CHRISTCHURCH FATALITIES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3493, 1 November 1926, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH FATALITIES

INQUESTS ON VICTIMS. [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Cast Night. On October 261 h, a telegraph linesman, employed by the Postal Department, Samuel Joseph Rutledge met his death in the railway yard, as a result of a severe electric shock, caused by burns on the hands and which caused him to fall, so that he also suffered head injuries. Death was due .according to the medical evidence at the inquest on Saturday, to the effects of the electric shock, land a fracture of the skull. John Hayes, linesman, said ho was working with Rutledge on the day of the accident. Witness told Rutledge 'to climb a certain post and cut a wire. Shortly alter that .witness heard a ladder fall, and ho turned to | sec Rutledge hanging from the power wires, which were on the same pole below the telephone wires. Before witness could reach him, Rutledge Cell to the ground, a distance Of 21 feet. Witness had thought the wires were dead, .aud it was not considered necessary for Rutledge to wear rubber gloves.

To the Coroner, Mr H. A. Young, S.M.. witness said that the men had instructions to treat all wires as “live,” and to wear life belts fastened round the body and polo. The bolt would have prevented Rutledge from falling. The Coroner found that Rutledge had failed to follow instructions to linesmen, and there was no blame attachable to his fellow workmen. The inquest held on Saturday into the death of William Breach, aged 62. a labourer, found drowned in the \Vaimakariri River on October 19th, was concluded before Mr 5 oung, S.M., on Saturday Emma Elizabeth Breach, widow of the deceased stated that on October Gib her husband left home presumably for a, bicycle ride. He had not been in good health but did not seem worried. He had never suggested suicide. The Coroner said that there was no evidence to show how deceased got into the river. He might have slipped and fallen in. He would return an open verdict that deceased was found drowned.