FALL FROM WHARF

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 818, 12 November 1929, Page 1

FALL FROM WHARF

SKYLARKING LEADS TO DEATH EVIDENCE AT INQUEST The belief that Albert Baker had met his death by striking his head against the belting of the feryr boat Condor as he fell from the wharf was put forward by Alexander Russell when an inquest was held this morning. Catherine Baker, who identified tile j body, said that her husband was 64 j years of age and lived at 4S Calliope iload, Devonport. He was employed ! as a ticket collector on the Northeote I tee of the Devonport Steam Kerry! Company's Auckland Wharf. Alexander Russell, a fireman on the feryr boat Ngoiro, said that Mr. Baker had been skylarking with him on the wharf early yesterday after- i noon. Stepping backward, he had ; tripped over the edge of the wharf | and had fallen into the harbour. Wit-j ness had jumped to the chains near j the bollards and held up his friend j u- il he was given assistance to get ! him up on to the wharf . Officers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade had applied artificial respiration for 45 minutes with no result. A cut on the ! head, and the fact that Mr. Baker was j unconscious when brought up on the wharf, led witness to believe that he j had hit his head when falling. The evidence of the actual accident was corroborated by Samuel Thomas Sit-,; ters and William Godfrey Reed, both j ticket collectors employed by the I Ferry Company. All three witnesses said that Mr. Baker was of a very! happy disposition. Death was due to shock and Mr. J Baker was said to be dead when he arrived at the Public Hospital. The j coroner. Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M.. re- i turned a verdict of accidental death. [