TRAGEDY ON FARM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 13, 8 October 1943, Page 5

TRAGEDY ON FARM

HE WANTED A THRILL

INQUEST AT WHAKATANE

Medical evidence to the effect •that Eric Edward Neil Quinn, 33, herd tester, returned soldier from the present war, died from laceration of the brain and other head injuries consistent'with being kicked by a horse, was given when the adjourned inquest into Quinn's death was concluded at the Whakatane Courthouse on Wednesday, the coroner, Mr G. Brabant, returning a verdict in accordance with these facts. Mr Quinn was admitted to the Whakatane Hospital on September 5 and died some two hours later.

Dr. E. T. Dawson gave hi* evl ~ • ilcncc iii the morning and when the inquest was resumed in the afternoon Cecil Frederick Ward, sharemilker, of Dtakiri, said that Mi Quinn came to his farm toget icr with Mr R. Tooke, herd tester,, and tthat, Avhen the party was walking liack to the house after milking Mr Quinn saw some horses ami asked if he could have a ride. ltness said he gave permission and they . -saddled a half draught. He put a rope rouml the horse's neck lor a start as he did not. know what sort of a rider deceased was, hut aftei "Cantering the horse he saw that ■Quinn seemed a good horseman, and he. took the rope off at deceased's -request. Wanted a Thrill "Deceased called out he wanted to get a thrill," said witness, "lie was shouting out and sticking his heels into it. It gave a few slight bucks and 1 Eric went over its head to the ground and the horse stood on his face.' The horse Avas a quiet one, used "for general farm work but not as n hack. Quinn did his best to make the. horse buck.

Cross-examined by Mr B. S. Barry for the relatives, witness said that two girths were placed on the horse. He could not say who put the saddle 011 but deceased did, the girths up. The saddle did not slip when Quinn fell as was reported earlier. <

Witness knew that Quinn was a returned soldier, but not. that he suffered, from shell-shock and was blind in one eye. He had told him that the lior.se had only been ridden once, before. At the time lie did not think it a foolisli thing to give Mr Quinn a ride on the horse, and he did not agree- with Mr Barry that lie now thought it a foolish tiling. It. was his practice to put a rope on a strange horse and this did not show he thought there, was any danger. Earlier Mr Ward's son had ridden the. horse without any rope being used., but on this occasion witness had held the reins. # Quinn had. not been "barracked" about being frightened to ride, and there was. 110 idea of having a "bit of. fun" at his expense by putting him on the horse. The lior.se was not excited by being cantered round the paddock on the rope. Arthur Hans Peterson, farm hand, corroborated the previous evidence. He. said that Quinn stood up digging 3iis heels into the llan'k of the horse and yelling. To Mr Buddie (Bay of PlentyEast Coast Herd Improvement Association) he said that, the whole affair took place after the testing was over Avhen they were- 011 their way hack to the house for the evening meal. Sergeant M. J. Farrcll gave, evidence that he had inspected the scene of the tragedy. He could find no suspicious circumstances whatever.