FATAL ACCIDENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 169, 11 April 1919, Page 6

FATAL ACCIDENT

FALL FROM AN AERIAL WIRE. (From Our Special Correspondents.) Marton, April 10. Advice has been received at Marlon of the tragic death of Albert George rJl'Mnrchie at Mangaonoho. According to tho evidence given at the inquest held bv Mr. J. J. M'Donald, it would appear that John Palliser _ and deceased were working on the Pouldore track wiring battens across a gully on the roadside. On account of the wire being flack deceased went to the roadside, and decided to erect a forked post to raise and tighten the wire. After taking over the first bundle of battens he went across mid unloaded them, and returned to the the other side of the wire. Later, Palliser went into the bush to cut a post to raise the wire to go across the fence, and called out to deceased: "What length will you require.?" Getting no reply, he looked across the gully, and saw deceased lying on the face of tho hill. The wire had broken, having snapped at the knot. Palliser crossed the gully, mid spoke- to deceased, but pot no answer. He carried him to where water iv,-t? available, and bathed his head, but found life extinct. The wire was ordinary No. l> fencing ,wire. Palliser, in his evidence, said that he remarked to M'Miirchie: "I would not go across this wire if vou had diamonds over there." This was after he had gone across in the morning. Medical evidence was given, and a. verdict nf accidental death was returned.