ELECTROCUTED.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 38, 9 May 1924, Page 2

ELECTROCUTED.

James Ernest Williams, aged 82, married. living at Hargood Street, Woolston, was electrocuted on Wednesday afternoon in the State coal yard, Harper Street, Christchurch.

The facts, so far as they could be ascertained, are that Williams and two other men (Atkins and G. W. Weavers), \\ ere working in the yard on a circular saw, which was driven by an electric motor connected to an electric pole in the yard, by a copper cable, which was uncovered. A few seconds prior to the fatality Williams turned on the electric current to start the motor, with u view to operating the saw. When walking away from the switch to the saw bench, about two chains away, he must have come in contact with ‘ the cable, for Weavers, who was a few yards from him, heard him call out: “Go and turn the power off.” Weavers did so immediatcly, aqd found Williams lying on his bark, apparently dead, with’ the cable across his body, Williams was removed with all haste to the Christchurch Hospital, where he whs examined by Dr. Lanreth, wfio could only pronounce life to be extinct. The deceased leaves a wife and five children. An inquest was to have been held yesterday.