WHARF FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1069, 7 March 1911, Page 8

WHARF FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. At the hospital yesterday afternoon the City Coroner (Dr. A. M'Arlhur, S.M.) hold an inquest touching the death of William Sherwood, who was fatally injured on the Glasgow Wharf on Saturday. Sergeant Mnthie?on represented the police, Mr. H. E. Evans (Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers) appeared for the Now Zealand Shipping Company, and .Mr. T. Smith, secretary of tho Wharf Labourers' Union, was also present. Tho following jury was empanelled:—James Embury (foreman), Alfred Crosby, Thomas Ilearne, A. R. Horublow, W. Isherwood, and John Savidge. Dr. 11. Hardwicke Smith, medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, stated.that deceased was admitted to the institution at 5.15 p.m. on Saturday. He was suffering from bruises, several broken ribs, and severe internal injuries. At midday on Sunday, when he showed signs of internal haemorrhage, it was decided to operate on bim. The patient remained conscious until 8 p.m., death supervening soon after. Witness then dei scribed the result of the post-mortem, [ and added that deceased also had symptoms of heart and lung disease. The cause of death, however, was shock following tho injuries sustained through the accident. George Henry Reynolds, labourer, in the employment of the New Zealand Shipping Company, deposed that ho was engaged in shunting trucks on the Glasgow Wharf at 4.-15 p.m. on Saturday, and at the time of the accident was on the back of the truck. Deceased was walking just in front of the truck door, which was open. When the truck was passing beneath, tho crane deceased's hook was in his belt, the handlo being to the back, and the hook proper on his left side. Tho handle of the hook caught on tho corner of the crane, nud' stopped him from walking ahead. When deceased discovered that he was caught ho endeavoured to get back, but the truck was then too close on him, and it jammed-him against the corner of the crane. He called out to them to pull the truck back as he was caught. There wctr - seven men on the front of the truck steadying it, and it was moving very slowly. To tho foreman: Tho truck was a meat wagon, with the door on hinges. The door was open ot tho time as it could not be opened when under the crane. It was a loaded wagon, and was being placed under the crane for unloading. To. Mr. Smith: The open door was pointing in tho opposite direction to that in which the truck was going. Had tho door been closed there would have been about room for a man to pass sideways between the truck and the crane. Richard Henry Thomas, wharf labourer, said deceased was a single man, 37 years of age, his parents being residents of Hobart. Evideneo was also given by Axel Augustpson, wharf labourer, and by Harry Diver, foreman stevedore for the New Zealand Shipping Company. In answer to -a question from , Mr. Smith, Diver said that, with tho door open, it would bo impossible for a man to pass between the truck and the crane. . Mr. Smith: Is it the custom for men to open the door while the trucks are in transit? Witness: When there is a crane opposite tho port in the ship, the door is opened before coming up to tho crane, sometimes wiiilo the truck is in transit. But jf no crane be there the door may remain closed till it comes to the port. Tho door could be opened before tho truck was moved. Mr. Smith intimated that what he wanted to arrive at was whether there was any actual reason for deceased being at the side of tho truck whou it was so close to the crane. It was decided to recall tho witness Reynolds for further examination. Geo. Henry Reynolds (recalled) said that the door of the truck was opened when about 10ft. from the crane. It was oponed by deceased 'and witness. Tho Coroner: Had the opening of the door anything to do with the death of tho deceased ?—"No.'' Sergeant Matbieson: Did- the opening of th£> door bring deceased into tho position he was in at the time of tho accident?—" No." The Coroner: Was it necessary for him to havo been where he was?—" No." After a couple of minutes' consideration the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no Mania being attachable to anyone.