INQUESTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15970, 13 January 1914, Page 7

INQUESTS

THE RAILWAY YARDS FATALITY. DELAY AT HOSPITAL CIUTICIISED. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding tin) death ol James O'Mahoney, a milliliter employed in tho railway yards, was held by Mr C. C. Graham, coroner, at tho llofspitul yesterday, morning. Tho Railway Department was represented by Mr D. Wallace, goods agent; tho relatives of deceased by Mr Lemon, solicitor; and Senior Sergeant Dart appeared on behalf of the police. Dr Win. Sowcrby, surgeon at tho JJunedin Hospital, stated that deceased was brought to that institution at 3.30 p.m. m an ambulance. He was quite conscious, but suffering from intense shock as a result of tho mangling of the upper part of the left leg and a. compound Iracturc of cadi leg above the knee. Surgeone were called immediately, and it wae thought that the only chance for deceased was amputation of tho left leg. This was done, tho patient standing tho operation badly. Nothing further wae proceeded with, and ho was removed to the ward. Ho sank rapidly, and died at 6.15 p.m. without having regained courtciousneos after tho operation. Tho causo of death was shock following on tho severe injuries he had received. Whole in tho Hospital tho deceased never mentioned tho accident. All that could have been done in tho way of first aid had been done before tho deceased was admitted to the Hospital. To Senior Sergeant Dart: Tho operation wo 3 performed it 4.45. Thero had been some delay over getting surgeons. Witness had rung up all the honorary surgeons on the Hospital list, but none oi them wae at home. Any delay thero had been was unavoidable. Dr Nowlands arrived within 10 minutes after being summoned, but ho had to wait several minutes for assistance. After the arrival of Drs Batohelor and O'Neill there was no delay over the operation. Everything possible was done to sustain the patient whilo awaiting the arrival of tho surgeons. Mr Lemon expressed tho opinion that something should bo done to ensure immediate performance of grave operations in such necessitous cases. It was clear that tie deceased would have had a better chance if the operation had been carried out immediately after admission to tho Hospital. Ho did not. blame the houso surgeon, nor suggest that thero had been any negligence on the part of anyone; but surely it was a rather scandalous thing that tho man had had to wait so long. Senior Sergeant Dart remarked that no doubt in great hospitals surgeons were always in attendance, but perhaps the system in force hero had proved quito adequate in the past Mr Lemon eaid it was a matter for the public, and tho Hospital Board to consider. Something should bo done to prevent such delay. Dr Sowerby said, in reply to counsel, that ho had no authority to summon surgeons who were not honorary members of the Hospital staff. No doubt it could bo done, but there was no authority to do it. Mr Lemon: It is a scandalous thing that, there is no authority. The Coroner: I agree with Mr Lemon that when, the honorary surgeons are not available the residential officers should have power to call in outside assistance.

Dr Soworby said it certainly would have given the deceased a better chance if tho operation had been performed sooner, but the delay was quite unavoidable. John O'Mahoney, brother of deceased, stated that deceased was a single man whose health had been good. Ho joined tho railway service about nine years ago, and had been employed at shunting for about five years. Ho had been a. steady man. About three months ago he ran into a points' lever and hurt his leg, and wae off work in consequence for two weeks. The pain returned about three weeks ago, and caused him to take two days' rest. It was more like a rheumatic attack, due to wet weather.

John M'Farlane Maekic Gibb said that on Saturday afternoon, about 2.30. he went, over to the goods shed to eee if deceased and another employeo named Donaldson were there, to ask them to assist in shunting wagons out. He did not eee either of them, so ho waited for a signal from Donaldson to come in with the engine'. He waited for about 15 minutes, and then went around to see the oauso of the delav. He then saw empty wagons coming from the south. Ho also saw deceased etanding at points leading to the shed, but took little notice of what they were doing. A little later witnees turned back towards the shed, and saw deceased fall, and being dragged along by a wagon which wae attached to a " rake" of trucks. He could not say how deceased fell —whether he tripped or was knocked down. Deceased was dragged about 50 feet. Witness ran towards him, and whistled shrilly to attract attention. On reaching deceased he saw Shunter Brown there. Brown mado an effort to push the wagon off deceased, and told witness to get tho ambulance right away. No doctor oame from the .time the accident occurred until the ambulance arrived. The ambulation came within five minutes after being sought by telephone. First aid was rendered by Goods Foreman Smith and another. If the points were not set right, it was not O'Mahoney's duty to move them. It was the duty of the shunter attached to another g'ang which was working the goods train. Robert Jamee Brown deposed that he was in charge of the gang working the south end of tho goods yard that afternoon. O'Mahoney was standing close to tho points which would kcop the train on tho right track. Ho (witness) called out to deceased for " alongside." O'Mahonoy gave the signal "right," and witness, who had been riding on a brako of a wagon, brouglit tho shunt back towards deceased, who had plenty of time to set the pointe right. As tho train approached the points witness noticed that the foremost wagon was running into the wrong track. Witness then jumped off tho wagon and stopped sideways to see why tho train was running into the wrong track. Ho eaw O'Mahoney standing by the side of the track' some distance in front of the loading wagon. Witness next noticed the deceased step acrose the line, and then lost sight of him for a moment. Then Jio saw him being rolled over by the leading wheel of tho first wagon. Witness signalled the driver- to stop tho train. The loading wheel passed over deceased's legs. Deceased was lying face downward, with his body outsido of the track. When tho train stopped the rear wheel of the leading wagon was on deceased's left leg. Tho shunt was pulled up rery quickly, and witness uncoupled tho wagon and pushed it away from tho deceased, who remarked that he thought the shunt was going alongside the shed. Witness went on to gay that there was nothing about tho track to cnueo one to stumble. The track was ballasted right up to tho crown of the ' rail, except on tho inside, which could not be filled up.

Ernest Albert Nettleford stated on Saturday, about 2.40 p.m., he was walking across tho ovorbridge from the direction of tb© rowing shed, and had a clear view of the shunting yard. Ho saw deceased stepping back slowly in the same direction as the train was coming. Exactly as the train pot level with him ho turned round sharplv and made an attempt, as it seemed, to board tho train. Then witness's view was temporarily obstructed. When he next saw deceased he was in tho act of falling under the front wheel of the foremost wagon. _ The Coroner, commenting on the evidence, eaid it was impossible to say what actually caused tho accident. The only course he could pursue was to record a verdict (1 at deceased was accidentally crushed under t railway truck, and that there wae no 'blame attachable to anyone. Ho would draw attention to the need of authority bring prs'ii to obtain outside surgical assistance when tho honorary eurgeons were not available. DEATH FROM SUFFOCATION. An inquest was held by Mr C. C Graham (coroner) at the morgue yesterday afternoon as to how Robert August Jager, who expired in the Princess Theatre on Saturday, met his death. Dr Evans said that on Saturday evening, about half-past 8, he wae called to tho Pnncess Tnoaire, where he found deceased lying on his back in a room adjacent to tho m*-. building. Ho ivas then qii.m dead, though tho body was still v m m W tints examined the body extoi-nly, and fn\nd nothing indicative of the eaitse of ile.uh, On Sunday he made a post mortem examination, and found that tho lungs were deeply congested, and that there was a spot of tubercle at the apex of the left lung. Tho heart itself was healthy, and there was no disease of the valves. In the right lobe of the liver.there were hydatids about the size of -the fist. The cyst had been there for some time. All the internal organs were deeply congested. There was no foreign body obstructing the air passages. The windpipe was congested, and contained froth aud mucus. Witness was of opinion that death was due to asphyxia, caused by an epileptic form of seizure. Patrick John "lager, occupied at tho ropeworks, and a brother of deceased, said he identified the body as that of Robert August Jager. Deceased was employed at Donaghy's Ropoworks also. He wae a single man, and was 36 years of ago last October. He used to complain of a pain in hio s:do, but was never away from work. Witness knew nothing of deceased's movements 'intil he hoard of his death.

James Offeii, plasterer, fiairl ho wae at tho Princess Theatre on Saturday night, nnd was lilting- besido deceased. Shortly after tho commencement of the pcrformanco deceased, without any warning, fell forward, and came to the floor. Ho merely groaned as ho fell, and he wus removed from tho theatre.

Tho Coroner said that tho doctor's evidence was clear. There had l>oen considerahlo congestion of the organs, and dejiHi was duo to suffocation, caused by epileptic seizure. A ■γ-erdiot that death was caused by Rsphyxia, due to an epileptic form of seizure, was recorded.