ELTHAM FATALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 September 1927, Page 9

ELTHAM FATALITY.

ACCIDENTAL DEATH. An inquiry into the _ circumstances surrounding the fatality was held in the Eltham courthouse this morning before the acting coroner, Mr. J. W. Stubbs and a jury consisting of Messrs M. D. Connell, J. W. Harrison, J. Halpin, and F. Vincent. Evidence was given by Thomas Walsh, farmer Rawhitiroa Road, father of the child, that he left his wife in charge of the children at the house at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Deceased was then in normal health and. sleeping in a double bed usually occupied by the other children. His wife recalled him from the cowshed a few minutes later. On reaching the house she met him with the dead body of the child. He made efforts to restore respiration, without success, and then summoned medical aid and the police by telephone. Corroborative evidence was given by Mary Walsh, wife of the previous witness. She described the finding of the body suspended by a cord from the head of the bedstead. Dr. D. H. Saundens deposed to his arrival at the residence at- 4.30, where he examined the body of the deceased child. Explanations by Mrs. Walsh Walsh satisfied him that the child had come by his death accidentally. He saw the loop in the switch cord, and measurements taken by himself- and Constable Townsend showed that from the bottom of the loop to the floor was a drop of 32 inches. The child measured 274 (inches from jpliin to feet, and when suspended by the cord his feet would he 44 inches off the floor. Examination of the body disclosed a fractured dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. In his opinion death was instantaneous.

Similar evidence was given by Constable Townsend, and the jury, without retirement, brought in a verdict that the deceased met his death by a fracture dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. caused by accident, no blame being attachable to anyone.