DEATHS.
WILLETTS. — On October 1, at Nelson Hospital, result of an accident, Charles Arthur, third son of J Morris and the late Jessie Y. Willetts, of Owen Junction, aged 25 years. Deeply regretted. -Nelson Evening Mail, 2/10/1919.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of MR J. M. WILLETTS are informed that the Funeral of his late Son, Charles Arthur Willetts, will leave the residence of Mr A. Shone, Collingwood street, on SATURDAY MORNING, at 9.30 o'clock, for the Nelson Cemetery.
ALFRED SHONE, 5333 Undertaker & Einbalmer. -Colonist, 3/10/1919.
A BUSH FATALITY.
INQUEST ON THE VICTIM.
An Inquest was held yesterday by the Coroner (Mr. J. S. Evans) concerning the death of Charles Arthur Willetts, of Owen Junction, who died in the Hospital on Wednesday from injuries received in a bushfelling accident on Tuesday
Plainclothes Constable H. Russell represented the police.
Dr. Jamieson, Resident Surgeon at the Hospital, stated that he examined deceased on admission to the Hospital, and found that he was suffering from internal hemorrhage and shock. The injuries were so severe that his recovery was hopeless. Death was due to the injuries received.
Morris William Willetts, brother of deceased, stated that on Tuesday last he was engaged with his brothers in felling bush on his father's land at Owen Junction. Deceased was working about sixty yards away from witness, sending a "drive out." They heard the drive, and at the same time heard deceased call out. They ran towards the place, calling out, but got no answer. His brother James found deceased under a tree, lying on another tree. The tree on top of him was not part of the drive. It was a tree he had felled in the morning, and it had partly caught on a stump. Deceased said he had run under a tree to get out of the way of the drive, and that part of the drive had fallen so as to bring this tree off the stump and down on top of him. When found deceased was securely pinned to the ground, and they had to cut the bottom log to release him. He was unconscious. About ten minutes later deceased recovered consciousness. Dr. Warneford was summoned, and he attended to deceased, who was subsequently removed to the Nelson Hospital. Deceased was used to bushfelling, having done it before he went to and after he returned from the war.
John Morris Willetts, father of deceased, stated that he brought his son into the Hospital on Wednesday morning. Deceased was a single man, 23 years of age. His son had been engaged in bushfelling for the past three or four months. On the journey to the Hospital deceased was conscious, but he did not trouble him with any questions about the accident. Dr. Fearless saw deceased at Wakefield.
The Coroner returned a verdict that death was the result of an accident, caused by a tree falling on deceased, no blame being attached to anyone.
One who served with Charles in France recalls that two years ago today, at 4 o'clock in the morning, they faced together the fearful ordeal of Passchendaele, where so many New Zealanders fell. Willetts, whom he describes as a most estimable comrade and a grand fighter, received two wounds on that occasion, and afterwards spent seven months in hospital in England. -Colonist, 4/10/1919.
Wakapuaka Cemetery, Neson.
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