PATHETIC TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 3

PATHETIC TRAGEDY

PARALYSED WORKER. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July ]<). ' Pathetic circumstances were revealed at the inquest on Francis Raymond Hyde, aged 25 years, a single man, who died at the Auckland Hospital early this morning. He was paralysed from the waist down, and was an inmate of the Auckland Infirmary, where lie was found yesterday afternoon lying unconscious, with a large wound in the right groin, and a double-bladod clasp knife lyiii" on a nearby table. His death ensued in the hospital as a result of shock and loss of blood.

Hyde, who'had been engaged in milking cows and dairy farm work near Gisborne, left New Zealand in September, 1927, to try bis fortune in Canada, having little more than his third class fare. Only throe weeks after arriving .there, lie was driving a dray loaded with wood, , when the liorso swerved and ran one qf the wheels on a log. Hyde was thrown to the ground, one wheel passing over him and severing his spinal cord. In the absence of any workers’ com causation provisions "in the law of British Columbia, Hyde was unable to obtain much relief from liis employer, who declared that he had no means, while the owner of the farm declared the responsibility to .bo that of his lessee. Therefore, all that Hyde obtained was £lO, and he was then notified that ho would bo placed on a steamer going tn Now Zealand, boin ,r technically a deportee from the eo”iitry. On his arrival at Auckland, lie was removed to the hospital, and later to the Infirmary. '

The Superintendent of the Infirmary said the deceased had never threatened suicide, and was always cheerful. Just after the finding of the deceased, witness received a telegram from the deceased’s brother, asking to he immediately informed as to the deceased’s condition, an inquire which had never boon received before. It was possible that the deceased had written to his brother, telling him what lie was about to do. A verdict of death through loss of 'blood, resulting from a self-inflicted wound, was returned by Coroner Hunt.