KAEAEA FATALITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 95, 14 August 1908, Page 5

KAEAEA FATALITY.

The Inquest

I An inquest was held at Te Kuiti on I Thursday, August 6th concerning the death of William Bredenbeck, who was killed in the bush at Kaeaea on August 4th. Mr J. Tammadge, J.P., was acting Coroner, and Mr F. Darrow was ! appointed foreman of the jury. Constable Matthew represented the Police. William Henry Grant deposed that he was bushfalling along with deceased on Mr Hickman's property on August 4th. They were about a chain apart and witness did not see deceased for about half-an-hour prior to noon when he worked round to where he had last seen deceased working. Witness came across the body. Life was apparently extinct and witness judged that death had been instantaneous. Death, he considered, was caused by a tawa tree, which deceased had been falling, splitting up and kicking back. Deceased was struck on the side of the head. There were no other marks. Bredenbeck was a good bushman and a fine fellow. When witness discovered the body his boy, who was working close by, came. George Grant corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to the time of the accident, and the position in which the body was lying. Tasman Hickman stated that deceased had a bush falling contract on his property. George Grant brought the information of the accident and witness proceeded to the locality. He examined the body and found life extinct. Knew deceased for about three years, and considered him a good bushman. Deceased was insured against accident. Edward B.ennettt, a Kaeaea settler. stated that he examined the scene of the accident, and the cause of death was apparent. The tree deceased had been falling was a twin tree into which it was impossible to put a front scarf. The tree had split and shot back when falling and struck deceased on the head. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death. ''