THE SWANNANOAJ FATALITY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14969, 16 May 1914, Page 6

THE SWANNANOAJ FATALITY.

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

TLe enquiry into tho death cf Frank Allna Holmes, camp cook at Swannanoa, who.was Fatally injured in an accident on Tuesday last, was continued yesterday in tho Magistrate's Court, before Mr H. "W. Bishop, S.M., district coroner. Tho ovvdonco of Dr. Scott, who said that death was due to a ruptured spleen, was taken on Wednesday, the reason for the adjournment being that the coroner required the .evidence of eye-witnesses of the accident.

William Gardner. soui--miller, residing afc Cust. said he was standing on the roadeido near Cust, on Tuesday last talking to a. Mr Boyd, when h« noticed Holmes coining alon,; the road towards him, walking about two paces, in front -of- his. horsa- and dray. Hβ was carting an empty water-tank. TLe horse shied at a, motor-car belonging to Tritness, which was dra'vm up beside the road, And tho aninial commenced to trot, smartly, svrerting to one side. Holmes, looking round, made a tjrab .for tho reins, near the bridle, ana ran about twelve steps, when he stumbled and fell. Ono wheel of the dray passed over the fallen 'man's body. Witness said Boyd immediately attended to Holmes, gave him brandy, nut him in the motor-car, and took him to Rangiora, fifteen miles distant. The accident happened at 3 o'clock, and forty-five minutes later Holmes was being examined by Dr. Will, who arranged for the in-jV-ired mun to ho takon. to the Christchurch Hospital. They knew he vras seriously hurt. To the coroner: It wa.s an unusual thing tor a man to walk in front of ;i horse dn that manner, and only an inoxperienced man would have done it. When the coroner had complimented the witness on his clear , statement aud suggested that the ovidence of Air Boyd was unnecessary, a cqmpiajut was made by Mr Gardner that .t.b« renort ->f the inquest which appeared in "Tlio Press" was "very much* garbled."' Ho wished to correct statements that were made in it, as rfejarded 'alleiged delays in taking the injured raan to a doctor. The coroner explained thac there had been a misunderstanding. I>r. Scott had stated that '. tho injured man had been admitted to the Hospital shortly after 6 o'clock, and the police wore "wrongly informed in stating that • the accident occurred about 12 o'clock. Under these cir'TTvxtaices, there seemed, the coroner continued, •Jβ bavo been an unusual delay in securing medical aid, aud hd had commented ou that fact, hut had suspended judsmeut, as he always did, I until be was fully acquainted with the position. It was wow* mado clear that the happened at 3 o'clock. "I think * yon acted as promptly as you conld hare dono," ho added. ' A verdict of accidental death was I returned. —■'

(Our report was not "garbled," the misunderstanding being in the urocsedinss whioh we reported, and not in the report of them, which van a correct record.)