ACCIDENTAL DEATH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 213, 3 June 1920, Page 5

ACCIDENTAL DEATH

FALL FKOM A FIRE-ESCAPE. Tho inquest into the cause of death of Max Wapper, a fireman and a Euaaian, whose body was found in tho yard of Young's Private Hotel on Saturday last, was continued yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. G. Itiddell, S.M. Dr. M'Evedy, who gave evidence on Monday, expressed tnu opinion that death was duo to fracture o! the skull, ca.used by very considerable force. Herbert Turner, a seafaring man, Baia ho had been a lodger at Young's l'rivato Hotel, and saw Wapper alivo at 1 p.m. on May 28. On tho morning of Sunday, May 29, ho heard a girl scream; ho loaned out of his window, and theu went downstairs, and saw tho body lying on the ground. Tho man was quito dead then. Tho small gate was locked from the outsido, and no one could get from Lambton Quay to where, tho deceased was lying while tho gato was fastened that way.

William Lavory, proprietor of Young's Private Hotel, said that Wapper had boarded with him for about fourteen months, and ocoupied a room in the top story. He was very drunk on Friday evening, and did not sleep in liis bed that night. ' Detective-Sergeant Andrews said ho saw tho body lying in the yard. Tho head was Bft. 9in. from tho wall, and sft. 9in. from a shed at the left of tho body. Tho pockets were not disarranged. The building had lire-escapes on tho soutfi side on tho third and fifth floors, but as there was only a top rail a person coiiJd easily slip through. The shed was roofed with Iron, and snowed signs of liay'ng received a heavy blow. Witness had not been ablo to find any evidenco that would suggest foul play though exhaustive inquiries were made.

The Coroner said that tho evidence showed that deceased was of a quiet disposition, but eiven to drinking. The finding would ho that he died from fracture of tho skull caused by accidentally falling from the iire-cscape. Thero was nothing to show that any person had interfered with him in any way.