INQUEST AT EAST TAIERI.

Evening Star, Issue 3915, 10 September 1875, Page 2

INQUEST AT EAST TAIERI.

[Br T£LEOEAPH.]

{From our own Correspondent.)

. . Mosgiel, September 9. An inquest was hold to-day, at 3 p.m., at Steadmau's Junction Hotel touching the death of Henry Steadman, who died from injuries received from tho coach accident near Saddle Hill toll-bar on the 7tt inst. The coroner was Mr T. M. Hocken, and Mr T. K. Weldon, Commissioner of Police, was present. A jury of twelve being sworn, the following evidence was given:—

William Brosan : I am a coach-driver for Mrs bteadman between Dunedin and West Taieri. On the 7th inst. I was proceeding from Steadman's Hotel with a coach and two horses yoked, having another horse hitched to the near wheeler, and the deceased was sitting alongside of me. I started quite gently, had the horses well in hand, and tho brake on. In passing the toll-bar the loose horse jibbed and lay back, and deceased struck it with a walking stick. Tho horse then ran in front of the wheelers, causing the horses to run close to the bank, and upsetting the coach. I was thrown clear, while the coach fell on deceased. The deceased was accustomed to drive hoi sea. George Stephenson : I am a groom, and I fastened the horses to the coach on Tuesday last. The horse that was hitched was a quiet animal. I consider that if the horse had not been struck with the stick by deceased the accident would not have taken place. I told the deceased not to strike the horse. Tho body of the coach was upset down a bank. The deceased Bpoke after the accident and said he was hurt. Deceased was twenty-seven years of age and unmarried.

By a juror: I have seen this horse jibbing often. The horse had a sore shoulder. Mrs Steadman: The horse had sore shoulders and was sold. It had kicked the deceased a feiv days previous. I have had the over three years, and it was a quiet horse. A verdict mas returned of "Death by acnident," with no blame attachable to the driver.