SAW SMOKE FROM BODY.

Shannon News, 16 February 1923, Page 4

SAW SMOKE FROM BODY.

INQUEST ON ELECTROCUTED : LINESMAN;- ,

% ■ . WELLINGTON, Last Night. - At the inquest on James Henry Bray, the linesman who was electrocuted while repairing overhead wires, Gordon .Fraser, who was working with deceased, said Bray was woking at the top of the pole. Witness was some distance away with his back to deceased. He heard a groan and truning saw smoke coming from Bray’s body. As *he thought something was burning, witness rushed to deceased who was sitting on a cross-bar. When half way up the pole, deceased fell to the ground. Bray had his coat off •and was wearing the regulation gloves no rain had fallen and deceased’s clothes were quite dry. The pole carrying the wires was slender and moved in the heavy wind. Deceased had burns on both arms.

In .cross evamination, witness admitted ta Mr O’Shea the City Inspector, that they did not take the twentyfoot ladder supplied by the Coiporation for such work. They forgot to take it with them, but even if the ladder had been used, it would have been impossible to do the work deceased was doing froin it. The inquest was adjourned. -