THE INQUEST.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 18 August 1891, Page 2

THE INQUEST.

The following jury were sworn : — Timothy Linn, James Mourning, Patrick Murphy, Maurice Drury, Henry Stewart,: H. J. Lloyd (foreman). G> M. Snelson, Esq., coroner. John Hooban, nephew of deceased, deposed : He was a farmer now residing at Campbelltown ; arrived in this colony at Wellington, at 9 a.m. on Thursday last, where he was met by his uncle the deceased; came to Palmerston with him on Saturday ; left Palmerston in the afternoon in a trap belonging to Mr Beckman, about 4 o'clock ; witness drove the trap ; stopped at Awahuri Hotel to give the horse a drink; his uncle went inside the hotel ; witness stayed outside the door with the horse, watching it, but not holding it ; had a few drinks in Palmerston, but was perfectly sober ; a drink was called for each, butwitness was unable to take his, because a party of noisy fellows came along the Feilding road, and the horse got startled and bolted down the Campbeltown road as far as Eeid's gate, about 1£ miles from the hotel ; his uncle sent a man after the horse, witness walked along, the road and met the man coming back with the trap ; got in the trap and drove back to the hotel; the horse was frightened all the way ; had his drink then ; bis uncle took no more drink ; got in the trap to drive homewards ; the mare was still very nervous ; had got about 100 yards from the Hotel when she bolted r had no control over it whatever ; there : was no football in the road ; only heard the noise ; did not see anything of another trap ; had been accustomed todriye horses at home; considered himself a fairly good driver ; was accustomed to horses ; it was about seyen o'clock ; remembered the trap striking the road bank outside Mr Desmond's house, but remembered nothing afterwards until he found himself in the room where his uncle's body now lies ; both were perfectly sober. By the Foreman : Did not remember the horse trying to break in towards Mr Desmond's at the first part of the cutting. By the Police : Was sitting on the right side of the trap. I m The Coroner said he would like some evidence as to whether the footballers had caused the horse to bolt in the first instance.

The Constable said he was unable to supply such evidence at present, but enquiries would be made. Dr Johnston deposed : He was. a medical practitioner, residing in Feilding; on Saturday evening was called by Hans Peter Miers, of Campbelltown, about 7 o'clock, started at once ; on arrival found deceased lying on the sofa in Mr Desmond's house ; he was insensible ; a considerable amount of sanguineous froth was being discharged from the mouth; there was an effusion of blood over the right temple ; there was an abrasion of | the skin over the right eyebrow, from there was a slight discharge of blood ; there was a comminuted fracture of the 2nd and 3rd right ribs, causing the rupture of the right lung ; the lower portion of the body was paralysed ; there was very little chance of his recovery, and expressed himself to that effect ; did all that was necessary. Patrick Desmond deposed : On Saturday night was at home; about 7 or a little past heard his wife say a trap had capsized at the gate ; saw a horse and trap upside down, and two men lying on the ground motionless ; caught hold of young Hooban, who was nearest, and asked him if he was hurt ; shook him, but got no answer ; then went to the other man, who was gurgling and choking on the ground ; carried deceased close to a fence, and afterwards got both men irto the house ; did what he considered right by washing away the blood ; sent for a doctor at once. By the Foreman : The trap had not fallen on deceased ; the horse was bred by Mr Oribb on the place now occupied by witness. The Coroner complimented Mr Desmond, and said he would see that he (Mr Bosmoud) received aorae compensation i'roin the Government forbia trouble.

John Dalton deposed : On Saturday evening was travelling towards Awahun ; about 3 chains from Mr Desmond's gate, George Dear sang out to him, saying there was a couple of men either killed or hurt ; saw the two men laying in the road, with the horse on its back; assisted to carry the injured men into the house. Constable John Mclvor, stationed at Palmerston N M deposed : From instructions received on Sunday proceeded to make enquiries concerning this accidsnt ; found the body of the deceased, where it is vow lying ; "took charge of it, and it had remained m his charge siuce. lilaurice Drury (ova of the jury) deposed : He was the landlord of the Endyinion Hotel, Awahuri ; some footballers weut past in the morning ; in the evening when they returned lie heard no hootingi

and shouting ; did not know anything, of his owu knowledge, of the noise spoken of by young Hooban. l The Coroner remarked that no person travelling along the road, who might stop at a road-side inn, had a right to have their horses, which were hitched up outside, driven away by a lot oi young fellows who were in the habit of making alot of noise which was quite objectless. The Foreman said the primary cause of the accident was the habit people have of leaving their horses loose and unattended to. The Coroner said the cause of the accident was the noise made by the footballers^ „ and the effect was the death of Hooban.. , Had the young men not made the noise the horse would not have bolted. The jury then went to examine the | ground where the accident happened, and - j on their return found a verdict of accidental death. They added, as a rider : That the teams of football players should be' cautioned against making noises in the-, public highway,, and, also, the jury wished^ " to state their opinion that the part of ther road where- the accident happened is notmade according to law, and renommend it should be- widened and altered in shapeThe Constable then said, in reply to theCoroner, that the police 1 would make enquiries, and if any illegal act had been committed by anyone, the crime would be sheeted home' to the offenders.