DISTRESSING FATAL ACCIDENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10531, 30 November 1895, Page 2

DISTRESSING FATAL ACCIDENT.

A very s»d accident occurred on Thursday evening whereby Mr G. M Simpson, fruiterer' of Princes sireet, lost His only daughter, a prepo'sesaiag child nine yeais of age. Abon} 8 o'clock she was cleaning a window, and stepped on to the roof of l^r Hopkins's bakehouse adjoining. Through some cause, the little girl lost her balance" *&d fell thrbiish »•" skylight in tbe, roof on to » cemented floor beneath. She w»s picked up in an unconsoions etato, a\)d Dr M'Kellar wm sent fcr. Ai tho iujiwies, howevi-r, comprised a fracture of the Bkull and cow.ussion ■of the brain the case was a hopeless one frora the first. The girl lingered on till 8 o'clock yesterday morning, when she died.

About mid-day an inqnesb was held in Hie Union Hotel befnra Mr B. H. Carew, coroner, and a jury of cix, of whom Mr David Moore was chcteej foremnn.

George Macdoagal Simpson said that decfas?d, Jano Simpson, vu born in Dunedin. Oa Tburidivy evening ho was in his shop when his wife csllod ocit, " One of them has fallen through the skylight." He rushed out and, bursting in tho door, found the little girl lying on the bakehouse floor. He carried her into the house and te«t for Mr I«asby, at tba samo time telephoning for Dr M'K»llar, who arrived iv 10 minutes. Thn child remained in an unconscious ctnln until ebn died at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The kitchen window looked out on to the root of the bakehouse. He never k-pt the window secora, becausa ho wanted to have a back exit, from the house in case of lire. She. hud frequently gone on to tho roof. Dr ll'Kellur «av<- evidence as to tho injuries, which were practically cocflued to the head, and which were very severe. The skull was fractured and the substance of the brain injured. , Fanuy Keeblo, a domestic in the employ of Mr Simpson, gave evideuce that she was cleaning the kitchau window on Thuriday KVcniog, and the litslogirl catna up to hi-lp hor. She told her not go oat on the roof. Witnssg left the kitchen, and Ovo niitmtrg. later sha heard a crash. K'inmng in she found that deceased had got on to tho roof and f*Heu throußu the skylight.

Gordon Simp«on, a little boy, snid he Eaw bi« sister go ou the roof to clean the o tiid» of tho kitchen window. Sha then went »vcr to the ekjlight, and wn« r.to»ni»g that. Suo stcod Up, and suddenly fell through. A verdict of •' Accidental death" w»* returned.