MARLBOROUGH.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 255, 30 March 1860, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

(From the Marlborough Press.)

Fatal Accident.—On Tuesday last, 20th March, a lamentable accident occurred to a young man named John Gome, when shingling the building intended to be used as the Council Chamber. It appears that the scaffolding gave way, and the unfortunate youth fell on a claw hammer, that was on the ground, with the handle upwards, by which he received injuries of so serious a nature that, although every attention Was given to him by Dr. Home, he expired on Wednesday night, at the Royal Hotel, to which house he wa3 removed immediately after the accident.

Yesterday an inquest was held on the body, before S. L. Muller, Esq., coroner, when—

James Sinclair being sworn, said: On Tuesday afternoon last, the 20th March, I was in.the Land Oflice, at Beaverton. I heard a sound of shingles falling from the adjoining building. I went out and saw deceased on the ground." Some scaffolding was falling about him, I went to the .deceased. He was moaning, but quite sensible. He appeared in great pain, and placed his hand on his bowels. 1 saw blood on his clothes—on his trousers. He., was carried to the Land Office. He said he was hurt in his fork, and complained of pain in his stomach. A doctor was sent for, who came quickl}*, and he was removed to his lodgings. I was acquainted with him. His name was John Gorrie. That is his body which the jury have just seen. 1 should think he fell about eighteen or twenty feet. He was shingling the roof. Tlie scaffolding appeared to be of the usual character. I had seen it before the accident, and did not consider it uniafe.

Lewis Keelo Home, being sworn, said: I am a surgeon, living in the Wairau. On Tuesday afternoon last I was summoned to an accident. I went to the Land Office and saw deceased, John Gome, lying there. I had him removed to his lodgings. I removed his trousers and examined him. I saw blood on his trousers and shirt. There"was but a little oozing when I saw him. There was a wound about half an inch long torn through the side of the bowel at the verge ofthe anus. I saw a small piece of skin forced up the bowel. I drew ifc down; it was about two-and-p-half inches long, and appeared to have been torn off near the bowel. The sphincter muscle was partly torn through. There was a very small portion of stool.mixsd with the blood escaped from the wound. He complained of pain on the inside of the hip, in the right iliac region.. He did not complain of pain in his fundament or bowel. The pain in his side continued to get worse, and I applied fomentations to him. I saw him three times that evening. I drew off his water, be having expressed a little pain in the bladder. After that he passed his water as usual. .1 gave him the remedies I considered necessary. I was afraid of inflammation setting in. The next morning I found him rather worse; the pain in his side was increasing, and extending over tho bowels, which were burning hot, and tender to the touch. His pulse was quick and feeble, never full. I gave him calomel aud opium, and in.the evening I took away some blood from his arm, which seemed to relieve him. His breathing was difficult, and he avoided using the abdominal muscles as much as possible. I saw him several times that evening. On my last visit, about twelve o'clock, he was dead. He sank rapidly towards the last. I consider the immediate cause of death to have been peritonitis, or 'inflammation of the covering of the bowels, produced by the injury to his rectum. I was told.that he had fallen upon "a hammer, and the handle had passed up tho rectum.

William Sortie, being sworn, said: Deceased was

my brother. I was. with him on the roof when ; he fell. T was with' him on the same scaffold. I , saved myself by holding to the shingles. Mr. Sinclair picked him up. When he was removed to his lodgings, he told me he had fallen upon a hammer, nnd'it had passed, into- his- bowels, [went to the building, and saw tho hammer. There was blood on the handle for about three inches. My brother was attended by the doctor until he died. L was present when he "died. I consider tiie scaffold. was sufficient for the work. I attribute the blame to no one. Verdict " Accidental Death, caused by injuries received in falling from a scaffold', r ,

. The deceased was interred this afteanoon in the Presbyterian burying-ground at Renwicktown, and was followed to the grave by a large number of friends.