Biography

The deceased had lived in Victoria for 17 years and in New South Wales for 6 years before moving to Western Australia. Deceased was employed by Northern Mines Limited, working in the machine room. A work mate went down onto the feeding platform and saw the deceased lying on his back with both legs over the main driving shaft. He was clear from the belt but one of his feet was touching the spokes of the pulley as it revolved. The tension pulley was thrown back and the guard rail was down at one end, while the other end was in the socket. It was split and otherwise broken. The rail was a new one, made of sound timber. The workmate removed the guard rail and took the deceased clear of the shafting. A post mortem revealed a cut over two inches wide above the left knee and a small cut on the left groin. Every bone in the top of the skull was broken into small pieces. The immediate cause of death was respiratory failure subsequent on laceration of and haemorrhage into, the brain, caused by the injury to the skull. The deceased is buried in Plot 7, Section A, Church of England section of Lawlers Cemetery.