THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RICCARTON ROAD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1279, 25 April 1878, Page 2

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RICCARTON ROAD.

An inquest was held at the hospital to-day at 2 pm., before J. W. S. Coward, Esq.. Coront-r, on the body of Matthew Kinsman, who met his death through bejng run over by an omnibus, on the Riccarton road, on Tuesday last. Inspector Hickson was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the police. Mr C. P. Hulbort was chosen foreman of the jury, and after the body had been viewed, the following evidence was taken. Alexander Dunbar, saddler, Cashel street, called, stated that he was at the races on Tuesday last, and came home in D.ilwood’s four-horse coach, on the box seat behind the driver. As they were approaching Frost’s lane running into the Riccarton road, they were running on their own side of the road, running parallel with a cab. They were in the act of turning the cab at the time. Just as they came to the lane the Asylum buggy shot out of the lane at a quick pace, and ciroised the leaders of Dal wood's coach, taking the ground between the cab and the coach. The driver of the buggy seemed to halt there for a moment, which enabled Dalwood’s leaders to get abreast of his buggy. Then of a sudden he went on, and pulled his horse on to Dalwood’s leaders, and kept pulling hi a own bugger towards the right-hand side, which forced Dalwood’* leaders on to the footpath where decease was walking. The swingle-bar of the leaders caught the man by the coat, threw him on his back, and the coach went over him before the horses could be pulled up. The man was not driven off the footpath, but was drawn on the edge of it by the swingle tree. Witness shouted out to deceased before the horses were on to him. He looked over his left shoulder, but instead of going from the horses he came in to then. Deceased was walking in the direction of Christchurch at the time. Ddwood was perfectly sobpr, and had hip horses well in hand. He pulled up about sis; yards from the place where he ran over the man. He was trotting at the time at a moderate pace. It was perfectly light at the time, and only about twenty minutes to live. Had the man tried to get out of the way after witness called out there was plenty of time and room for him to have done so. Witness would imagine from the man’s action that he could have been hardly sober. The fore carriage passed over the deceased, By Inspector Hickson—Could not say who was driving the Asyluip trap. There were a few men and some females in it. It was impossible for Dalwood to have pulled up before ho did. The cab went on to town.

By a Juror—The buggy crossed Dalwood’s horses. It was the swingle-tree which knocked the man over. The trap could not be observed coming down the lane, as the fencea are too high at the place. The ’bus was in the act of passing the cab when the trap emerged from the lane. By Inspector Hickson—Could not say who drove the cab. There was some person in it. Hid think the man who drove p ro}p trail **s ie*

fluence of liquor at the time. Witness heard him speak afterwards, and should say, from what he saw, that he was in the state mentioned. Had he been sober lie could easily have avoided the accident. The wheel of the coach w,s about a foot on the footpath The head and body of deceased were on the footpath after the accident. Could not say positively what part of the body the wheels passed over.

By a juror—They were passing the cab at the time of (he accident. The cabman had left plenty of room to pass. Dal wood’s horses were going faster than the cab. There was a footpath on one side of the road, and a ditch at the other side.

Dr Nedwill, called, stated that he was called to see the deceased just as he was being admitted into the hospital on Tuesday last, 23rd instant. Examined the man as he was brought into the ward. He was pulseless. On. applying a stethoscope to the chest found the pulsations were very slight, and saw that the man was dying. Had since made a postmortem examination. There was a slight bruise over right elbow and the r’ght hip. Above the loins, on each side, there was a great deal of discoloration. The last rib on the left side was broken. The diaphragm on the left side was separated from the ribs and completely torn. Both kidneys were ruptured, aud the large vein of the abdomen coming up from lower portion of the body was ruptured, as also were the outer coats of the stomach. The spine was broken right across. Deceased died from the effects of these injuries. Charles Greenwood, accountant, stated that he was returnirg from the races by Dal wood’s coach on the afternoon in question. Witness was riding on the roof-seat of the ’bus. His first notice of anything unusual was hearing an exclamation made by Dalwood and the passengers in the front seats. The exclamations were those of warning to some one. Witness then looked and saw an American waggon so near in front that he felt an accident was itnmenent. Thought there were two horses in the waggon, and learnt afterwards that it was the Asylum trap. When he first noticed the waggon it was about abreast of the wheelers heads, and drawn right across the leading horses. The driver of the waggon at this time made an effort to pull on to his proper course towards his left. This was in compliance with the warnings he got. His attention was next called by hearing some exclamation in front that an accident had occurred. He looked behind at once and saw a man lying partly on the footpath and partly on the road. Witness at once got down to his assistance, procured water, and with the aid of others did his best to recover him. Dalwood was distinctly sober, and they were driving at a fair road pace. There was no attempt at galloping. By Inspector Hickson—Witness was told afterwards that it was deceased’s brother who was driving the waggon. Heard a female (now present) who got out of the asylum trap address the driver, who was called James Kinsman, and say, “I told you what would occur through your reckless driving; you would go on, and now you see what has happened.” Witness did not see any part of Dalwood’s coach go on the footpath, but he was riding on the other side. Did not see the horses on the footpath. There was a doctor present shortly after the accident, and it was under his directions that witness got water. Witness afterwards saw the deceased carried into the Hospital. Would like to say that from what witness saw, Dalwood piloted his omnibus as well as it was possible for the best whip to have done, as he had the alternative of driving into a much lighter trap, which might have resulted most seriously for the several occupants who were in it. There was a cab driving alongside, a little in front, which compelled Dalwood to keep a little on tha right of the crown of the road, which was his proper side. Witness believed for certain, from what he observed, that tha man who drove the asylum waggon was under the influence of liquor at the time. When the woman spoke to him about his conduct he swore at her.

By a Juror—Witness did not take sufficient notice at the time to observe how many horses were in the Asylum trap. Thomas Luther Shepherd, clerk, who was a passenger by the omnibus that afternoon, and was sitting behind the driver, gave similar evidence to the first witness. The trap which came out of the lane had turned across the omnibus horses, which were going much faster than the trap. Dalwood tried to pass it by going lower down on the right hand side, still going at a good pace. As he did so the trap turned all of a sudden and took the same road as the ’bus, and in order to avoid running into the trap Dalwood took his leaders on to the path, and also the omnibus aa. well, otherwise they must haye smashed into the trap. Witness’s attention was first drawn towards the man by noticing that he was falling under the horses. He then disappeared and the wheels passed over him. Though Dalwood went on to the footpath to avoid crashing into the trap, yet witness thought it was a dangerous thing to drive the ’bus on to the path, as witness thought the lives of the passengers were jfop u-dised by doing so. Witness would think that Dalwood was a very expert driver. He was sober, but may have had a glass or two to drink. Noticed after the accident that he was perfectly calm, and quite sober. Dalwood could not have pulled off at the time of the accident, but might have pulled off before. Had the driver of the trap kept straight on the accident could uot have occurred, but believed that in pulling off as he did the man did so for the be-t, but it was an unfortunate error of judgment, as the man thought the ’bus might keep straight on, but to do so would not have been the rule of the road.

In reply to jurors, witness said his attention was so directed at the time to the ’bus being driven on the path, that he did not remember hearing any warnings. By Inspector Hickson—From what witness saw of the driver of the trap after the accident, witness oame to the conclusion that the mau was not sober. Witness judged this from the appearance of the man’s face. Believed the deceased was the only man who was walking on the footpath ali along the road at the time.

Frederick Fisher, wire and commission merchant, who was also a passenger by the omnibus, and who was riding on the box seat, gave similar evidence to the previous witnesses The driver of the Asylum van when it came out of the lane gave Dalwood no room to pass. When Dalwood halloa’d to him he immediately pulled acroea the leaders, closing the’bus right on to the footpath. Witness and other passengers were preparing to meet with a serious accident, when Dalwood very cleverly pulled on to the footpath for the safety of the passengers and also of the trap. It appeared to be the only alternative. By driving on to the footpath he cleared the trap, and almost instantaneously a man seemed to emerge from the hedge, to whom Dalwood also shouted, but as they came so quickly the man seemed to stagger back, and the swingle tree of the horses caught bis clothes, drew him under the animals, and in an instant the coach was over him. Dalwood was perfectly sober at the time, and witness considered it a piece of masterly driving to avoid coming into collision with the trap. Witness saw the wheels go over the man, and exclaimed, “Good God, tpo man is killed, 11 Witness saw the driver of the Asylum trap after the accident. He had been indulging a little, and was not sober. [The Inquest was proceeding when we went to press.]