Isaac Tarrant (1859-1907)

Isaac Tarrant (c.1861-1907), was a miner from Redan, who died after falling into a quarry.

History
Isaac Tarrant was killed after falling into a quarry in Redan, after walking home while drunk on 2 August 1907: "CASUALTIES AND FATALITIES. FATALITY AT REDAN. MAN DROWNED IN A QUARRY HOLE.At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, William Matthews, a resident of Redan, reported to Senior-Constable Evans that he had seen the body of a man in a quarry hole, about 200 yards from the Band and Loch battery. On hearing of the occurrence, the senior-constable, with Constable Hooley, accompanied Matthews to the quarry hole, and found the body, which they identified as that of Isaac Tarrant, a resident of Talbot street south. The unfortunate man had apparently fallen over the edge of the cavity, there being a drop of fully 20 feet where the body was found. One of his thighs were been broken by the fall, but there were no other marks on the body, and death was undoubtedly due to drowning. The deceased was about 46 years of age, and married but had no family. His wife last saw him alive on Wednesday morning, when he left home to go to his work at the Canadian Home, where he was engaged grubbing stumps, in company with a man named James Stevens. On being interviewed by the police, the latter stated that he and the deceased knocked off work at about half-past 3 on Wednesday afternoon. On the way home they stopped at a couple of hotels, and the deceased had several glasses of beer. They also had a drink at Stevens’ house, and Tarrant, who was then slightly under the influence of liquor, left Stevens at 6.30 to go home. In making his way to his house, at 1006 Talbot street, the deceased must have lost his way, as the quarry hole where the body was found is not on the track he should have followed. When the deceased did not arrive home on Wednesday night, inquiries were made by his wife as to his whereabouts, but she received no tidings of him until she was informed of his death. The body was removed to the morgue yesterday afternoon, and the death was reporter to the City coroner, who has ordered an inquest to be held at the City Police Court this morning."

The inquest revealed more details, but did not mention the original report of drowning: THE REDAN QUARRY FATALITY. INQUEST ON THE DECEASED. VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH. Mr H. M. Murphy, P.M., on Saturday conducted an inquest touching the death of Isaac Tarrant who was found dead in a quarry hole at Redan on Friday. Sergeant Beckman conducted the inquest for the police.

Dr Usher deposed that on Saturday morning he made a post-mortem examination on the body of the deceased. The right thigh was fractured, the cartilage of the nose was thrown to the left side, but the nose was not broken. By the look of the knees it appeared as if the deceased had dragged himself along for some distance. The deceased’s body was bruised all over. The heart was enlarged and the lungs very unhealthy, and the other internal organs were in an unhealthy state. The cause of death in his (the doctor’s) opinion was shock to the system, and especially the spinal cord. Not much blood had been lost. The injuries discovered were quite consistent with an accidental fall down a quarry hole.

Verilda Tarrant, wife of the deceased, stated that she last saw her husband at their home in Talbot street at 9 o’clock on Wednesday morning, when he left to go to work. He was in perfect health as far as she knew. He had never been attended by a medical man to her knowledge except for an injury to his elbow. He had pneumonia four years ago. He was not of intemperate habits, but he used to drink occasionally. She lived on good terms with her husband. The deceased was not of a quarrelsome disposition, and she knew of no one who had any ill-feeling against him. James Stevens, miner, living at Yarrowee Parade, said he worked with the deceased and last saw him alive at 6.30 on Wednesday evening. On the way home they called at Beecham’s Hotel, in Grant street. They went on to witness's house where they had a bottle of beer between them. When deceased left he was a bit drunk, but could walk without staggering. The quarry where the deceased was found was south from witness’s house, and the deceased would have to go south-west to get home. The quarry was not on deceased's right road home, and no man would dream of going that way to get to deceased’s house. The deceased would have had to get through a paling, fence to reach the quarry. There were palings off here and there. Witness could not suggest how the deceased got out of his road.

Annie Stevens, wife of the last witness, deposed that the deceased was at her place on Wednesday evening, and he sent her husband for 6d of beer. When her husband returned from the hotel she went and told Mrs Tarrant that her husband was at her (witness's) place. It would take about ten minutes to go to Tarrant’s place and back. Deceased had often called at her house on his way to work, and the only time she saw him the worse for drink was when he left to go home on Wednesday night. He then seemed to be a little bit muddled. He was a man for his home and was a good husband. When he left her house he said he was going straight home to tea. He might have gone round at the back of their house and got to the quarry that way. Witness went to Tarrant's at 9 o’clock on Wednesday night, but the deceased had not reached home. Mrs Tarrant then had a bad foot and could not get her boot on to go out and look for her husband. Witness's husband went out to look for the deceased but could not find him. It was a very dark night, and deceased was drunk and might have missed his way.

Harry E. Williams deposed that when in company of a man named Matthews he saw the deceased’s body lying in the quarry. Matthews went for the police. Constable Hooley, of Redan, stated that in company with Constable Evans he went to the quarry at the direction of Matthews. He examined the quarry. By the appearance of the ground where the deceased had fallen he must have remained there for some hours as all the grass was flat and the ground worn down. There were no signs of any struggle. Stevens’ house was about 100 yards from the quarry. Witness had known the deceased for two years and had seen him under the influence of drink. Mr Murphy returned a verdict that the deceased died from injuries received through falling into a quarry, and the evidence pointed to the belief that the occurrence was an accident.