SAD FATALITY AT CARTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9132, 3 July 1908, Page 5

SAD FATALITY AT CARTERTON.

MR J. MONCRIEFF, SEMR., ACCILENTALLY KILLED. (From Our Own Correspondent). An accident of a somewhat distressing character occurred at Carterton, yesterday morning, whereby Mr Jas. Moncrieff, senr., an old and highly respselej lesident of Carterton lost his life. It appears that a man named H. R. Cornish was engaged in lopping a pine tree on Mr Mo'icrieif's" property at Clareville, and Mr Moncrieff was directing as to how the tree was to be cut. One limb had been cut, and while Cornish was engaged in cutting a second limb the limb sngpped without any warning whatever and struck Mr Moncrieff, who was standing underneath, on the head. The skull was sevrrely fractured, death being almost instantaneous. Dr. Johnston was immediately summoned, and on arrival pronounced life to be extinct. The late Mr Moncriefi was born at Kucklaw, East Lothian, on November 22nd, 183U, and was therefore nearly 78 years of age at the time of his death. He came to New Zeal and in November, 1884, and settled in Port Chalmers for a short period. In February, 1885, h° cami.to the Wairarapa, and resided at Waihakeke until 1899. He then removed to Clareville, where he has since lived. A widow and family of four sons and four daughters are left to mourn their loss. Mr Jas. Moncrieif, j:;r. (Town Clerk, of Carterton), is one of the sons of the deceased. THE INQUEST. An inquest touching the death of the late Mr Jas. Moncrieff, senr., was held at Clareville, .yesterday afternoon, before Mr W. P. James, Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr Wm. Toomati was chosen foreman. The evidence went to show that a ma::, named H. R. Cornish, was engaged in lopping off the top of a pine trje on the deceased's property at Clareville. One limb had been cut, and whilo another was being cut, it snapped without any warning, and struck the deceased, who was standing underneath on the head, causing fracture of the skull. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.