THE GARAGE FATALITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 51

THE GARAGE FATALITY

INQUIRY ADJOURNED. Mr J. R. Bartholomew. S.M.. opened an inquiry on Friday into the death of Arnold Edward Thornicroft, aged 22, of Ravensbourne, who was electrocuted wlrlo working on a motor ear in the Thornicroft garage on Thursday night. The garage, which is situated in Station street, is worked bv several brothers in partnership. Sergeant M ‘Entee represented the police. George C. Thornicroft, motor mechanic, residing at Swan street, said hi.s brother enjoyed good health, and had never had a. serious illness or seen a doctor so far as witness knew. On Thursday evening, about a quarter past 8, thev went to work. Deceased was on top of the chassis of a motor car doing some fitting. Witness at first thought he was underneath, but lie. was really on top, doing some job. While witness was at the telephone lie heard his brother cry out that he was being electrocuted. By the time witness ran to where ho_ heard the cry from, the other man bad switched off the light, and got his brother off. Vs itness tried on the ’phone for a ooctor. but he was engaged, so witness got a motor and took deceased to the hospital. The electric wire was a hand torch on to the city installation. It was an ordinary bulb light such as one would move about in the hand. E’eetricians had examined the wires this morning to try to find out what went wrong. Dr Go Ivin, senior house surgeon, said bo examined deceased ori admission, and found life extinot. He made an external examination of the bodv. but could find no external injury, except a little bleeding from the right nostril. From the history given he concluded that death was flue t-o electric shook leading to heart failure. The inquest was adjourned till next Thursday so that further inquiries might be made.