SATURDAY’S FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 319, 21 January 1902, Page 3

SATURDAY’S FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. Thu inquest on the body of Captain Thomson was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, Mr G. Stubbs, actingcoroner, presiding. The following jury was empanelled : Messrs W. Good, R. Robertson, F. Harris, T. Morrison, R. Johnsten, and Captain Cumming. Mr R. Johnston was chosen foreman.

Sergeant Siddells conducted the proceedings. Dr Craig gave evidence that he saw the deceased on Saturday at the Hospital. He was then unconscious, and suffering from complete motor ancensory paralysis. There were no bones broken. There was a bruise on the left side of the head and face and the left shoulder. The left eyelid was torn. The symptoms would be due to hemorrhage on the brain, producing compression. The patient lingered until nine o’clock the following morning, never having regained consciousness. Charles Stewart, contractor, stated that on Saturday witness and Rodgers were riding towards Gisborne, when he saw a buggy and pair approaching about a quarter of a mile on the Gisborno side of the Bridge Hotel. The buggy was coming at an ordinary pace. As the buggy approached the witness saw something had gone amiss, he noticing that one of the reins had dropped. He also noticed that deceased tried to recover the rein, and in doing so touched the horse’s rump, which started it galloping. There was another person in the trap with deceased. When they passed he (witness) could see that there would be an accident, and so witness and Rodgers turned to help the occupants, but could not catch up the buggy in time to prevent the accident. There was a dray on the road, going in the same direction as the buggy. The dray was near a telegraph post, and the horses in the buggy attempted to pass between the dray and the post, and there not being sufficient room, the horses and the buggy came in collision with the telegraph post, with the result that the post was broken short with the ground. The buggy overturned, and the occupants wero both thrown out, deceased being thrown into the ditch. He believed the deceased struck the post. He went to the assistance of the deceased, who was then unconscious, his companion not being much hurt. He could see that deceased was severely hurt, it being nearly three minutes before they could see any sign of life. He telephoned for the police and doctor, and got water and a blanket, bathing the deceased. He was completely unconscious all the time. The buggy was smashed and the horses broke away. He went on to them, after seeing that the deceased was being attended to by Mr Arnaboldi and others. He saw no signs of liquor on the deceased or his companion. The reins were not buckled ; if they had been the driver could have got control of the horses in the usual way. He had driven the horses before, and always found them quiet. Sergeant Siddells gave evidence that on Saturday afternoon he received a telephone message that a man had been killed at Matawhero near the bridge. He proceeded at once to the scene. On arrival at Makaraka, he was informed that the deceased had met with an accident, and that a doctor was required. He telephoned for medical assistance and a brake. On reaching the scene of the accident, he found deceased lying on his back in the ditch, he being attended to by Mr Arnaboldi and others. He was breathing very heavily, and witness could see that nothing could be done until medical assistance arrived. Drs Cole and Fisher shortly afterwards arrived, and also the brake. Deceased was put into the brake, and taken to the Hospital. Deceased’s companion was beside the wreck of the buggy. His name was Captain Thorgeson. He was very much shaken up, and had his ankle hurt. Judging by the condition of the buggy and the stato of the telegraph-post, he thought that tho buggy must have struck the post with terrific force. As decoased was a very stout man, the accident would naturally have a serious effect upon him. He had made inquiries, and was satisfied that the men were sober, and also that neither of them was very capable among horses. He had visited the ;Captain that morning, and had found him unfit to attend the inquest. A verdict was returned that the deceased met his death by a buggy accident.