INQUEST

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1588, 22 March 1879, Page 3

INQUEST

An inquest was hold yesterday at Flanagan's Eailway Hotel, before H. J. Mathias. E>q., J.P., on the body of William Bevan who was killed by a dray-wheel passing over his body on tho 19th inst.

Charles Bevan, being sworn, stated the deceased was my brother, and was living with me on land rented from Mr J. Deans. My brother and myself went to Mr Kobinson's paddock, on the 19th inst, for two loads of straw, about eleven o'clock. He was driving one team, I the other. I was in front of him with my dray. We had a amall ravine to cross. When crossing

it his horses ran away. He tried to pull them up, but the shaft caught him in the back ami knocked him down. I stopped my team and ran to him. I saw the wheel p i»s over his body before T left my dray. When I got to him he was making a gurgling noise in his throat, and breathed his last almost immediately (in a few seconds). Mr brother was quite sober. He had not had anything to drink that day. Mr Ward, and Robinson, and his son were about a chain away. They caino up just as my brother died. The horses were very fresh, and my brother was not strong enough to drive them. I did not wish him to take them out in the morning. To a juror—He had heading reins on the front horse.

By the Foreman—Vou said he was knocked down bj the shaft. How do you know that ? AVitness judged by the manner the horses bounded forward.

To a juror—' he straw was loaded in a proper manner, and did not irritate the shuft horse by being too heavy or too light on his back. To the Foreman —The horses were accustomed to bolt. Yon could not trust them.

Mr Ward, Robinson, and sou were called as witnesses. but their evidence only corroborated that of the first .witness.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death, caused by a dray-wheel passing over the body."