MR J. McNEILL'S BODY FOUND

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 July 1915, Page 3

MR J. McNEILL'S BODY FOUND

THE body of the late John McNeill, who fell off the new ferro-concrete bridge, Helensville, on the 30th ult., was discovered on Saturday morning last (3rd inst) by Constable Clarke and party, about four chains up the river from where he fell in.

THE INQUEST

The inquest was held in the Courthouse on Sunday afternoon (4th inst.), at 2 p.m., before E. T. Field, Esq., J.P. (acting coroner), and a jury of six, viz., Messrs R. J. Walters (foreman), J. A. Ward, F. Mackenzie junr., H. Graham, G- Constable, and R. Dixon. Constable Driscoll conducted the proceedings on behalf of the Police.

Walter Davidson, sworn, said he was foreman on the Helensville new bridge at the time of the accident, and could identiify the body of the late John McNeill, who was a labourer under Mr Napier, the contractor. 'Deceased was engaged in placing small wooden stringers across the top of the arches, and was working alone. The last he saw of McNeill was when he was going to his work. Then, shortly after, witness heard another employee named Sharpe sing out " Jack is over," but he did not see the occurrence. In falling, deceased most likely struck some of the timber below where he was working, as there was a lot of temporary structure between the piles. Deceased's position was about sft above the water line, and the tide was about half flood and running from 4 to 4H-miles an hour at the time. Deceased was a single man, of temperate habits, and had not complained of any illness ; he was not a strong swimmer.

William Vause. sworn, said he was clerk of works for the Public Works Department, and inspected the bridge. He identified the body as that of McNeill who was at work on the morning of June 30th on top of the bridge. Witness heard Sharpe sing out " Jack is over." Mr'Davidson and himself at once put the boat into the river, the body being at that time about 30ft clear of the bridge. Robert Sanderson jumped into the river and tried to save deceased but before Sanderson could reach the spot, he sank. He was engaged in putting bearers across the arches £and in falling must have struck some of the structure below, rendering him unconscious. Deceased did not utter a sound after entering the water. There was a slight mark on top of the arch as if he had slipped. Decased was working alone at the time.

R. Sanderson, sworn, said he was a labourer working on the bridge at the time of the accident, and knew McNeill, Witness was working on the end .of the bridge when he heard Sharpe sing out '' Jack is over," and he then ran along to where he thought deceased fell, and jumped in, but McNeill had disappeared He had known McNeill for the past six month, and always found him steady. When in the water he saw deceased's hands which seemed to be helpless ; and he thought McNeill must have struck some of the structure in falling.

Dr. M. Meinhold, sworn, said he was a duly qualified medical practitioner residing in Helensville, and examined the body, which was a well-nourished and strongly-built man of middle age. There was a certain amount of rigormortis still present, and slight abrasions on the right cheek and right ear, also a thickening on the right side of the nose ; the left ear, had a slight punctured wound. Witness was of opinion that death was caused by drowning, accelerated by a fall against some blunt structure, and that his head struck something first. The mark on the lower part of the thorax might have been sufficient to knock deceased out. There were no bruises, only a punctured

wound

David Clarke, constable, stationed at Auckland, sworn, said he rembered the 30th ult. At 9.30 a.m. on that date he received information from Mr Vause that a man had fallen off the Helensville ferro-concrete bridge. He immediately undertook the search for- the body, and on the following Saturday found it, and brought it into Helensville; found bruises on right side of head near temple and slight marks on the body, as if caused by a fall. The body was hooked up about four chains from the bridge. On being recalled, Mr Vause stated that Sharpe was working on the decking of the bridge above deceased, and it was impossible for Sharpe to see the latter. This was all the evidence taken. THE VERDICT The verdict given was —That deceased met his death by drowning, accelerated by accidently striking some blunt structure in falling off the Helensville ferro-concrete bridge, on June 30.

A rider was added—That Mr Robert Sanderson be highly commended for hi s brave conduct in attempting to rescue deceased by diving into the river, which was running rapidly at the time. Also —That life buoys should be provided on such works, to prevent similar accidents.