A FATAL PALL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 183, 29 April 1919, Page 6

A FATAL PALL

CARLTON HOTEL TRAGEDY. The circumstances of the Carlton Hotel tragedy, in which the, victim was John Riddnll, n married man, who was killed on Saturday afternoon by a fall from a fire-escapq on the fourth story, wcro investigated by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday morning. Riddall, who was a grocer's assistant, 32 years of age, was "sky-larking" on tho fire-escape, whon he lost his balaneo and fell on to the concrete yard bolow, From the nature of the injuries ho sustained deceased apparently struck tho ground head first. Dr. S. B. W. Strain, house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said tho cause of death was shook, duo to tho injuries which deceased receivod to his head. Tho left arm was badly fractured, _ there was a largo scalp-wound on the side of tho head, and tho skull 1 was fractured.

From the evidence of two. employees of the hotel it appeared that deceased was joking on Saturday afternoon—a habit of which ho was fond. Ho had been staying at tho (jarlton Hotel sinco January last, but intended to go away on Monday. About 2.30 p.m. ho was having soiuo fun with one of the inmates, and on a door being shut on him ho clambered nut on to tho fire-escape on tho fourth story with tho idea of ontering a room thrmidi an open window. Riddall was laughing at tho lime. Ho put his right foot over tho windowsill, but directly he did so lie lost his balance and fell over tho rail. Constable M. Ryan said when ho examined deceased ho could find no sign of liquor upon him. _ Other evidencs was given that Riddall was a sober man, who stayed at the hotel with lii.i '-vift\ Thu Coroner returned a verdict that death was duo to shock, following injuries to the head, sustained tlirnntli deceased having accidentally fallen from tho fire-escape on the fourth story on to the concrete yard below.