INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1606, 14 April 1879, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at Mr Mark Scott’s Hotel, Tinwald, on the body of Samuel Williams Brown, who was thrown out of a buggy and killed on Good Friday. Mr James Escott was chosen foreman of the jury. The following evidence was taken :

Emily Phillips, sworn, said—Yesterday at a little past 2 p.m. I was driving towards Ashburton bridge. At the first crossing south from the bridge I saw a buggy drawn by a horse evidently beyond control coming towards me. It was coming along the Main South road, and at the crossing from the west to the east side. There were two people in the buggy, and the woman was driving with a rein in each hand. They looked in great distress as iff much frightened. I saw nothing of them after the accident. Directly the pressure of the reins was removed the horse stopped quietly. The buggy was not upset, I sent assistance as soon as I could. The buggy came in contact with the rails, and the occupants were thrown out. The horse went a little to the right of the proper crossing. Thomas Price, sworn, said—l am MrEde’s stable boy at the repository, Ashburton. I yesterday harnessed a horse in a buggy for Mr Brown, and drove round to Mr Shearman’s. I have harnessed horses many times. The traces were not too short. The horse was properly harnessed. Deceased got into the buggy and a lady afterwards. The woman was driving. The horse was very quiet. I saw the woman who was driving strike the horse with a whip, and the mare turned as if she wanted to go back to the stable. They were driving towards the bridge. The mare was not cut on the back when I harnessed her, but when I brought her back there were severe cuts. I fetched the trap back. The breeching was broken then and also the splash-board of the buggy, though it was all right when I started. The breaking of the breeching would make the trap come on to the mare’s back. William G-raham Ross, sworn, said —I am a medical practitioner, residing in Ashburton. I saw deceased about 2.30 p.m. yesterday, lying at the first crossing this side of Ashburton bridge. He was dead. There was much congealed blood from the nostrils and mouth. There was a grazed bruise on the right temple, the skin having been torn by the gravel in the road. The right half of the frontal bone was depressed and fractured, and one of the fractures extends into the wing of the temple bone. There are other contusions on the face. Death resulted from depressed fracture of the frontal and temporal bones. Death must have been nearly immediate, and he must have been thrown with great force, as the bone was broken into many fragments. He was lying on his back, with his feet towards the railway line. James Wright Mcßae, sworn, said—l am a cab-driver, living in Alford Forest road. I know the mare that was driven by deceased yesterday. She was very quiet. I lent it to Mr Brown. The mare is very quiet ; my own wife/irives her. The mare pulled hard when she had good way on her. Flogging would make her pull hard. She is very powerful, and when fully going no woman could hold her, but she could bo easily broken. I saw the harness after the accident; the breeching was broken, and the crossbar of the front carriage was close to her hocks. My opinion is, the mare did not bolt, but was only trotting fast. I believe the mare to be so quiet that she would not bolt. I told deceased the mare would go fast or slow as required, would not shy, and was perfectly quiet. George Jamieson, grain merchant, Ashburton, said—l was driving with Mr Tucker yesterday afternoon. I saw Mr Brown, architect, Ashburton, in a buggy yesterday afternoon, a few minutes past 2 p.m., on Tinwald side of Ashburton bridge. We passed them seventy or eighty yards from the bridge, the woman was driving, and just before they passed us the horse broke into a gallop. The woman was driving, but had no control over the horse. We watched the buggy, as we thought, out of sight. Wo saw an accident had happened afterwards, as the buggy had stopped the other side of the lino. We then went back and found the man dead, and the woman sitting on the other side of the line. The horse had bolted when I saw it,

Michael Mullaney said-I am a bridgekeeper at the south end of Ashburton bridge yesterday afternoon. I saw a buggy corning over the bridge from Ashburton about 2.20 p.m. It was coming at the rate of about six miles an hour. About six or eight chains from the end of the bridge I saw the lady who was driving strike the horse, which made the animal go faster. In reaching over to put the whip back the lady seemed to lose control of the horse, and the buggy went down the incline at the rate of about twelve miles an hour. The horse got into a gallop after getting down the incline. From the time the bridge was crossed till the accident occurred was a space of not more than two minutes. I noticed nothing wrong with the harness. The woman did not whip the horse very hard. Fanny Watson, sworn, said—l am a single woman barmaid at the Somerset Hotel. Yesterday I Went with a Mr Brown to go for a ride to Winslow, This was about 1,55 p.m. I drove to the railway bridge. At the Tinwald end the horse bolted, and Mr Brown took the reins from me. I believe I also held the reins trying to hold the horse in. I never used the whip at dL The socket in which the whip goes was loose, and seeing the whip going to the right I was afraid of its being lost and put it in safety. The horse bolted on the bridge when a man pulled out a hand* kerchief. I told Mr Brown not to cross the rail, but to keep it on the road. We were both holding the reins. lam used to driving. Mr Browii tried to keep the horse on the road but failed. The horse went quietly till the gentleman pulled out the white handkerchief on the bridge. I remember nothing after the accident t ill I was undressed by the housemaid at the Somerset Hotel, Deceased was much frightened. He called to a man at the roadside to stop the horse, I am much bru'sed on the back and Moulder.

Fredk. G-ooch, said —I arfi a horsebreaker, living near Tinwald. I wont yesterday for a horse and buggy. I found it in a dry creek about thirty chains from whore the accident occurred, the hind legs of the horse were skinned ffom the stifle joint to the hocks. This was caused by the traces being too short. I noticed this as soon as I drove the horse, as I found it struck its hocks against the splinter bar every stride. The horse tried to bolt with me from that cause. I know the mare. Properly harnessed any one could drive her. The quietest horse would bolt harnessed as she was.

John Stillwell said—l am a laborer living in Ashburton. I assisted harnessing the mare of Mcßae’s at Mr Ede’s stables yesterday. The mare was properly harnessed, and the traces were long enough. I have been accustomed to horses.

Sergeant Felton, sworn, said —I came to Tinwald yesterday, and found the body of deceased lying on his back, with feet towards the railway line, some six yards from the crossing place. There was much blood on the right side of the coat, j found a gold watch in his pocket. It had stopped at seven minutes past two p.m,, also a gold chain, and 7« fid in money, also other small articles. I had the body conveyed to the Tinwald Hotel.

The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” attaching no blame to any one.