INQUEST

Southland Times, Issue 18848, 14 June 1920, Page 2

INQUEST

DEATH OF HERBERT Y. TINKER. Before the Coroner, Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., on Saturday the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding: the death of Herbert Yorke Tinker, which was formally opened with evidence of identification on Wednesday, was concluded. Senior-Sergeant Ecrles appeared for the police. Evidence was given by Leslie W. Garden, who stated that he, in company with deceased and Robert Miller had been spending the evening as the guests of Robert Warden who occupied rooms in Neil's buildings. About two o’clock in the morning (June 6) the three visitors started for home. On comind down the first flight of stairs Tinker asked witness if there were any lavatories in the building and he was directed down a back stairway. Witness and Miller, after remarking that they would wait for Tinker in the street, then proceeded down the front stairway briskly. Half way down (hey met Constable Alexander, who stated that he had been attracted by the presence of a light in the building at an unusual hour. A crash was heard, and the three, found Tinker lying in the well of the stairs that he had been directed to go down. There was a gash behind the left ear. Dr Garfield Crawford was communicated with and he ordered Tinker’s removal to the Hospital. The ambulance was procured and Tinker died In the Hospital at 7 o’clock that night. Tinker was quite sober, as were the others. The stairway was very steep and the steps were narrow. It was in darkness, and he thought that a light should be placed on the landing above the stairway. Corroborative evidence wts given by Robert Miller. Constable Alexander, a temporary constable stationed at Invercarg.!l, said that he was on duty on the night of Juno 5 to 5 a.m. on June G. From about 10 p.m. he noticed a light in the upstairs room of Neil’s buildings. Somewhere about 2 a.m. he went to the building to examine it and when half-way up the stairs, he met the two last witnesses. While he was talking to them there was a crash. Regarding the finding of deceased be corroborated the statements of the others. His opinion was that the two previous witnesses were perfectly sober and that the deceased had had no drink. In bending ovtr him he would have noticed any smell of intoxicants. The two previous witnesses wtc strangers to him, as he was newly in the force. The Coroner; The porter at the Hospital told us that there was no_ drink. The Senior-Sergeant: Yes. but it is only fair to make it plain. Ihere are always people who think things. The constable said that a light should be placed at the top of the stairs. No medical evidence vas called and a verdict was returned that deceased met his death as the result of a fall while proceeding down a dark stairway on the morning of June 6.