THE MILBURN FATALITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 67

THE MILBURN FATALITY.

The- adjourned inquest th-s death of George Robinson, which occurred in the Hospital on the 15th, was concluded before the acting coroner (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) yesterday morning. Mr Bed- * feholomew) on the 19th inst. Mr Bedand'Mr W. C. MacGregor appeared for die Milburn. Lime" *nd Cement Company. Sub-inspector Phair .©onductod the pro- . ceedings on behalf of the police. Andrew Johnson," labourer, g-a-ve evidence, as to the accident and tho causes apparently leading up to it To Mr MacGregor: Deceased crossed in front, instead of behind, the trucks. Had he retained, presence of mind an-d lain still h© would' not have been touched. It was purely an accident. Ib Mr Bedford : Witness had not known deceased for long. Had only worked with him one day. A person operating one brake would have had to cross to the other side to operate the other. The waggons were coupled together, and deceased caught his foot' in the chain in crossing from one side to the other.

William Gray contractor, said deceased had been in the company's employ for about 14 years. His duties were To load the trucks, shunt, weigh, and get them ready to go down to the station. He had an assistant, -but deceased always applied the brakes at the weighbridge. At the time of the accident the trucks were travelling at the ordinary" slow walking pace of a horse. Deceased had been fc very steady, careful man. One might do what deceased had done 100 times and not* get caught. Another man might get caught the first time. Had never known deceased do .this before. Had he lain still between the rails he would not have been injured. To Mr Bedford : Witness was present almost "every day, but had never seen -deceased cross in front of the trucks be^ fore. Deceased's wages were 8s a day. The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect t'bat ddc?&-ed had died from gangrene of the intestines consequent on injuries received- by being run, over by a railway truck; - \