(Part 3)
(Death Whitehaven harbour)
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Wm GRAHAM labourer 3 Admiralty Court, Whitehaven, said he was working with
NORWOOD, and was only three or four feet from him when he fell.  He helped
to recover the body and saw a mark on NORWOOD'S head. NORWOOD was all right
he was while working.
By the inspector: he assisted in putting the staging together, and he should
think the width would be eight or nine feet. There was quite sufficient
room. Witness landed the first lot of bags and had little difficulty.
Jas HODGSON, labourer, 14, McGarry's Buildings, who was also engaged at the
unloading, said they had to swing the bags in order to land them, and when
they landed one of the bags gave a cant over and knocked the deceased over
the quay.
By the Inspector: The death from the dock edge to the deck of the vessel
would be about 20 feet.
Dr PRATT said he was sent for, and found NORWOOD lying on the quay. The mans
was dead,  and there was an extensive scalp wound on the back of the head,
which was practically all that one could see.  He should say there was
probably a fracture of the base of the skull.
The coroner, reviewing the evidence, said that as regarded the staging there
seemed to be some contradiction.  The evidence of HOY in fact, was strongly
contradicted by FARRER, whose evidence was corroborated by the witness
Graham.
Mr PATTINSON, in reply to the Foreman said the two stages were at lest each
four feet wide.  That would be eight feet all together.
The inspector: I did not measure them but I am inclined to agree with Mr
PATTINSON that the stages are four feet wide.
In reply to the Foreman the witness FARRER said the chain was on the bag
when it canted.  There was always a difficulty in landing the bags, even
when the tide was in.   He consided that the derrick was too short for the
job.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to fracture of
the skull, caused by accidental fall from the quay.
Mr PATTINSON said he desired to express deep regret on behalf of the firm.
Not only hid brother and himself but the whole of their assistants  extended
their sympathy to the relatives of NORWOOD; who had worked for the firm for
twelve or fifteen years and was a good steady man-the sort of man one did
not like to lose. He could assure the relatives that this sad accident had
been a great blow to the staff.