FATAL ACCIDENT AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

Evening Star, Issue 3323, 14 October 1873, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT AT TOKOMAIRIRO.

A very jsuddpn accident occurred at Fairfax, at three o’clock yesterday afternoon, to a mau named James Brayley. Brayley has been for six weeks past in the employ of Michael Casserley, working his horses, and during yesterday forenoon he was in Milton getting one of th'm shod. Brayley proceeded to Mesais Hislop and Bennett’s at Fairfax, where he had left his dray. There he yoked his horses and proceeded with a load of manure towards his employer’s residence. Upop taking the Ijill leading gp to the cemetery gate, the load proving top much fqr tlje horses, he was obliged to throw off the half of it. He then ascended the hill and got safely past the cemetery gate. A funeral bad reached the cemetery a few minutes previously, and some of the attendants observed the horses driven by Brayley apparently getting apd ran to his assistance, Thpy found him lying insensible bptween two flax bushes, the horses having turned apd gone with the dray to th<s opposite side of the road line, and where they wore secured. Brayley’s face was bathe.}, and other measures used to restore consciousness, but without effect. In the meantime, a horseman rode for Dr Ferguson, who at once repaired to the spene of thp accident, but too late to be of any assistance, as the poor man expired five minutes before his arrival—about forty minutes after the accident. No one saw the accident occur, but it is supposed that in trying to hold the horses he had tripped and fallen amongst the flax, and the horses probably being pulled round as he fell, one of them tramped upon his back with the fatal result above-men-tioned. The inquest upon the body takes place to-day, but we do not expect that any farther particulars will transpire. Wo may add that the horses were well-known runaways, and previously occasioned several accidents. Their owner only recently got out of bed, where he had been confined for several months with a broken leg caused by the same horses, and a week or two ago they ran off in the streets of Milton, although both master and man were in charge. Brayley has expressed himself as apprehensive of danger from them, and only recently expressed his intention of leaving his master’s employment in consequence. Very little was known of him here, but he is believed to be a native of England, unmarried, and about 37 year of age.— Bruce Herald.