INQUEST OPENS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13819, 29 March 1938, Page 6

INQUEST OPENS

ON ACCIDENT VICTIM An inquest on the death of John Alexander Wilson, clerk at he Woodville Railway Station (who died yesterday afternoon from injuries sustained when his car overturned at the ramp construction works midway between Woodville and the Gorge on Saturday) opened in P.ahiatua before Mr. J. D. Wilson, district Coroner his morning. A lor hearing evidence of identification and the deposition* oi a doctor who came on the scene soon after, the inquest was adjourned. Dudley Seabrook Broughton, Stationmaster at Woodville, identified the body as being that of John Alexander Wilson, who he stated, had been in his usual state of health at noon on Salurday. March 2(3. deceased having been, stationed at Woodville for 12 months and having 24 years service with the Department. EVIDENCE BY DR. WATSON

Dr. E B. Watson told the Court that he had been returning from Palmerston North to Pahiatua by ear at 6.15 p.m. On reaching the railway ramp about LV miles south of Woodville witness found a car stopped on. the crossing from which a man signalled him to stop and ask-

ed him to held lift a man from a car which was down the bank by the roadside. Witness informed the man that he was a doctor and both went clown the bank where they found deceased on the right-hand side of liis car. which was uj aside down. Deceased was conscious and when replying to witness’s inquiry stated that he bad got a smack near the pelvis. Deceased said no more and was then carried, to the load. He had wanted to walk. Witness drove the man tc his lodgings in Woodville where the deceased got out of the car and walked inside himself. He went into the bedroom to lie down on the bed. saying lie was all right except for the pain near the pelvis. An examination made then did not disclose am seiious injury. Witness visited bin next day and found his condition worse, after a lot of persuasion inducing him to go to the Pahiatua Public hospital. Witness saw him in the hospital about 5.30 p.m. the same day and after examining him had a consultation with Dr. Dawson straight away. Both he and witness considered that deceased had injured some interna! organ, probably the kidney, and if lie was no better witness was to operate the next morning. Witness saw him at 7.30 the next morning and decided on. an, immediate operation. This being performed revealed fluid n the abdomen. a tear in the* small bowel and a ruptured kidney. The doctors did all they could for him but deceased’s injuries were so eeriouu that it was unlikely that he would recover, dying at 5.45 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The injuries w r er© such a.s would be caused by the overturning of his car. followed by tin severe crushing of bis abdomen,.