THE FATAL ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2037, 23 March 1907, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENT.

An inquest was Hold at the Hospital yesterday afternoon, before Air. J. AV. Blight, Acting Coroner, con-

cerning tho deatli of Andrew Sharp, commercial traveller, lor the Phoenix Jam and Biscuit Factory. Tho jury wore: Messrs. AV. J. Barlow (ioromnn), Cuthbert, Morse, A\ r . J. Gibson, James Lang, Samuel Oliver, and Peter Galloway.

Dotoctivo Maddorn and Constable Irwin represented the police. Mr. AV. Miller, with Mr. 11. Bright (solicitor) represented the Ocean Accident Insurance Company. Thomas Hugh Pettigrew, commercial traveller, deposed: I have known the deceased for 16 years, I saw him last alivo at Napier on AVednesday. lie represented the Phoenix Company at Dunedin. I don’t think he had any fixed abode. Ho was a married mull.

Tho witness udded: As a question may ho afterwards raised in connection with the insurance, I would like to say that he is of thoroughly sober habit's. 1 have never during all tho time 1 have known him seen him take a glass of intoxicants. Thomas Quinn, proprietor of livery stables in Pool Street, gave evidence as to hiring a saddle liorso to deceased on Thursday, at about' 3 p.m. He came ill and asked lor a back anil I gave him a very quiet one, said witness.

Detective Maddern: Had this horse over run away with anyone before? AVitness: Not that I know of. Is that tho horse that ran away with Miss Barrett? AVitness: No. You did not see deceased again until you saw the body just now?—No. AVillinm Bruce, jun., general storekeeper ol Ormond Road, AA’aioliika, deposed: I received a card from Mr. Sharp some weeks ago saying that he represented the Phoenix Company and would call on mo. JJe also rang me up. He arrived yesterday about 2 Opast 3, and left at 5.30; he told me the time as ho was leaving. I saw him mount his horse to leave. When I saw him mounting I came to the conclusion either that he was not a horseman or was taking great liberties with a stable horse. (Witness described the style ol mounting which was the reverse ol that of a horseman). Before deceased had got on properly he bail let the reins loose, and the horse went oil’ at full speed for town. I knew that lie must have a fall. 1 saw him gallop along. Then he went on to the grass and I remarked that he would be all right then, but bis hat fell off and he appeared to try to catch it, the horse swerved on to the road and collided wit'h a buggy in which Air. C. AV. Aluir was driving. I called out for someone to ring up the doctor and then ran to the scene, about three chains distant. Air. Muir and the lady had then got out of the buggy. Deceased was then bleeding from the ears and nose and was unconscious. AVe carried him back to the house, ind I afterwards brought him into the Hospital in a low dray on Dr. Scott’s advice.

Detective Aladdcrn: You saw the whole accident? Witness: Yes. And there was no one to blame? AVitness: Absolutely no one. 'You think the horse was a quiet one?—Yes, from all appearance it was. j The Coroner: The question lias arisen in evidence—Can you say had deceased any liquor on him ? AA'itness: I am positive he had not. On a previous occasion he came out on a bicycle, and I asked him to have a glass of hop beer. He declined, saying he never drank any tiling. I jocularly sail!, “You’d he better il you did.” Ho replied, “1 make it a rule nevor to touch anything.”

By a juryman: Did he have both feet in the stirrups when he started? AVitness: Yes. Did he overtake the buggy?—Yes. ALr. Bright: AVliat did he call at your place for?— AA’itness: Representing the Photv.

"tjfnii'les \V. Aluir, stationer, deposed : I saw deceased yesterday afternoon between 5.30 and 6 near Air. Bruce’s store, I was driving tor wards town in company withy my wife. As I passed the store deceased was just going to mount. AVhen I got about 100 yards past tlie store I heard the noise of- a horse galloping behind. I looked round and saw it was the same man. The liorso was galloping, and the rider seemed to have no control. He was pulling the horse’s head about, and I could not tell which side he wanted to pass Oil. I pulled to the right to give him room. The horse, however, made towards the buggy. He came to within a yard of the buggy and then swerved. I do not think the horse hit tho trap at all, hut in the swerving deceased fell and I think his head struck the wheel of the trap. There was a jar, but not from the other horse. My horse played up a bit, anil went a short distance before I could pull uf). I returned to where the man lay; Air. Bruce came up, also Air. Todd. Deceased was unconscious, bleeding from the ears and nose. Air. Bruce said there would ho no necessity for mo to stay, that he would see to the man, and I went on. Deceased seemed to have lost all control of the horse.

Dr. Morrison deposed that he had seen deceased after admission to the Hospital. He had a fractured skull and was bleeding profusely from the right ear; he was bruised about the limbs and body on the right side. His breathing was irregular, and he was undoubtedly dying. He did die about half-ail hour afterwards (9.30), as a result of brain injuries through a fractured skull. From the position of the bruises I should think .deceased’s body struck tho wheel of the trap. He was unconscious tlie whole time. The Coroner-said tho ovidenco was short and to the point. There was no doubt deceased came by his death through accident and that no blame was attributable to anyone. He would not add anything t'o what had been given in the evidence; it was for the jury to give their verdict. Tlie jury at once returned the following verdict: “The deceased met his death by a fall from bis horsp on the Ormond road, AVaiohika, causing a fractured skull; no blame being attachable to anyone."