FALL FROM DRAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12452, 19 September 1933, Page 6

FALL FROM DRAY.

THE LATE MR J. F TREDER. An inquest touching, the death of John Francis Treder, aged 62 years, farmer, of Mangamaire, who died following a fall from a dray on Wednesday last, was held at the Courthouse this moniiiirr before the District Coroner. Mr J. D. Wilson. Constable N. A. Brassing conducted the case for the police. George John Treder, farmer, residing at Mangainaire, said that on Wednesday. 13 th inst, his late father went to get some hay at about 9 o’clock in the morning and to look over some stock at the same time. Later witness saw the diay standing about four chains away from the house and assumed that his ‘father was talking to a neighbour through the fence. As time went on and deceased did not appear witness imagined that lie had gone to look over some stock. The first intimation lie had that there had been an accident was when a neighbour Mr D. Brosliahan, informed him of it. Witness assisted in getting his father to the home and later to the Pahiatua Public Hospital. When they found him his father was quite conscious. When asked what had happened deceased said the dray went over a rut and shook him off. He tried to throw the hay fork clear and this caused his body to fall in dead fashion to the ground.

Denis Brosnalian, farmer, residing at Konini, said that on Wednesday last he was out on his farm and noticed deceased’s dray standing on tlie road dividing his property and Mr Treder’s. Witness had to pass along the road and when he reached the dray he saw deceased lying beside it on the groun d. Wit ness immediately informed deceased’s relatives at the house and later assisted to take him home. He found deceased lying on his face in great agony and turned him over and made him comfortable before going foi assistance. The deceased seemed to be paralysed. Witness formed the conclusion that the fall was purely accidental. Henry Thomas Dawson, inedicial practitioner, said that he examined de ceased at his home about 4 o’clock on the afternoon of the accident and found him paralysed in the legs and arms. He was in no condition to •shift then but the next morning lie was taken to the Public Hospital On examination there- he was found to have a tract lire and dislocation of the second cervical vertebra of the spinal column. The spinal chord "was ctvfc across, causing paralyses of arms and legs. He had no pain and seemed quite happy, but he could not move his arms or his legs. HI remained in this condition for three days. The immediate cause of death was hypostatic congestion of the lungs, the result of the injuries to the neck. He died at about 2 a. in. on the 7 Bth inst. He evidently foil from the dray onto his head, with his bead doubled down under onto his chest. The- 1 Coroner gave ,a. verdict of accidental death caused by a fall from a dray which broke* deceased’s neck, no blame being attachable to anvone.