Mr. M.F. Edyvean held an inquest at East Cornwall Hospital, Bodmin, on Thursday last week, on the body of George Roberts, aged 34, a general labourer of Roche, who succumbed to injuries received whilst working in a Well on July 23rd.

Deceased was married and had eight children, Chas Roberts, brother of the deceased, said, deceased had been in good health recently, he had not been subject to attacks of giddiness and had never complained of his heart.

Herbert Rabey, of Victoria House, Roche, said, deceased was engaged in sinking a Well in a field near his house on July 23rd, deceased was coming up the Well, which was about 69 feet deep, in a bucket which was attached to a winch at the top by a wire rope. when he was within 18 feet of the top, witness who was helping at the winch felt a jar, they called to deceased but he made no reply, on looking down the Well they saw him with his feet in the bucket and his shoulder resting against the concrete side of the well.

Mr Millett, who was also helping with the winch, and another man, went down the Well and brought up the deceased.

Wm. Millett corroborated Mr Roberts evidence.

Dr. A.H. Birks, said he was called to the scene of the accident and saw them bringing deceased up. He was unconscious and had a very severe scalp wound at the back of his head, there were also signs of Flaxive Paralysis. He took the deceased to Bodmin Hospital, where he died about 3 hours afterwards.

In his opinion, the cause of death was Fracture of the Spine and Failure of the Respiration owing to Paralysis of the Abdominal Muscles.

A verdict was given in accordance with the medical evidence.

Note:

George Roberts was a Well sinker, this was the Doctors Well that George was working on at the time of his death, this being the reason why the Doctor was at the scene so quickly.

The Well was finished on this day July 23rd 1919 and the persons at the top of the Well were having a drink in celebration, apparently there was some jealousy between one of the persons at the top of the Well and George, and it is believed that this person actually threw a heavy object down the Well, striking George on it's downward path.