THE ACCIDENT IN WYNDHAMSTREET. —CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7382, 17 July 1885, Page 6

THE ACCIDENT IN WYNDHAMSTREET. —CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was hold yesterday at the Rob Koy Hotel, Freeman's Bay, before Dr. Philson, Coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr. 11. E. Graham was chosen foreman, on the body of T. Dudley Ward, who died tho previous day from the effeots of injuries sustained through falling from a building in VVyndham-street. The jury having viewed the body, ihe following evidenoe was adduced :—John Eiatfield, carpenter, deposed to working with deceased on the building where the aocident occurred. He and Ward were engaged putting down joists on the third floor. Deceased had a piece of joist timber in his hand, and wat following witness, when the latter, hearing a noise, turned round, and saw that Ward had fallen across the joists of the floor below, a distance of some fifteen feet. Witness nan down the ladder and picked up the deceased, who was unconscious. He did not think any neglect was shown, except on the part of deceased himself.—Joseph McCuet deposed to being employed at the building. At the time of the aocident he was working at a run fer a wheelbarrow. He did not see deceased fall. When he turned round Ward wm lying across the joists. Witness ran to hi* assistance. There waa no planking laid across the joists on any cf the floors.—Drs. l<;vane and Hooper testified as to the cause of death.—Percy Ward, brother of the deceased, was also examined. — Alexander Koyes, contractor for the erection of the premises at which the aocident occurred, said that he had engaged deceased as a carpenter about six weeks ago. On the day in question Ward had been engaged laying down joists. This work was not usually considered dangerous. Immediately ho heard of the accident, he sent for a medical man, and sent deceased home in a cab. He considered that every precaution had boen taken to guard against aa accident. He could make no alteration in his present method of building.—The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, being at the same time of opinion that Keyes, the contractor, was to blame for sending inexperienced men to perform such work as that at whioh the deceased had been engaged, and also for neglecting to lay loose flooring on the joists of the building.