INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1851, 28 January 1880, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquest was held on Friday last at the schoolroom, Glentunnel, by Mr H. J. Mathias, J. P., on the body of a youth named Stephen Horton, who was killed in the Glentunnel coalmine the day before. After viewing the body the inquest was adjourned till twelve o’clock on Saturday, to allow of the Inspector of Mines being present, he having bean telegraphed for to Dunedin. On Saturday at the adjourned inquest the evidence taken showed that Borton was leading a horse attached to trucks in the main drive, when he either stumbled and fell, or the horse knocked him down, and three loaded waggons passed over him. Ho was at once carried outside the pit but expired immediately afterwards. The evidence of the manager of the pit and and two miners who were present, also the evidence of Mr Binns, the Inspector of Coalmines, who had inspected the place where the accident happened, and who also examined the witnesses, was taken. The jury returned a verdict of “ accidental death,” adding a rider to the following effect, “ that there was a certain amount of negligence on the part of the manager in allowing persons to lead a horse in front of the waggons coming out of the mine, as the road is not of sufficient width to allow them to escape in case of accidents.” Our correspondent remarks that the rider was not in accordance with the evidence given by the Inspector of Mines, as he stated on oath that he did not think the position of the hoy leading the horse out was more dangerous than that of thousands of boys in other mines here and in other countries.