This is a copy of an alleged letter written to an insurance company.
 
I am a bricklayer by trade.  On the day of the accident, I was working
alone on the roof of a six story building.  When I completed my work,
I discovered that I had about 500 lbs. of bricks left over. Rather
than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel
by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the
building at the sixth floor.
 
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up on the roof, swung the barrel
out and loaded the bricks into it.  Then I went back to the ground floor
and untied the rope, holding tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 500 lbs.
of bricks. You will note in my report that I weigh 135 lbs.  Due to my
surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence
of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.  Needless to say, I proceeded
at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the building.
 
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down.  This
explains the fractured skull and the broken collarbone.  Slowed only
slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of
my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.  This explains the
lacerations of my right hand.  Fortunately by this time, I had regained
my presence of mind and was able to hold on tightly to the rope in spite of
my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit
the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel.  Devoid of the weight of
the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 lbs.  I refer you again
to the weight of 135 lbs.  As you might imagine, I began a rapid decent down
the building.
 
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up.  This accounts
for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.
The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I
fell onto the pile of bricks and forturnately, only three vertebrae were
cracked.
 
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the pile of bricks,
in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel six stories above
me, I again lost presence of mind; I let go of the rope.

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