SHOW FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 5

SHOW FATALITY.

,WAS THE HURDLE DANGEROUS? j A coronial inquiry into tho facts surrounding the death of Miss Polly Weaver, who was killed while competing in the ladies' riding event at the Whangarei Show, was held on Friday before Mr. J. M. Killen (district coroner), who gat without a jury. ■ Dr.' ff A. Good said he was standing thirty yards away from the hurdlo when the accident occurred, tie saw the horse fail to properly rise to tho hurdle, and Ftriko heavily. The horso pitched forvavd, and threw tho deceased off sideways and on tho off-side. In reply to Sergeant Moore, who represented the police, witness said ho considered tho hurdlo was unsafe, particularly i'or a girl rider. Earlier in the day ho had seen a gentleman rider nearly thrown at the same hurdlo. Andrew Wilson, one of the Show Committee, said the jump whero tho accident occurred, tho last hurdle, was a solid wooden ono and was supposed to represent a stone wall. He considered the accident was caused by tho. deceased's horso taking off too soon at tho jump. Sergeant Moore said that 110 witnessed the accident. Ho did not think that tho "hencoop" hurdle could bo classed as dangerous. The coronor summed up briefly. He mud that ho would not express an opinion as to the wisdom of girls being allowed lo rido in hurdle events. That was not within his province. Nor would ho touch on the question that had beou raised as to whether the hurdlo was dangerous. Death, he said, was due to injuries described in tho mcdical evidence, and as the result of an accident. In conclusion, tho coroner expressed his deepest sympathy with tho relatives of tho deccasd.