COLLISION OR SIDE-SKID

Press, Volume L, Issue 14972, 20 May 1914, Page 2

COLLISION OR SIDE-SKID

ADJOURNED TNQ.UEST L AT DARFIELD.

CORONER NOT SATISFIED.

Recording a verdict at Darfield yesterday that Mark Edward Tsherwbod's .death was caused as a result of injuries received while riding his motor.cycle on tho main road' from Darfield to Sheffield, but that there was no evidence to show how the , injuries were received, Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., district coroner, said he was not at all satisfied with the case, and further enquiries would possibly he made.

When the enquiry was opened on Tuesday last, Dr. Westenra, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said that Isherwood hacl evidently been thrown violently on to the handles of the motor-cycle ho was riding, causing injuries to the heart, which resulted in death.

The 'first witness called at Darfield yesterday . "was James Hannent, labourer, residing at I>arfield, who stated that on Friday afternoon last he attended a sale at Sheffield, returning about 5.30 o'clock. He drove slowly and a horse and trap passed him wTiile ho was on the'Darfield sido of Waddington. Two men were in the vehicle, and they were driving a bay or a brown horse, at a trot. They carried a light on the near side, but none on tho off side. "When; I got close to the Racecourse Hill station," witness continued, "my horse began to show signs of restlessness, and 1 got out and Ted it as I thought there was something etrangb on the. road. I saw a motorbicycle on the road. There was a man on the right side of the road immediately behind the bicycle, lying flat on his 'back, with his feet close to the back wheel of the bicycle, and looking ' towards Darfield. The bicycle "was alI most lying-on tho road, the front wheel pointing upwards. I thought tho .man was dead." Witness added that he went to Mr Knight's place close by in order to secure assistance. Henry Arthur Knight, of Racecourse Hill, who was summoned to the scene by the previous -witness, said the lamp of the "motor-cycle was still alight, although only faintly burnin£:. When they moved* the bicycle off the metalled portion of the road on to tho grass, they found it could not be easily wheeled. The bicycle was on its stand when he first saw it. The machine was perfectly clean, but the horn was broken off. He saw no marks ou the road that would show that the bicycle Jiad fallen, nor could he see any scratches or marks on the bicycle. Witness 'communicated with Dr. Simpson, and though he could see that the man was dead, yet he asked tho doctor to come up to Racecourse Hill.

In the course of. his evidence Constable McGregor, stationed at Annat, said he examined the scene of the accident at daylight. It had been raining heavily over-night, and there were no marks on the metalled portion of the road, bnt on the left-hand side, going towards Sheffield, -there were faint marks on the soft portion of the road,

resembling those made by a motor-cycle. They ended abruptly in a "V" shape, and gave the appearance of a machine having skidded. Describing the damaged bicycle, .he said the front fork girder onthe offside, and the mudguard stay on the same side, were bent, and this prevented the free action of the wheel. There was a graze from the bottom of the girder to a point about half-way up, ending in a sharp dent. Otherwise, the cycle was clean and'» unecratched. ■. - Dr. Simpson said that after reading the evidence of Dr. Westenra (reported in Monday's issue of "The Press")* he thought it quite possible for the injury to have been received some time before the man reached the place where he was found. "When I was at £he scene of the accident,",ho added, "I observed a light wavy mark, apparently made by someone pushing the bicycle: along." Charles Edward Wright, motor expert; said ho found the front girder of the machine arid the mud-guard stay both bent at about the same height. This could only have been caused by a blow, and the damage could not have been sustained through a side-skid. There was carbide in the lamp, and the water had been turned off. He viewed the scene of the accident, and could eeo nothing to cause the injuries to the bicycle.