FATAL ACCIDENT.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 241, 14 June 1928, Page 4

FATAL ACCIDENT.

AT TE WIIE«LJ.

Foreman Killed. On Saturday afternoon, an employee of the Bartholomew Timber Co., Ltd., named Jamieson, met his death through being crushed by a log while jacking same on to a timber bogie. Death was practically instantaneous, and an inquest into the circumstances w is held before Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, district coroner, on Sunday, at Te Whetu.

Thomas Arnold Wilfred Jensen, son-in-law of deceased, gave evidence in regard to identification of the body, and stated that deceased was in charge of a gang which was employed reloading logs on to trucks from which they had partially fallen, the previous day. * Dr. Haslett, of Putaruru, stated that after answering an urgent summons to Te Whetu, he found that life was extinct. An examination revealed that the chest wall was severely lacerated, and the ribs over the heart crushed in, the heart tissue also being lacerated. There were also severe contusions across the baeflr of the chest, and in his opinion death would be practically instantaneous. Arthur William Missen, millhand, staled that deceased was in charge of operations, which consisted of reloading logs on to two bogie trucks.

One of the trucks had come off the rails the previous day, and the logs Lad fallen off the derailed truck, while the ends were still on the other truck. The logs were jacked on to some timber packing, and the derailed truck replaced. Deceased was working in between the two logs, and found the handle of his jack would not turn, so he gave instructions for the bogie to be pulled back a bit. De-

ceased then released his jack, and let! the log down on the bogie. This log was then quite safe. Witness then walked round the bogie, and as he did so he heard a smash and groan. He then saw that the other log had fallen on deceased. He immediately grabbed the jack deceased had been using and released him in a few seconds by lifting the log. Deceased did not speak. In witness’ opinion the bolster either twisted round or caused the log to slip through thw chain, dragging the packing with in Deceased was thoroughly experienced at this kind of work. Samuel Hodge, loco driver, corroborated the evidence of the prcAius witness, and stated that the party consisted of deceased, himself, Missen and D. Haumaha, fireman. Deceased was put on the loco after the accident and taken to Te Whetu about 3.15 p.m. Witness stated he was an expert with the jack, and that deceased was generally put in charge of this kind of work. A verdict was returned that deceased died from shock and injuries caused by a log falling on him and that no blame was attachable to anyone.