THE FATAL ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 714, 9 January 1903, Page 3

THE FATAL ACCIDENT.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the body of the late David Curtin, who was fatally injured at Messrs Clayton Bros.’ sawmill on Wednesday, was held at the Hospital yesterday, before Mr W. A. Barton, fa.M., and tho following jury : Messrs W. Morgan (foreman), K. T. Seymour, .T. Morrison, (j. Williams, T. Leslie, and H. Williams. Sergeant Siddells represented the police. Mr J. \V. Nolan was present on behalf of tho Government Life Department and Mossrs Clayton Bros. Walter Henry Clayton, timber merchant, stated that he had a saw-mill in connection with his business. Amongst other machinery he had a grindstone, which was driven by steam power, and that it was in good order. When not in use the belt was disconnected by slipping it off the main pulley with a piooe of wood kept for the purpose. He said that the grindstone was used by all the men for sharpening their tools as required by the Factories Act, as well as the Carpenters’ Union. It was not the duty of any one man to sharpen the tools ; every man kept his own in order. The deceased David Curtin was employed by him in the joinery department. He said tho deceased was a good tradesman, and could not say that he understood machinery ; but that ho had been in the habit of using the stone. Witness said that he had never known an accident to have happened before, and nothing would lead him to suppose that one should occur. Mr T. Morrison dsked if it was not customary for the machinery to be inspected by a Government Inspector. Witness replied that the machinery was inspected annually, and that tho inspector was aware of how tho belt was worked, and if any danger had been connected with the working of the belt ha would have received notification from the inspec-

tor to that effect. Mr Morgan, the foreman, asked if he was aware as to the circumstances of the accident. Witness replied in the negative. Dr David Morrison stated that he was called to' Messrs Clayton Bros.’ factory Wednesday shortly before noon, and on his arrival discovered that deceased had met with a serious accident, and at once ordered him to tho Hospital. On arrival at the Hospital witness examined him, and louud that he had his left arm torn off, the bone boing broken about the middle of tho top part of the arm, and the skin aud muscles almost as high as the shoulder. He found also that nearly every rib on the left side was fractured, the lung having been evidently perforated, probably by the broken end of one or more ribs. Air also escaped underneath the : kin of the chest. Tho collar-bone and the left shoulder blade ivero also fractured. He was cut about the lower lip and right arm. • He was operated upon immediately, the mangled part of the arm being removed from the shoulder joint and the skin drawn over. The patient died in about twenty minutes after being put back to bod. He never recovered from the shock, and died of shock. Andrew Somervell, catpenter, stated that ho was in the employ of Messrs Clayton Bros., and that Wednesday morning ho 1 was in their faotory, Gladstone road, and 1 tho deceased, David Curtiu, was there. ‘ He was galleting a saw when he heard a shout, aud on looking round saw the deceased flying round with the shaft. He at once slopped the engine, and as she slowed down deceased fell to the ground aud he immediately went to tho man’s | assistance, finding that his left arm had been torn off and thrown some distance* away! There was no delay in stopping the engine. Witness had frequently used the same grindstone, which was a simplo contrivance, aud with ordinary care no accident should occur. Witness bad worked the grindstone frequently for the past nine or ton years.

Tlio Foreman : Were you in charge ot the machinery '■ Witness : Yes ; but did not see the accident occur. . . , ~ , The Foreman ashed if the stick which was kept for the purpose of removing the belt had been used, would there have been any danger. . ' , Witness replied that if the stick had been used there would have been no danger. It was possible lor the accident to have happened by taking the belt on i,he bottom pulley with the baud. Mr Xoum asked if the accident could have happened had the belt been removed by the stick. in reply Mr Somervell said that it was impossible for it to have happened. Mr IT. Williams asked if the belt was protected. , In reply Mr Somervell said tnat it was an ordinary cioasbelt, and was not protee 1 ed. , Mr G. Williams : If a man got caught in it then be would bo pulled up. James Henry Dolcman, miller at the factory, stated ho saw David Curtin, the deceased, grinding a chisel shortly befoie noon. When ho had finished, witness saw him remove tho belt with his hand. Witness went to get the stick which was used for hanging up the belt overhead. Deceased was at this time standing on tire ledge of the grindstone, trying to bang the bolt up on the ledge with his hand, where it is usually kept, thus taking it away

from the top pulley, by which means the belt was stopped from going round. W it- | ness next hoard him cry out, and on looking round saw him revolving with the shaft. The shah was not going very fast at the time. The body ol_ the deceased was carried round four or live times, and as the cngiuo slowed down the body fell to the ground. It was not usual for anyone using the machine to hang up the belt tbuinselves. .Mr Somervell usually attended to that. It was the first time witness had seen the deceased attend to the belt. The foreman asked if deceased knew he went for the stick. .i.

In reply, Doleman said that he wont of his own accord, and did nob know if deceased knew he had gone for the stick. The stick was used for pulling off the belt of the pully and grindstone, but the deceased took it off with his hand. Sergeant Siddells said that he had another witness present who would corroborate Dolcman’s evidence, and stated that he thought deceased had slipped. By the request of tho jury Mr Somorveil was recalled in connection with evidence given by Doletrmn that he generally attended to the bolt. Witness said that he did, but that some of the men using it frequently had often done it themselves. He had never seen deceased put on or take off the belt. Witness had taken off the belt of the lower pulley with his hand, but not off tho top one, as it was about Oft high. Tho men had no instructions not to interfere with tho machinery. Thomas George Hughes, joiners apprentice, employed at Messrs Clayton Bros.’ said he was present when the accident happened. Ho did not see deceased take oil tho belt, but saw bun got up on tho framework of the grindstone. Tho bolt was at this time revolving round the top pulley, and he saw deceased leaning over trying to take the belt ofi the pulley with his hand. Ho next saw do* ceased flying round in the air, The ougine had not properly stopped before deceased fell to tho ground. When tho engine was stopped the belt was tied up round tho pulley. Mr Morgan (foreman) asked wttness how long he had been- working with Messrs Clayton Bros., and if he had seen the men use the grindstone ? Witness said ho had been working for Messrs Clayton Bros, for one year. lie had seen the grindstono used frequently, but never saw anyone attempt to hang the belt up without the aid of tho stick. The jury then retired, and nftor a short lapse of time returned the following verdict “Wo find that deceased David Curtin met his death through accident. We recommend that in future no one other than the man in charge of tho machinery be allowed to connect or disconnect the belting in connection therewith.” Mr Barton (the Coroner) said he quite agreed with the verdict, and also concurred in the jury’s recommendation.