THE KOHATU SHOOTING FATALITY.
OPENING OF THE INQUEST.
The inquest on the boy Jack Howard, who died as the result of injuries received while out rabbit shooting at Kohata last Tuesday, was opened at the Hospital on Saturday by Mr E. Davidson, Coroner.
Dr. Jamieson, Hospital Surgeon, stated that the deceased was admitted to the Hospital on the 18th inst. about noon, suffering from a gunshot wound on the left leg, whereby the knee and lower part of the thigh were shattered. The wound had been sustained the previous afternoon, and there had been great loss of blood. On the 19th inst. the shattered limb was amputated. On the 20th deceased developed signs of pneumonia, and on the 21st gangrene made its appearance in the right leg, and he died a few hours later, the cause of death being, in witness's opinion, firstly, shock and loss of blood consequent upon the wounds sustained, and secondly, the complications in the lungs and the other leg.
The Coroner: Are you of opinion that unnecessary delay caused these different symptoms to occur two following days after the boy was brought to the Hospital?
Dr. Jamieson: I am not able to say whether there was unnecessary delay, as it was probable that it would be quite impossible to attempt to transport immediately after the accident without grave risk of death during transport, on account of the weak state of the patient from loss of blood and shock.
Leonard Bradstock, manager of the Boys' Training School, Stoke, stated that deceased was an inmate of the school, and was licensed for service to Mr North, of Kohatu. On Tuesday, 18th inst., about noon, witness was first notified, of the accident, and immediately, rang up Kohatu for particulars, and on hearing that Howard had been admitted to the Hospital he came in to see Dr. Jamieson in reference to the case. He had called three or four times a day at the Hospital, and sat with deceased during the whole of the night before his death. So far as witness knew, deceased had no experience of guns. Mr Bradstock said he would like to state that every attention was given to deceased at the Hospital by both doctor and nurses. He would like to ask whether there had been any unnecessary delay before the boy was removed to the Hospital, and if due attention was given him during transit to the Hospital.
The Coroner said these points would be cleared up thoroughly.
The inquest was then adjourned till Tuesday next, at 2 p.m., at the Courthouse, to enable witnesses from the country to be called.
(We understand that immediately after the accident. Dr. Pearless, of Brightwater. who is the nearest medical man to Kohatu, was telephoned for, but was not at home. Dr. Washbourn, of Nelson, was then communicated with, and immediately proceeded to Kohatu, taking with him Dr. Washbourn, of Richmond. At Kohatu they attended to the injured lad, and made arrangements for his removal to the Hospital, which were carried out.) -Colonist, 24/9/1915.
KOHATU SHOOTING ACCIDENT.
INQUEST RESUMED
VERDICT OF "ACCIDENTAL DEATH."
The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the boy Jack Howard, of Kohatu, who was admitted to the Hospital on Tuesday last, and died on Friday, after a shooting accident at Kohatu, was resumed before Mr E. Davidson, Coroner, at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon.
Senior-Sergeant Barrett appeared for the police.
Further evidence was adduced as follows: —
Henry E. A. Washburn, medical practitioner, deposed that he was rung up by Mr North, Kohatu, about 10 p.m. on the 17th inst., and proceeded to Kohatu, accompanied by Dr. Washbourn, of Richmond. They reached Kohatu towards 1 a.m., and found the patient on a stretcher bed in Mr North's dining room. The left leg was badly shattered about the knee; and below the knee the leg was dead. He was suffering from profound shock. They held a consultation, and decided that the patient's condition did not admit of immediate amputation, which otherwise would have been the best treatment; nor did it even admit of an anaesthetic being administered, so as to permit them to thoroughly cleanse the wound. Morphia was administered, and the patient made as comfortable as was possible, considering the grave danger of aggravating his already serious condition. For this reason they considered it inadvisable to remove his clothes or change the mattress. They left him about 3 a.m. with instructions to give more morphia and place, him bed and all as he lay, on the first down train in the morning; to place the bed on the ambulance, and take him to the Hospital. To have brought him in by car would have been fatal. There was no unnecessary delay, and he took all responsibility personally for the manner of the deceased's transit. Mr North gave every assistance. Witness explained that Mr North's house lay across the Motueka river, over a ford, rough with boulders, which precluded anything being done till after daylight. The bed that the patient lay on had to be placed on a dray to cross the river at the station. It would have been better had a nurse been available to accompany him, but his experience of the railway officials in such cases was that they did all that laymen could do, which after all was not a great deal.
George Matthew Pressley, guard on the railway, deposed that he was on the train on the 18th inst. He received the patient into the van. The patient was lifted into the van by Mr North and another gentleman, on a wire stretcher. Mr North said the doctor's instructions were that he was to be placed on the floor of the van as he was. It took about 2 1/2 hours to come from Kohatu to Nelson. On the way down he saw the patient from time to time. He was continually calling for water, and witness gave him just enough to moisten his lips. He appeared to be comfortable enough, and had sufficient clothing. He conversed with witness on one occasion; but made no special complaint about his treatment. Witness did not like to place his experience against that of a professional man, but he thought the patient would have been better on a suspended stretcher. He was satisfied that he received all possible attention on the train, and that nothing further could have been done. The ambulance was in waiting when the train arrived in town.
William Bernard North, farmer, of Kohatu. deposed that the deceased, Jack Howard, was in his employ, licensed out from the Stoke Training Farm. The accident occurred on Monday, the 17th inst. Deceased was out shooting with a shot gun, after knocking off work at 5 p.m. Witness never saw him go away. He did not return to tea, and witness became fidgety, and at 10 minutes to 7 went to deceased's room to see if he was lying down. He then went to the stable to see if he had taken a horse. On returning from the stable he heard what must have been the deceased crying out. Witness felt sure that deceased had met with an accident, and he went to the house to put on his boots and got assistance. On going a little distance he coo-eed and got a reply. Following the direction of the cries they found deceased about half a mile from the house. It being pitch dark, they had a light. They found him lying doubled up alongside a fence. His legs were covered with blood. He left the lady who accompanied him with deceased, and went to get a mattress and telephone for a doctor, and also to ask his wife to get bed ready by the dining-room fire. He also told her if he got no response to the telephone message to send one of the children to ride over the fiver and ask Mr Syder, who was in his employ, to find the Kohatu postmaster at once and pet him to ring up from the railway station. He then went back to the patient, and they placed the mattress on a ladder and placed the deceased on it as carefully as possible. On nearing the house they passed the child riding over for help. They then took the patient to the dining-room, where everything was in readiness, and lifted him, mattress and all, on to a bedstead. During that time witness' wife was attending to the telephone, but as the postmaster lived about a mile away it was some time before he arrived. Both from his own telephone and from the station they were ringing constantly till about half-past nine, especially to the Wakefield doctor, but got no reply. The postmaster then tried the Morse, and got into touch with Nelson. During all that time they were attending to the lad, and dressed the wound as well as they were able, cutting away his trousers and boots. They washed the wound with disinfectant, and removed the wadding of the cartridge from the wound. Until they got the doctor witness remained with the patient, and gave him milk and water. He was very sick, and was in a dormant condition, half conscious. When the doctors arrived at 1.30 a.m. he gave them the particulars, and with Mr Syder remained while an examination was made. The doctors remained an hour and a half, and told witness that deceased had made a nasty mess of his leg, and would have to have it taken off. Before leaving they gave full instructions regarding his removal in the morning. Witness's intention was to carry him over the river and place him in a motor car, but the doctor, finding the train available, instructed witness to place him on it as he was. He left two doses of morphia, one of which was to be given before starting and one when he was placed on the the train. In the morning Mr Syder came with the dray, and they occupied an hour to take the patient to the station. Instructions were given to the guard exactly as Guard Pressley had stated. The guard said he was sorry he had no straps to hang the bed up by, and it was placed on the floor of the van. A railway employee from Kiwi, (Mt Tanner) was also travelling in the van, and it was understood he would assist in looking after the patient. Witness assured the guard that arrangements would be made for the ambulance to meet the train on arrival.
By Sergeant Barrett: Deceased procured the gun from some young person who had left the district.
By the Coroner: Mr. Syder kept the gun from the boy for some time, and when at last he let him have it he gave him plenty of warning about its use.
The Coroner expressed his satisfaction with the reply, remarking that too much care could not be exercised in entrusting young people with firearms.
Mr Bradstock: At the time of the accident the deceased's clothes were dry, except for a patch where he had been lying down, and they were dry when he was put in the train.
Frederick Walter Syder, in the employ of Mr North, stated that about a fortnight before the accident he saw deceased with a gun in his possession. Witness told him that he did not think he was old enough to have a gun, and that it might not be safe. He borrowed the gun to try it, and to keep it away from deceased. The gun remained at his place for five or six weeks, and while he was away deceased came and obtained it from his wife. About ten days before the accident he again procured the gun, and deceased again got it from his wife. Deceased kept the gun in his whare. This concluded the evidence.
The Coroner said that the rumours floating about that deceased had not been well treated after the accident were unfounded. Instead of anything inhuman, Mr North and family had done everything possible to make deceased comfortable and alleviate his pain. He found that deceased met his end from gunshot wounds received while out shooting on Mr North's premises.
A correspondent writes: "At the service held at-St. George's Church. Motupiko, on Sunday evening, the vicar made special reference to the late Jack Howard. During the service the deceased's favourite hymn was sung, and the Dead .March in "Saul" was played. The deceased lad had been a most regular worshipper at the church during his residence in the district, never missing a service or celebration if he could help it, and latterly acting as bellringer and getting all ready in the church for the services. He was frank and open in his demeanour, and is lamented by all who knew him." -Colonist, 26/9/1917.
No comments:
Post a Comment