AN INQUEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1925, Page 3

AN INQUEST.

FATALITY AT BURNETT’S FACE. (“ Westport News.”) An inquest was held by .Mr U. 11. La wry, Coroner, at Burnett’s Face on Monday morning, on the death of Joshua Oldham, a deputy of the Westport Coal Company’s Demiiston mine which took place on Saturday morn ing. Senr. Scrgt. Ryan watched tho case on behalf of the police. Evidence as to identity was given by tTocensed’s wife and the coalmineman" go r. •Constable Adams stated that he had proceeded to the locality of the aciident, accompanied by a Burner's Face resident. When up in tho Cedar creek hush they met three Burnett's Face youths who had found deceased’s gun and the place where the explosion took place liparby on the edge of the bank of Cedar creek (aoout Bft high), overlooking a string of ,lcep water holes known at “ the potholes.” The flax hushes and shrubs were spattered freely with blood ami portions of Oldham’s hands. Ilis cap was about seven feet up in a tree. Ilis leather belt, with the buckle smashed, had fallen off', and his gun with 2 live cartridges in, was leaning against a tree about K) yards away. There are some good trout in tin* crock winch is in rough Inn 'i country at this place and Oldham hail evidently seen one from the bank or the creek. How the explosion occurred no one knows. As a deputy in the Westport Coal Company's Aline Oldham had access to the supply of gelignite and caps. After the explosion Oldham made his way through the rough hush track—minus one eye and both hands—which took witness 20 minutes to walk, to the fan house.

AYilliam Secomhe, fan attendant at Kiwi fan house, in a statement, said that he was on shift on Friday last and about 0 p.m. he saw Oldham going out towards the lagoon carrying a gmi. At about 7.50 p.m. ho saw Oldham, coming from the direction of the lagoon. Me (witness) noticed that Oldham carried no gun and that his face was covered with blood. Tie was walking and carried bis two hands in front of him. He said to me “Look at these,” and T noticed that both hands were missing. I said, “ TTow did it happen ” but lie did not ansuei i T then rang up for assistance and Tendered first aid. T found that the left eye was badly damaged and severe abrasions on the lower iaw were bleeding badly and both hands were missing. Oldham told witness where bis gun was. He asked me to take some caps from bis vest. I took two plugs of gelignite from bis bin pocket and about six "caps from, bis vest pocket and threw them in the creek. I made Oldbarn as comfortable as possible. Oldham’s onlv statement while waiting for assistance' was, “ My God, I’ve made

moss of myself.” Dr Menzies gave evidence ns to attending deceased. He had found him quite conscious. He told witness that f,G worst injury was to Ins stomach. Oldham was removed to the hospital and witness sent for Dr Foote, of Westport. . , . Dr Foote visited the patient at Donniston, he was operated on but did not regain consciousness after the operation and died at I a.m. After hearing further evidence the Coroner gave a verdict of accidentally killed by a premature explosion of dynamite, cause unknown.