INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4815, 11 April 1890, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at tho Bush hotel, Geraldine, on tho body of John Mulvahill, on Wednesday afternoon, beforo H. W. Mooro Esq., acting coroner, nnda jury. Tho following evidonco was adduced .- — Daniel Gregan doposed : I am a contractor and farmer, at present engaged on tho Goraldino Flat water-rccc lieauworks. Deceased was working for me. Ho wont to work at 8 a.m. to-day with threo others, all working close together at tho foot of a face about 12ft m height, with a elopo of about Am 1. 1 considered it safo to work thero, and tho mon also. The accident happoned about 9 a.m. A fall of earth came down and half buried deceased against tho opposite bank. We dug him out as quickly as posnible. Ho never spoke or showed any aigna of lifo. Samuel Gould doposed : I was working clo3o to Mulvahill. I noticed a fall of earth coming away from the face and Bang out to deceased, but too late for him to get out of tho way. It knocked him down and buried him up to the sbouldera, ngaicst the opposite bank. I cannot account for tho accident. I considered it safe, and worked m *,ho samo plnco myself yesterday, deceased taking my place this morning. I Dr Fish deposed that ho received a very | urgont message requiring him to go to Plea* cant Valley as there had been an accident, and ho wont immediately. He found Mulvahill quito dead ; had oiarained him carefully sinco, and found tho lower part of hia body very much crushed, and ho had no doubt tho internal organs wero ruptured. A shock liko that would c-juso almost instantaneous death.

Tho jury without rotiring roturned a vordiet of " Accidental doatli," no blamo being attached to tbo contractor or anyone engaged on the work.