INQUESTS AT GREYMOUTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1942, Page 4

INQUESTS AT GREYMOUTH

COBDEN CROSSING FATALITY

Inquests into the deaths of Alexander Ogilvie, 57, labourer, at Greymoum, and Robert Joseph Glen, 41, miner, of Cobden, were concluded at Greymouth this morning, before Mr M. J. Fogarty, J.P., as Coroner. Both inquests were opened last month, and the only evidence taken to-day, was that of Dr. N. F. Greenslade. Sei'geant R. C. Mcßobie conducted the proceedings for the police. In the inquest on Alexander Ogilvie, Mr F. A. Kitchingham represented the Railways Department. Dr. N. F. Greenslade, Resident Surgeon at the Grey Hospital, stated that a man named Alexander Ogilvie was admitted to the Hospital at 7.1 a p.m., on June 2, 1942, following an accident. He had severe injuries to the head. The main injuries were fractures of the left parietal region, and right frontal region. Tne injured man’s condition steadily deteriorated, and he died at 8.40 p.m., on June 3. The cause of death was laceration of the brain, resulting from an injury to the head. To Mr Kitchingham: Deceased had had a head injury previously. The old injury was in the back of the head, and the area affected was different from that in the accident. To the Coroner: The old injury had no bearing on the death of deceased. The Coroner returned the following verdict:—“l find that Alexander Ogilvie died at Greymouth on June 3, 1942, and that death was due to laceration of the brain, which said injuries were sustained by deceased on June 2, 1942, at Greymouth, whilst he was a passenger in a motor truck, driven by Samuel Williams, which collided with the Reefton to Greymouth train at the Cobden Bridge railway crossing.” , MINER’S DEATH

In the inquest on Robert Joseph Glen, Dr. Greenslade stated that he attended Glen on admission to Hospital at 12.10 p.m., on June 10. 1942. He had a severe injury to the left side of the chest, and was in a state of severe shock. His condition rapidly deteriorated, and he died at 12.45 p.m., 35 minutes after being admitted. At the direction of the Coroner, witness performed a post-mortem examination. The cause of death was haemorrhage from both lungs and the spleen, resulting from extensive crushing injury to the chest and abdomen. The Coroner returned his verdict as follows: —“I find that Robert Joseph Glen died at Greymouth on June 12, 1942, and that death was due to haemorrhage from both lungs and the spleen, resulting from extensive crushing to the chest and abdomen, which said injuries were sustained by deceased when a stone fell on him whilst at his employment as a miner at the Dobson mine on June 12, 1942.”