RECENT TAXI FATALITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 64, 9 December 1919, Page 3

RECENT TAXI FATALITY

INQUEST CONCLUDED

CORONER'S REMARKS

The inquest into the - circumstances surrounding the death of William Edward Forster Nattrass, who was knocked down bv ii motor-oar driven by John Fearon. of Petoim, at the intersection of the Hutt Boad and Tliorndon Quay on December 3 last, was concluded yesterday at the courthouse. Mr. .13. Page, S.M.. was on the bench. Detectivo-Ser-geant Scott conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police, Mr. P W. Jackson watched proceedings on behalf of tho relatives of deceased, aim Mr. H. P. O'Leary appeared on bohalf of Fearon.

The inquest was opened on Friday last, when evidence was given to the effect that tho deceased had alighted from a tram at Tliorndon Quay terminus at about 10 a.m.. when he was knocked down by tho raxicnb driven by Fearon, which was coining into town from Petone.

Yesterday, Dr. S. U. W. Strain, house .■mrgcon, Wellington Hospital, stated that I In. , deceased was admitted to the institution iit 10.50 a.m. on December 3. He was in a somi-diized condition, and was rapidlv BtO'iiint? unconscious. Hβ was apparently suffering from a fracture of the bnsD of tho skull. Nattrass gradually became worse, and died shortly before 1 p.m., death being due to compression of the brain caused by sudden haemorrhage ,

In nnsn'er to Mr. O'Lcary, witness admitten' that the fact that tho deceased . did not immediately become unconscious after being struck would tend to indicate that the blow had not been violent.

Patrick Farley, motor driver, stated that he passed the ear driven by the accused, and in hie opinion it was travelling at about twenty-five miles an hour.

The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased died as a result of iniuries received through being knocked down by a motor-car driven bv John Fearon. As to tho speed at which the car was travelling, the Coroner saio that tha evidence appeared to show that the speed was eoneiderablv in excess of twenty-five milee per hour as stated by the driver. Considering the position of the tramear from which the deceased had alighted and the narrowness of tho road, an well as the fact that there were several persons standing near the corner, these having al?o alighted from the tram, the nnce at. which the hill was being taken was tiuite excessive, unreasonable, ana , dangerous.