The Isle of Wight Observer published on 20th November 1920 tells the sad tale of the demise of Robert Mitchell, who did not take enough care when dealing with a felled tree.

Shocking Accident.

MAN KILLED IN TREE FELLING.

The Deputy-Coroner (W. H. P. F. Thirkell, Esq.) conducted an inquest on Tuesday morning at the Drill-hall, St. John’s Wood Road, into the circumstances attending a fatal accident to Robert William Guy Mitchell, 35, a single man, whilst engaged in cutting down a tree. The accident occurred on Saturday morning on land near the Drill-hall, belonging to Captain A. Barnsdale. The deceased was assisting an experienced man named Fleming.

[…]

Jacob Fleming, labourer, 5 Ryde View, St. John’s Wood Road, stated that on Saturday morning, he was working with deceased, witness being in charge, cutting timber in a field adjoining the Drill-hall.

[…]

It was a large tree and fell on three or four branches which stuck in the ground and held it in position. The tree lay across sloping ground, and but for the branches would have rolled down the hill. Witness and deceased were at work on Saturday morning cutting small limbs from the tree. Deceased sat on the stump in the tree to saw off one of the big limbs stuck in the ground, and he cautioned him as to his dangerous position, but he remarked “I am quite safe.” Witness was busy with his own work on the ground and the first intimation he had of the accident was when he heard a snap and saw the tree roll over him before he could get out of the way. It pinned him on the ground. He was dead. Assistance came and witness telephoned for the police. There were several branches holding the tree, and they thought these would be sufficient.

[…]

The doctor questioned the witness Fleming as to whether the tree fell on him or rolled, and received the reply that it rolled.

Dr. Sampson said that was not his view and if it rolled there were some fractures that he could not explain.

The Coroner said he did not agree with the doctor. He considered the tree both fell and rolled on him. He had no hesitation in returning a verdict to the effect that deceased met his death from a fractured skull and neck caused by the trunk of the tree rolling on him.