CORONIAL INQUIRY

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4438, 10 April 1930, Page 2

CORONIAL INQUIRY

INTO FLAXCUTTEE’S DEATH. A vordiet that deceased met with his death as the result of shock and haemorrhage, due to >an accidentally self-inflicted wound, was returned yesterday by the Coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham, at the inquest held in Palmerston North info fh(> death of Albert A’Court, who received the injury while cutting (lax for White mini Ltd., on March hist. The Coroner added that everything possible appeared to have been done and that deceased had every attention.

Sergeant Hill conducted proceedings on behalf of the police. Mr. Grant appeared for Whitaunui Ltd., and Mr. Ouglov for deceased's relatives.

Dr. Ward slated in evidence that deceased had been admitted to the Public Hospital, at about 7.20 p.m. on March 31, suffering from a severe cut on the back of the neck. He was conscious and his condition was fairly satisfactory. About 20 minutes afterwards lie collapsed. An injection was made and deceased was then taken to the operating theatre where it was found that lie had a. clean cut wound oil the back of the neck, slightly to the right side. All the main vessels were severed. An operation was performed under an anaesthetic, the bleeding vessels tied up and the wound stitched together. Another injection was given on returning to the ward, but deceased did not rally, dying at 2.00 a.m. on April 1. Death was nine to shock associated with tlie effects of haemorrhage. The wound could have been accidentally self-inflicted. The fatal blow must have been delivered with some force as tile wound was about three inches deep. The wound might quite easily have been inflicted with the hook produced. When deceased was admitted to hospital some of the vessels had been lied and packed with col ton wool to counteract haemorrhage. Deceased appeared to have lin.fl all possible attention. The Coroner enquired whether deceased would have lived if an operation had been performed on the spot. —He might have.

The Coroner: Was the treat-men satisfactory under the circumstances ? —Yes.

Evidence was also tendered by .lolin Rountree and George Rankin on the linos previously published in these columns. The latter stated that deceased's hook was badly balanced. Witness stated that in his twenty-six years of experience lie ha<l known of no accident exactly similar, but had known a man to cut his car.

To Mr. Onglcy: tt was recognised that-if a hook was lifted above the head an obstruction would dolled it. A man always stooped when cutting flax and a piece of blackberry might have boon above deceased's head —just a small piece, enough to annoy him.