THE DEATH OF CHARLES KERR

Press, Volume L, Issue 14976, 25 May 1914, Page 8

THE DEATH OF CHARLES KERR

ENQUIRY BY THE CORONER,

Tbe Coroner, Mr H. W. Bishop, held an enquiry at the Hospital on Saturday into tho circumstances surrounding the death of the late 3lr Charles Fraser Kerr, a well-known trainer of trotting horses, who met with an accident on Saturday week in Regent street, Woolston, dying in the Hospital on Friday night.

The first witness examined was Dr. Alexander 3leiklejohn Trotter, house physician at tho Hospital. He said deceased was admitted at 12.30 a.m. on the 17th 3lay; he was unconscious, and had a lacerated right ear; he was also bleeding from the right ear and from the nose. Ho recovered consciousness while stitches were being put in his ear, and he was very irritable and noisy. All the time that Kerr was living he* refused food, except occasional sips of milk, administered by a stomach tube. He gradually sank, consciousness slowly disappearing, and died at 5.30 p.m. on 31ay 22nd. An examination of the body bad disclosed a fracture of the base of tho skull on tho ri<rht side, extensive laceration of tho brain on the lift side, and meningitis of the base. The lower ribs on the right side were fractured. The heart, liver and kidneys showed fatty degeneration. Death was due to "laceration of the brain and the basal meningitis. There were indications of alcohol on Kerr when auniitted, and his breath smelt of alcohol. - . T • In reply to the Coroner, Sorgt. Jacitson said'there was an hour of deceased's time unaccounted for on the day ho met with the accident, and no enquiries by tjje police had elicited what had happened durins*; that hour. Frederick Johnston, a blacksmith, resident at 273' Colombo road, Sydenham said lie had known deceased for about 30 years; his full name was Charles Fraser Kerr, and he. was a horse trainer, and lived at Wainoni road, New Brighton. Kerr's age was 54, and he was married, and had one child. He saw Kerr at 10 p.m. on Colombo street on May 16th, and ho left witness to go to Clandge s Stables. Kerr was quite sober, and fit to look after himself. Witness knew nothing about tbe accident, but knew deceased had driven the samo horse regularly. George Francis Scott, livery stablekeeper, said he knew deceased, who used to put up at witness's stable. Kerr camo to his stable on May 16th about G. 30 p.m. He had the ordinary gig and horse with him on this occasion, and witness had seen him with the horse .before. Witness saw Kerr again at 10.30 p.m., when he left the stables with tho horse and gig for home; he was alone in the trap, and to witness he seemed quite the Fame as usual. Witness knew nothing about the accident.

Jas. Malcolm Turner, a moulder, resident 34 Queen street, Sydenham, said he did not know the deceased. About 11.35 p.m. on May 16th, witness was leaving, a social at Woolston to go home, and wa_ going to catch, a -tram. Just past 'Radley bridge he saw a horse and gig coming along at a furious pace. There was a man in the' gig, and the affair did not seem like a runaway, as the driver seemed to have control of ' the horse. Witness. heard a crash ■ within . about 200 yards of where he was standing. Ho ran back, and saw'Kerr on the ground. There were two other people thero when he got there.. The* horse had the. body of the trap; and the wheels were left on the road. - -It seemed' to witness:that the gig'had collided with one of the tramway poles. There were no, lights on the gin: w*hcn" witness, saw it, arid the speed at which Kerr was travelling "would account for the accident. They carried deceased to the side of-the road, and witness went to ring up for a doctor, and conld not get otic, and ultimately Kerr was taken to the hospital in the ambulance. Kerr was on the wrong side of the road when witness saw him before the accident happened. - '•"Well, there's a gap here," said the Coroner to Sergeant Jackson, "and you say you cannot fill it?"- ---" The sergeant replied that no enoniries had resulted in finding out what Kerr had oeen doing during the missing hour. •

The Coroner said ho would record a verdict that deceased died from injuries received by being accidentally thrown out of his trap.