CALLOUSNESS AND WANT OF THOUGHT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 75, 21 December 1921, Page 5

CALLOUSNESS AND WANT OF THOUGHT

CORONER’S REMARKS AT INQUEST.

By Telegraph—Preae Association. Ashburton, December 20

The inquest touching t'be death of AViL ■liam Henry 'Wall, which was .reported on December 13, was concluded to-day. The evidence of several witnesses showed that Wall had been drinking heavily the day of the accident. The Coroner, Mr. James Cow, returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by falling from a trap while under the influence of liquor. A rider was added that the whole circumstances showed callousness and great want of thought by those connected with the. case. Instead of being put into a coach, deceased was helped into a trap driven by a schoolboy, and both were thrown out. Wall’s spine being broken. According to the evidence, Andrew Steart Mactier, the coachman, then lifted deceased into the bottom of the coach, and lie wns allowed to remain there for three hours. After that he was taken into the house, and placed on a sofa, but was not attended to during the night. Tn all, nineteen hours were permitted to elapse before medical attention was secured. The Coroner concluded by stating that it was fortunate for those concerned that the medical evidence was that immediate medical attention wfauld not have altered the result', but this did not excuse the conduct of those concerned.