RONGOTEA COACH FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 8

RONGOTEA COACH FATALITY.

INQUEST ON THE DKIA'EE. ■ (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Marton, May 13. An inquest concerning the death of A. Elliott, coach proprietor, who was killed whilo driving into Eorigotea on Saturday morning was held yesterday beforo Mr. E. Goodbehere, Coroner. John. H. AV. Clnasen, a farmer, one of tho two -passengers on the coach which deceased was driving, from Palmerston to ftongofea. stated that just after turning from Taipo Road into Itongotea Road Elliott stopped the coach and came round to tho back with a candle, which ho asked witness to light and place in tho lantern in the coach. Elliott complained that his hands were too cold to light it. The night was dark, very cold, and windy. AYKilo Elliott--was speaking to thom the horses moved on, and ho sang out "Whoa!" and ran towards tho horses. It was about half-past five, and witness could not see if Elliott got hold of tho horses. He did not hear him speak again. The horses i?ero going at a liard gallop when the other passenger drew his (witness's) attention to something on tho road after they had gone some 40 or 50 yards. Witness ■ got out of tho coach whilo the -horses were galloping on. and went back an(l found Elliott lying on.liis face, insensible. Deceased was sober and quite capable of managing horses when he came and asked witness to light tho candle.

I). J. Ruhvaldt, .tlio other passenger, corroborated tlie evidence of tlio previous witness. lie was in Hie coach when it. cansized. Ho was thrown into a waterhole and did not go to where Elliott was found as lie was dazed bv the fall.

■ Dr. Stendalil stated that ho examined tho body shortly after tlio accident. Tho skull was fractured, but there were no other iuiuries. Death was caused by a fracturcd skull, and must have been instantaneous. The injuries could have boon caused by a kick from a liorsc. Harry Clark, a partner in the finu, testified' that deceased was a careful, competent driver and a sober, steady man. He and Elliott had been in business, two and a half years, and deceased, who was about 37 years of ago, had been driving regularly. His parents were both dead, but he "had relatives living at Pleasant Point. '

A verdict was returned that deceased met his death accidentally while endeavouring to stop his liorses.