The Coroner stated that the only plausible way of explaining the accident was that deceased walked through the doorway thinking that he was on firm ground, and that there was no barrier placed in front of the door at the time. The barrier might have been placed there afterwards. The Coroner remarked "to the Press tahr he only made this statement as it seemed possible from the evidence at his disposal.
Witness said that he did not think that there was time for anyone to place a barrier in front of the lift door before he and Inspector Moir arrived on the scene, The Coroner noted down that witness could not say that the barrier had not been removed and replaced by some unauthorized person up to the time that Mr. Shoppee fell down the lift shaft, Evidence was also given by Mr. A. S, Hersee, manager of Broadway Mansions, who interviewed. Mr.
Shoppee for the space of about a minute shortly before the occurrence, Mr. Hersee stated that he spoke to Mr. Shoppee in the main entrance hall of the building. Mr. Shoppee was enquiring about Flat 39, situated on the twelfth koor of the east wing.
The inquest was adjourned until 10 ".m. on Monday,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.