CORONER’S INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1926, Page 4

CORONER’S INQUEST

An inquest wa held at the Attendants’ quarters at the Mental Hospital yesterday forenoon, touching the death of Robert Mark Brown, an attendant, who died the previous day as a result of being thrown from the institution lorry when returning from special employment. Mr D. J. Jivans' District Coroner, presided. Sergt. King conducted the case for the police. Mr J. A. Murdoch appeared for relatives of the deceased. -Dr Baird iit the course of his evidence said he was called to the case about 11 o’clock on Wedneday morn-

ing. Brown was alive, but deeply unconscious. He was suffering from fracture of the skull, and marked compression of the brain. There was na evidence? to localise the compression. The injury received was consistent with the accident described of Brown falling out of the lorry. An operation would not have done any good. The man was dying wlif’n seen by witness, and he expired shortly afterwards. Tie appeared to he of sound constitution. Death was attributed to injury caused by the- fall. Dr Buchanan said Brown was an attendant at the institution. His age was 33 years. On .Tim? Ist. Brown was sent with other attendants lo search for an escapee. Brown went to Blue Spur. The following morning the institution lorry was sent out to bring the attendants in. About 7.30 o’clock it was reported to witness that Brown had met with an accident. On examination lie was found to To conscious. Tie was blooding from the face and nose. He was put to bed and had a terrific headache. Ho assisted to undress himself. On further examination it was found Brown had a brain injury. Tie was retching. Treatment was given, and he was visited by witness frequently. Later, Brown had a fit which was consistent with the brain injury. Dr Baird was called in for consultation and both came to the conclusion the base of the skull had been fractured. Did not conider an operation would he .successful. Brown was unconscious for three or four hours nelore d.e-ath. lie died at 12.30 without regaining consciousness. He was of sound constitution.

.lames Lincoln, lorry driver, deposed to picking up Brown and the other attendants in the Humphreys-Blue Spur district. Brown was at Blue Spur and in his usual health. Brown sat with the other attendants on. Iho body of the lorry. Ho sat on a boson the right-hand side behind the hood, with his hack- to the hood. After travelling some distance the lorry began the ascent of Han Hail Hill. The road was \l?ry rough. When about half-wav up, the witness heard knocking and stopped. He had been travelling about ten miles an hour. Was told of the accident, and all went back to where Brown lay in the water table. He was unconscious, and hunted inks attention was given. "When being lifted into the lorry he became conscious, and was brought to the institution. Only a slight hump was felt when Brown fell out. The lorry was travelling along a straight when Brown fell out. There were, no sidehoards to the lorry. T). F. Freitas, another attendant, rode next to Brown oil the lorry. Had sat on the box, lml got off and sal on the door of the lorry, as witness did not consider it safe. Advised Brown to sit on tin llmr also, hut he preferred the box as the Hour was wel. Before the spill. Brown was nearly thrown out. and again advised to abandon the box. Riding up the hill the lorry jilted badly and that caused Brown to capsize. Witness grabh'd at him hut caught his overprint ns Brown struck the hillside. Brown’s head struck the hank. The lorry did not appear to hit him. When Brown was taken to the institution he was very groggy, hut wanted to undress himself. He was put to bed and attended to bv the .Medical Superintendent.- Where the accident happened the road "ns very rough. The lorry was going from 12 to 1 I miles an hour. Lincoln is a very careful driver.

Mark Pont, another attendant, rode beside Freitas in the lorry. There "'ere five in all in the rear portion of the lorry. The road up the hill was very rout'll. .Saw Frown fall off. There was a had Lump at the time. Jle seemed to fall head first. 'When Frown (ame to at the roadside, in reply to a question. Frown said he was alright. At the time of the accident the lorry was travelling at a steady pace. Deceased was steady and .sober. He was quite .sober when the accident occurred. 'The lorry driver was familiar with the road.* There were pot holes in the road. There are no fixed seats for the men to use on the lorry. The Coroner reviewed the ease as a very regrettable accident in which all. sympathy would he extended to the bereaved relatives. The verdict recorded was death from-injury caused by falling accidentally from a lorry on Flue .Spur road.