THE OPUNAKE FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1916, Page 7

THE OPUNAKE FATALITY.

ACCIDENTAL EXPLOSION OF. GELIGNITE.

The adjourned inquest into the death of J. P. Kennedy, foreman of the Pariliaka Road Board, who met his death, as the outcome of a premature explosion of gelignite on Uood Friday was resumed yesterday before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Coroner. Senior-Sergeant Bowden conducted the enquiry and Mr. J. E. Wilson watched proceedings for the South British Insurance Co.

Annie Kennedy deposed that on Good Friday her husband went out betwen 10.30 and 11, not saying where he was going or what he was going to do, but simply said, "I'll be home to dinner at one, then we'll go to the three o'clock service at church." She did not see him take anything away with him. Her husband kept explosives for his work in a small place outside the house. She next saw her husband at Mrs. Mann's house in a motor car. He had met with an accident and could speak, but that was all. She did not ask him what had happened, but said, "Keep up for my sake," and he replied, "Yes, I will." Witness accompanied her husband to the New Plymouth hospital. To Mr. Wilson: Her husband did not tell her that he had a holiday on Good Friday, lmt she knew it was usual for the Road Board to grant a holiday on that day.

Isabella deposed that on Good Friday ihe heard someone calling for help near'her house, about half-past one. She went out, and saw Kennedy coming across the paddock. She hurried over, and found that his hfinds were shattered, niid he was covered in blood. He said' "Get help." He also said "I have blown my hands up with gelignite." She had previously heard an explosion, which she believed was a gun. She asked Kennedy "What has happened to the gun," and lie replied "My dear woman, it wasn't a gun, I've blown myself up with gelignite." He said he was handling two plugs of gelignite, and put one down, out the other exploded accidentally He did not say what he was doing, or was about to do. She attended to him while her boys went for the doctor, who came out in his motor car and took him io the New Plymouth hospital. To Mr Wilson: Mr. Kennedy was coining from the direction of tlie river when I saw him.

Dr. E. A. Walker, superintendent of the New Plymouth hospital, gave evidence that the deceased was admitted to ■the hospital about a o'clock on Good Friday. He was in a state of profound collapse. The right hand was horribly lacerated, the greater portion having >;on lost» while the remains of the lingers and thumb were shredded. The left hand had been completely blown away. No bleeding was going on, but Kennedy stated that after the accident there had been very free loss. During the night and the forenoon of the 22nd every effort was made to rally the patient from his collapsed state. No success was attained, and, "econdary bleeding having set in, immediate operation was demanded as the only chance of saving the life. Amputation was performed on both forearms just above the wrists. He failed, however, to improve, and he died about 2 a.m. on the 23rd. The canse of death was shock, following severe injury and loss of blood.

.A verdict was returned that death was the result of an accidental explosion of gelignite, and the injuries caused thereby.