ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1446, 22 May 1912, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

» THE DEATH OF CHARLES THORPE, An inquest concerning the death of Charles Thorpe, labourer, who was killed wiiilo working on tho Glasgow Wharf on Monday forenoon, was held at the Magistrate's Court before Jlr. lUddefi, S.M., yesterday.

Ur. llendry staled that he had answered a call to attend deceased at tho wharf about 10 o'clock on Monday morning. Ho found deceased (then deaci ill one of tho sheds, and upon examining tho body found injuries to the head and neck. Tho causo ol' death was vertebrae fracture.

Evidence was aiso given by Charles Kanslrom, labourer, employed by the Ken- Zealand Shipping Company, and William Donovan, who was employed as crane-driver at the lime of tile accident. The latter witness stated that deceased was ungvappling tho crnnc-hook at tho time of" the accident. They were then loading tho s.s. Surrey with hemp, three dumps at a time. It was his duty to hoist; when signalled to do so, and, having received tho signal, he did so. When the load was about seven feet up ho saw deceased lyfng on tho wharf. Ho thought that deceased was eloso enough to havo been crushed between the bales and tho shed—that was what ho thought had actually happened. Samuel Leach, wharf labourer, stated that lie could not see deceased at tho time, but heard someone say, "Fall," and then he saw deceased drop to tlio wharf'. Ho did not give any signal to hoist —in fact, frequently no signal was given, tho crane worker using his own discretion. Deceased was used to tho work, and should have, known if there were danger. He thought that deceased had got between the bales and shed door. Edward Smith, wharf labourer, said that the deceased had time to get away before tho tales were hoisted, but not afterwards, as they swung outwards. In delivering his verdict tho coroner stated that it was ono of tliosa accidents which had frequently happened mi tho Wellington wharves. Tho deceased was an accomplished worker, and must havo known if there were danger. It appeared that ho had finished his particular job, and. if lie had stepped aside, ho would have escaped. Through an error in judgment, however, he had remained whero he was, and the rising bales had struck liim. The verdict was that death was due to injuries accidentally received while working on the Glasgow Wharf, and that 110 blamo could be attached to those in ° Mr. C. Izard appeared for the Harbour Board; Mr. A. E. Evans in tho interests of tho Shipping Company; and Mr. _G. Tarland for tho Wharf Labourers- TFmion.

INJURED BY LIFT GEAR. Mr. Thomas Campbell Stewards, a voting man in the employ of Messrs. 'rurnbull and Jones, was admitted to the Public Hospital yesterday suffering from a painful injury to one of liis legs. He was overhauling the machinery of the lift in the Public Trust Office, and Bignalled for the power to be put on, but neglected, it is said, to take tho handlo off tho spindle. The handle revolved rapidly, and inflicted the injuries.