FATALITY AT EPSOM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12045, 15 August 1902, Page 5

FATALITY AT EPSOM.

MAN FOUND IN A WELL.

Shortly after noon yesterday, two boys named Willie Loram' and Harold Watts, ■were playing in a paddock at the rear of Mr. Geo. Loram's residence, opposite the tramway stables, at -Epsom, when "they heard groans proceeding from an old well, situated about 300 yds from the house. On-peering down the well they discovered a .'lying at the bottom, and at once ran for assistance. A man named William Sproum, employed by Mi*. Lorain, who states that on proceeding to the spot he heard the man groaning, threw a rope, with a bucket attached, down the well, and called out, but the man made no response. He then, summoned other assistance, and John Wilson, a tramway employee, went down the well on a ladder, and fastened a rope round the man's body. The man, who was lying in about 2ft of water, was then hauled to the surface, and proved to be William Robinson, a man of between 50 and 60 years of age, and well known by : the residents of Epsom, by whom he had been employed in gardening work for some years' past. .. Life was then practically extinct,; and medical assistance proved of .no avail. "■' . . .

The well in which deceased was found had been disused since Mr. Loram obtained a connection with the district water supply, ; fjid had been enclosed in a small building, which was left padlocked. This lock was found to have been broken off. Constable Mackle has known ",. deceased in the ; district for the past six years, and ' believes him ,to have originally come from Yorkshire, England, and to have no relatives in the colony. Deceased slept at the Epsom Hotel on Tuesday night, and left at' twenty minutes post sis o'clock on Wednesday morning; • His movements since that time are unknown. Nothing was found on his clothing. ' Constable Mackle has'reported the matter to Mr. Hutchison, S.M., the coroner for the district., ,;<'.- .;'/> : .. - :'.-•■..'",.'"'/.' v* .