CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 886, 11 November 1871, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

(FROM OUR OWtf CORRESPONDENT.) A shocking accident occurred at Belle Vue Terrace, on Thursday afternoon, to a miner named William Reid, who was killed by a fall of earth from the face where he was working in company with other men. The fall came unawares, the face having been considered perfeccly safe. A large block fell upon the head of deceased, killing him instantly, and knocking down and partly covering another man named Nye. Deceased was 32 years of age and a native of Scotland. He was a married man with three or four young children who are left entirely destitute. The Wizard Oil Prince introduced his medicines at the Casino de Venise, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to crowded houses. "He dug down" and " dug up" several hymns and anecdotes and also seemed to transact a respectable amount of business in his oil.

la the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Friday, the Misses Dorgan sued Messrs Hehir and Molloy for the sum of £2O for wrongfully excluding light and air, and causing a stench by building a stable alongside of their residence, the Shamrock Hotel. Mr Shapter appeared for plaintiffs. Mr Broad did not think it came under the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate, but he thought a case might be heard iu the District Court. He considered light and air incorporal hereditaments, and ho thought the principal points of the case might be heard in the Warden's Court,

CORONER'S INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Melbourne Hotel on Friday morning at ten o'clock to enquire into the death of a man named William Reid, who was killed on the previous day at Belle Vue Terrace. The jury having chosen Mr D. Cunningham as foreman, proceeded to view the body, after which the following evidence was taken.

John Austin: lama miner working at Belle Vue Terrace. Have seen a body, which I recognise as the body of William Reid. He was a wages man working for Frank Fox, and was about thirty-two years of age, and a native of Scotland. About twenty minutes past four yesterday afternoon, deceased was filling a truck close to the face. I was working near to him. Frederick Nye was working near also, when a fall of earth took place. The face there is seven feet high. The earth fell close to my feet, and a block of about two or throe hundred weight came on the head of deceased, and knocked him down on his right side. I could not see any one for some time. Nye sang out to take~the lump off his leg. John Davies assisted me in removing the lump off deceased's head, when we found that he was quite dead. His body was afterwards brought into town.

Frederick Nye: I am a miner working for wages in Fox's claim. Yesterday, about twenty minutes past four, deceased was working close to me. when the face fell and knocked me down. Fox extricated me. I then saw Reid lying on the ground dead. Joseph Henry: lam a legally qualified medical practitioner residing in Charleston. I examined the body of lteid this morning and found an extensive lacerated wound on the scalp about 4 or 5 inches long, extending down to the orbit. The frontal bone was fractured, and some other bones were loosened from their attachments. The injuries to the skull must have caused instantaneous death.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.