Fell to his Death

FATAL FALL FROM A LOOPHOLE.

Yesterday, at St. Bartholomew's hospital, Mr. Langham held an inquiry concerning the death of Alfred Martin Williams, 35, cabinet-maker, of 15, Smith-street, Clerkenwell, who died from injuries sustained through falling from a loophole at the establishment of Messrs. Murdock and Co., Farringdon-road. George Crawling, an employee of the firm, said he knew the deceased as frequently coming to the warehouse, though he was not in the employ of Messrs. Murdock. On the morning of Monday witness was in the basement of the establishment, engaged in stacking cases that were being lowered from the warehouse above through a loophole. Suddenly the deceased fell through the aperture a distance of 11ft. 5in., and his head struck with great violence upon the ground. When witness went to his aid he was quite insensible, and believing he was badly injured, he placed him in a van and had him conveyed to the hospital. Thomas Wells, a boy, said he accompanied the deceased to the warehouse of Messrs. Murdock to get some goods. They waited about the warehouse for some time, when deceased left to ascertain the cause of the delay, leaving witness in the warehouse. One of the doors of the warehouse was only a short distance from the loophole, which was partly open, to allow of the cases being lowered, and deceased suddenly made his appearance at the door and called to witness. Deceased apparently did not see the aperture, for he stepped to the loophole and fell through. Mr. Nash, the manager of the establishment, said every precaution was taken to prevent accidents, but the deceased had no right at the time to be in the warehouse. Mr. Spicer, house surgeon, deposed that deceased died on Wednesday from fracture of the base of the skull and other injuries, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," at the same time expressing an opinion that proper means should have been taken to avert accidents of the kind.

Source: Lloyd's Weekly London Newspaper, February 15, 1885, Page 12