INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18865, 1 May 1931, Page 9

INQUEST.

SMITHFIELD ACCIDENT. The inquest into the death of Clarence Thomas Evans Potts (45), who died in Timaru Hospital on Tuesday night as a result of injuries received in a fall from a ladder at the Smithfleld works on Tuesday afternoon, was concluded yesterday before the Coroner Mr C. R. Orr-Walker. Mr J. Emslie appeared for the relatives of the deceased. Dr J. C. McKenzie, medical superintendent at Timaru Hospital, said that deceased was admitted to hospital at 5.25 p.m. on Tuesday. He was unconscious, and was suffering from a fractured skull, with laceration of the brain. His collar-bone was broken, and the upper ribs on the left side were broken. He did not regain consciousness, and died at 10.25 p.m.. The cause of death was laceration of the brain, following on a fracture of the skull. To Mr Emslie: The injuries were accountable for by deceased falling on the concrete floor from a ladder. Alexander E. L. Swain, Timaru, stated that he was a blacksmith at the Smithfleld works, and had known deceased for twenty years. Deceased's health, as far as he knew, had been good. Deceased was a plumber engaged at the works. At the time of the accident, witness was at the bottom of a ladder, which he was holding. Deceased was working about twelve feet up on the ladder, pulling down a piece of flushing and gutter on the outside wall of the freezer. He was loosening the flushing and was going to get hold of It by both hands, when he seemed to overbalance and fell suddenly, landing on the concrete on his left shoulder and head. The foot of the ladder was eight feet from the wall. Witness was unable to save deceased, who had been on the ladder about ten minutes. To Mr Emslie: The work was part of deceased’s ordinary duties at the works. The flushing was fastened in between the bricks, and he was probably pulling It out after having loosened it. The ladder did not give way. The mishap was a pure accident. Dr R. D. King said that on April 28, shortly after 4.30 p.m.. he received a call to the Smithfleld works. On arrival he found Potts lying on a stretcher on a concrete floor, suffering from an extensive fracture of the skull, Involving the left side and the base of the skull. He also had a fracture of the left collar-bone, and several ribs on the left side were broken. After Potts had been attended to, he was sent to hospital. The injuries were consistent with his having fallen from a ladder on to a concrete floor. Potts was semi-conscious, but did not speak. Robert Martin Wishart, chief engineer at the Smithfleld works, said that Potts had been employed at the works as a plumber. The ladder was In first-class condition. Potts understood his work thoroughly. Witness colud not understand why Potts took hold of the guttering without having tied or otherwise made himself secure. By using both hands, without making himself secure, it was dangerous. A verdict was returned that deceased died from laceration of the brain following a fractured skull, caused through having fallen from a ladder.