FALLS INTO PIT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11731, 22 June 1916, Page 6

FALLS INTO PIT.

AND DIES IN HOSPITAL Edward Fowler, forty-nine rears of ago, residing at Dampier Street, Woolston, was admitted to the. Hospital in an unconscious condition about 5.80 last (.'veiling. He did not, regain consciousness and expired at 8.30 this morning. Deceased was a motor mechanic employed bv Messrs Kibblewhite and Vaughan. He was found unconscious at the bottom of the motor-car repair pit and had evidently fallen in and struck his head on the bottom. Deceased was a woll-known member of the Pioneer Bicycle Club in the heyday of cycling. INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Hospital this afternoon, before Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M., District- Coroner. Mr C. 8. Thomas appeared on behalf of Messrs Kibblewhito and Yaughan. J>r A. W. Johnston, house isurgeon at, tho Hospital, said that deceased was admitted' at 6 p.m. yesterday with symptoms of cerebral irritation. His condition was the same till 13.H0 a,.m. today. He was practically unconscious all the time. tie became worse, and died about S.2Q this morning. A postmortem examination was held by Br Pearson. l'iiuiiy Fowler, wife of the deceased, said that her husband was fifty-one years of age. He was healthy. Ho was a motor medianic employed by Messrs Kibblowhit.fi and Vaughan. She knew nothing about, tho accident. Dr A. D. Pearson, who made a postmortem examination, said' that there was a slight bruising fo the left shoulder, and tho posterior half of the scalp was pulpy. l r here was no M ound on the scalp. His organs were healthy. The skull showed two extensive.fractures. There was a good deal of clotted blood on the brain, which was severely lacerated and injured. The cause of death was fracture of the skull, producing haemorrhage and laceration of the barin. David Scott, motor' mechanic, employed by Messrs Ivibbloivhito and "Vaughan, said that deceased was a fellow-employee' He was working alongside deceased, irho "was in the motor-car pit. Deceased passed out as if going for some tools, and tho next thing was that he felt deceased brush past, him and falling into tho pit, which was .four feet to six feet deep and made of concrete. Witness looked into the pit and saw deceased lying on the floor on Ins back unconscious. Nothing could have fallen on him. Witness thought, deceased must have lost his balance- Deceased was an expert -workman. Replying to Mr Thomas, witness said that there was ample lighting at the pit. The Coroner returnee] a verdict that deceased died through accidentally falling into a. concrete pit. Deceased's brother said that it. was not the first time ho had met with an accident, at the same place. The pit was very greasy through the oil, and employees were liable 'to slip. The Coroner sand that it did not enter into the scope of his duty, except in cases whore there, was evidence of criminal negligence. However, it would noo prevent civil proceedings if there was evidence that sufficient precautions wero not taken for workmen's safety. Mr Ij. Montgomery, foreman of the garage, said that precautions were taken by strewing sawdust in tho pit and generally cn the garage floor round about it.