FALL FROM BANNISTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 269, 28 October 1932, Page 4

FALL FROM BANNISTERS

FATAL ACCIDENT AT HOTEL. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH A verdict of death from injuries accidentally received from falling from the bannisters at the Caledonian Hotel on September 29 was given by the coroner, Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, 8.M., at an inquest held yesterday afternoon into the death of Sidney Arthur Legge, assistant manager of A. 8. Paterson and Co.. Ltd., who died at the Napier Hospital at 11 o’clock on Wednesday evening after remaining in a critical condition for some days. The inquest was conducted by Sergeant Classen. Evidence of identification was given by George Geoffrey Shirtcliffe, a salesman, employed by A. 8. Paterson and Co., Ltd. He stated that on September 29 last he travelled with the deceased from Wairoa to Napier, leaving him at about 6.30 p.m. at the Caledonian Hotel. When witness left him the deceased was in his usual good health and spirits. Witness later saw him at the Napier Hospital, when he (deceased) said: “Next time 1 go upstairs, I’ll come down the right way.” He never at any time suggested that there was any foul play. Deceased was a married man, leaving a wife and two children. INJURIES TO HEAD. Medical evidence given by Dr. James Joseph Foley, assistant medical superintendent at the Napier Hospital, revealed that the deceased was admitted to hospital at 9.45 o'clock in the evening on September 29, suffering from a wound over the frontal region and another on the crown of his skull. He was fully conscious, but was somewhat restless, this, in witness’ opinion, being due to the fact that he was suffering from head injuries. On the following dav an operation was performed, after which his general condition improved for about 10 days. After that he began to fall, and, despite intensive treatment, he died at 11 o’clock on Wednesday evening. In witness' opinion death was due to internal injuries. William Albert Nehoff, representative of A. S. Paterson and Co., Ltd., stated that he met the deceased at the Caledonian Hotel on September 29 After having dinner together the two discussed business till about 8.30 p.m. Witness was rather worried over n bus iness leal and as thev stopped for a second at the top of the stairs, the de

ceased said: “For God’s sake, Dick, take that morbid look off your face.' With that, he threw his arm up in the air and said: “The flying trapeze act”, and turned and ran up the stairs towards the third floor. He placed flis hands on the bannisters wide apart and made a start to slide down them on his chest. OVERBALANCED AND FELL. After starting to do this, the de ceased overbalanced and fell m a heap into the well of the stairs on the bottom floor. It was a common occurrence for the deceased to slide down bannisters, witness having seen him do it before, The evidence of acting-Detective H. F. Coddington revealed that tie deceased told him, when interviewed at the hospital, that he (deceased) was “always sliding down bannisters.’’ The deceased told witness that Nehoff was m no way to bJame for'the occurrence, which was an accident.. Ronald James Sutherland, a constable stationed at Port Ahuriri, stated in evidence that he also interviewed the deceased at the Napier Hospital, when the latter said he did not mind a statement being taken from him. He then told witness that there had been no foul play. He said: “It was a silly kid’s trick. Dick seemed a bit down in the dumps and I thought I would cheer him up. I went to slide down the bannisters. I have done it hundreds of times before.’’ The coroner then gave his verdict as stated above.