The Inquest.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3528, 16 April 1880, Page 2

The Inquest.

Ad inquest on the body was held at the All Nations Hotel this afternoon, at three o'clock, before Dr Kilgour, Coroner, and a Jury, of whom Mr Comer was chosen Foreman. The Jury having viewed the bcdy, proceeded to the scene of the accident, where the timber } staging, and the log that caused the catastrophe were inspected. On returning tbe following evidence was taken:—

Mathew Cammings deposed that he was a carpenter, and resided at the Waiotahi Creek. He was mate of deceased, and was working with him in the Big Pump yard this morning. At the time of the accident they were engaged sawine a log. Deceased got off the top of the log to assist witness to jack it on end. The deceased was screwing the jaok, and witness was holding it. While doing so one of the transoms gave way, knocking witness on the left side. When he recovered his feet he ssw deceased with his head jammed between the two logi. Witness immediately called for help, and jacked the log off the body, while Bryno, who had come up, removed the body. Life was quite extinct, the skull being crushed and the brains scattered on the log. The cause of the accident was the jacking of the log on end, which carried away the transom. The deceased believed that the transom was sufficiently secured, but the nails did not hold, not having entered the wood. This caused the transom to move with the log, the transoms not being strong enough. He advised him to use stronger pieces of timber, but decased said Mr Comer might not like it, and the transoms were strong enough to bear twice the weight. Deceased was rather a hasty man.

By the jury.—Deceased was the contractor, and witness went into danger although he knew it was unsafe._ The log waa moved in the opposite way several times yesterday. [Left sitting.]