a few minutes and then returned, immediately going to the window and appeared to crawl out of it on his knees. He appeared to sit on the ledge for a few seconds and then disappeared. Before opening the window he did not speak. Witness tried to call out, but, being bedridden, was unable to do anything. The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to shoek and injuries caused by falling from a window.