INQUEST.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 15, 15 October 1874, Page 5

INQUEST.

•An inquest into' the death of the late Andr-w Bain, carrier, waa held by Dr. J. G. -Smith, Coroner for the district, 'and a jury, at the Crown 'J otel. here on Monday morning..', Mr A. Ross, was chosen foreman.- After the -jury had been sworn in, they proceeded, to view -the body. The following evidence was then led :— f;Jottn] Thou son said—About 2 o'clock on Saturday last, the 10th ihstant,.deceai»ed and I le<t Balclutha in .company. He was in charge of a waggon with seven horses. When we reached the top pf the hill. above Messrs Bryces', about seven miles -on our way, deceased who had -walked till -then, got) on tbe top of the waggon and- asked me to put on the brake going down 1 the; hill as he was going to have something to eat. I -heir saw him' on the top'of the waggon, when he was in the act of taking the tarpaulin'off the top of the tucker 5 box. He removed a ..bag to make, a seat for .himself. I then put on tbe brake and walked in a line with the shafters' heads. I heard a noise different frprn uspal rattle of the waggon, and looked round. I did not see him on the top and. looking under, Jgsaw the wheel just passing over his" body. . I was' at the near side, and the deceased on the off side/ I immediately' called fp'the horses and stopped them. I then ratf ba!pk to j the , deceased cand' he just^heqjt-ifned over. I asked him to speak but he never uttered 'ttie feast sound: 'I? then noticed a s spring cart .coming .along. the road, rptpld the driver what pad. happened, ..and asked him to take charge of deceased and his team till I would go to Bryce's for assistance. •I; got twq men and we carried deceased to RiyceV. house. We met two ,pther 'carriers about five minutes before the ; accident. ; , One of them named Wilsonrhad a conversation with deceased -about tbeexcbange of a horse. : Deceased said he had not -time to bargain that day^ but would seehirU'Wheh^he returned from Waipori. Decesised-'was iri perfect health and quite ! sober. He had only one glass of . beer that day, and that was before leaving Balclutha. ! The wasg'oa "was loaded with tithb'trand' f h.Q^se-..feed, and ;cons.eq'iientry; there was no ! proper, eeat for/the; driyer: -.; The j woul^vfweigh from four,*, to five.rtons and the hcigth. pf.lhie joadingrwopld^be about seven feet." "' I think deceased was dragged ! abpuit «iight yards ';' bef ore; the' wheel went •dverhim. f . : '! c !/''" : ' r ' > ■' '\ ~ ' l '" •''" '. :

. Tfife Wa's : al^ , th€^e;yidenice, ',',;';..*''.•*<■ •*• • • . : ' The! j'i^ 6ffe ! c K ,that. the^de^ased'met^wiffi J% ! deatli^cci*. ,: dentally by a ' falCirom his waggon;" the we.eel of fwhich' went oyerjhis bpdy r . ; -.*>*; i 7 ; After, the usual iormalities^ the Coronerthanked the jury for their attendance and discharged them.