Fatal Accident.
An accident which resulted in the death of H. T. Butler, a man over 60 years of age, occurred on the waterfront early on Thursday evening. A number of men were unloading motorcars from the Trelevan at No. 3 wharf, and it appears that just before the accident the deceased was standing on a large case in one of the railway trucks. On another case being lowered, he seized it with a hook which, not gripping properly, slipped, and Butler fell on to the wharf. He was unconscious for a short time, and when Dr. Gabites arrived he complained of a pain in his shoulder and over his right eye. He was removed to his home, and later one of the blood vessels in his head became ruptured, with the result that haemmorhage supervened. He died at three o'clock yesterday morning. An inquest will be held at 10 o'clock this morning. -Press, 29/9/1923.
WHARF FATALITY.
INQUEST ON WATERSIDER.
The inquest concerning the death of T. H. Butler, Hunt Street, who died on Friday morning as the result of au accident on No. 3 wharf on Thursday night, was held on Saturday morning before the District Coroner (Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.).
Senior-Sergeant Fahey conducted the inquest. Mr F. J. Rolleston appeared for the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Mr S. Andrews, stationmaster, Timaru, watched the proceedings on behalf of the Railway Department.
Clarence Henry Shannon Butler, son of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. His father was 63 years of age and was employed by the Railway Department at the wharf on casual labour. Deceased was brought home from work on Thursday last in a taxi. He said his shoulder was strained and that his head was troubling him. Deceased said that he fell off a truck and did not remember anything else. Dr Gabites was sent for, that was between 7 and 8 p.m. Witness’s father died at 3 a.m. on Friday.
William J. Dass said that he was working with deceased in a truck alongside the s.s. Trelevan unloading motor cars When witness and deceased were in the act of slewing round a case to enable another case to drop into position, deceased took his hook, caught it in the corner of the case, and was in the act of assisting to slew it around when the hook slipped. Deceased overbalanced and fell on to the deck of the wharf.
To Mr Rolleston: The accident was not attributable to any operation m unloading, and had nothing to do with the ship. The operation of unloading from the sling was complete.
H. d’Eganneh said that on the date in question he was engaged tallying on the Trelevan. Witness saw deceased in a truck just prior to the accident, and gave corroborative evidence of the actual mishap. Every attention was given deceased till the arrival of the doctor, very soon afterwards.
Dr Gabites. stated that he was summoned to the wharf on Thursday evening at about 7.30 o’clock where an accident had occurred. On arriving at the harbour he found deceased conscious but suffering from shock. Witness was told that the man had been unconscious. Deceased complained of a pain in his right shoulder and above the right eye. There was no abrasion over the right eye. Witness gave instructions for deceased to be removed to his house in Hunt Street. Before being moved deceased said he felt better and tried to walk, assisted by two men. Witness went to deceased's house with him to see if he was all right and gave instructions as to his treatment. Witness was afraid that a reaction might take place with haemorrhage of the brain as a result of the accident. Witness promised to look back the following morning. At 1.30 a.m. on Friday witness was summoned to deceased house. On arriving there he found Butler breathing heavily. It was evident from the symptoms that deceased was suffering from haemorrhage of the brain and that he could not last the night. Witness remained with deceased for some time but Butler died about an hour later. Deceased died from cerebral haemorrhage due to a fall. The question of an operation was impracticable.
The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, adding that the mishap was entirely accidental, blame being attachable to no one. His Worship expressed sympathy with the widow and family of deceased in the sad and sudden loss of a highly respectable and hard working husband and father. Mr Rolleston on behalf of the Shipping Company associated himself with of the Coroner, expressing sympathy with the bereaved. -Timaru Herald, 1/10/1923.
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