INQUEST.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2527, 15 May 1882, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquiry touching the death of William Rodgers was held before Dr. Coward, coroner, at the Hospital at tan o’clock this morning, and a jury, of whom Mr John Walker was chosen foreman. After the jury had viewed the body of deceased the following evidence was adduced : The Resident Surgeon of the Hospital deposed that deceased was admitted on the 10th of May. On examination itVas found that he was suffering from fracture of several of the left ribs, and also that ho died_ on Saturday from failure of the heart’s action. The result of the post mortem showed that four of the ribs on the left side were seriously fractured, that all the organs of the body were very much diseased, and the injuries sustained, acting in conjunction with his ill state of hedth, resulted in death. William Nelson deposed that he resided at Templeton ; that he left the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Shand’s Track, with Rodgers, on the evening of Tuesday last, at about half-past five o’clock. Rodgers drove. He had had a glass or two, but was cfflected and know what he was about. Whilst on Shand s Track, about a mile and a half from the Wheatsheaf, they came into collision with a light spring cart. Each was on the proper side of the road. Just previous to the collision ho caught sight of the approaching cart, and told Rodgers to look out. They wore both going quickly, and were both thrown out and rendered insensible. On regaining consciousness he saw Rodgers, and in reply to witness said tie was hurt. He spoke but little. Assisted by Mr Collins he got deceased into a cart, and they took him to the George and Dragon Hotel at Templeton, where they wanted to leave him, but the landlord would not take him in, eo they drove him to his home. The other cart was on the centre of the road at the time of the collision ; neither had lamps. By Sergeant Pratt—The other cart was hidden by the shadow of a clump of trees till within about a chain of us. Did not notice if the other driver tried to get to his side of the rotd. , . . , . By a juror—Rodgers was driving very fast, and judging from the wheel marks on the road the next morning, his trap had been slowed to its right side. Bt the foreman —Mr Simmons, the host of the George and Dragon, said he thought it best to take Rogers homo, and arrange about fcis going to the Hospital. By Sergeant Pratt —Witness dined with deceased at the Wheatsheaf, and ho was quite sure that although he (deceased) had a glass or two, he was quite fit to drive, Mrs 8. Watters deposed that she lived at Brovfic-lds, and was being driven in a light spring cart from Christchurch towards her home on the evening of Tuesday last by a man named John Bowie, who was in the cmploy of her eon-in-law. Two ofher grandchildren were also in the cart. Waen about two miles from the Wheatsheaf, she saw another carl coming towards them. Both wore on their right sides of the road. Witness remarked to Bowie— " Pull to you, which be did ; at the same time calling out to the

driver of the other trap—“ Look where you are going to." The other cart was driven very fast. They were going along at; ft jogging rate ; not even having a whip. The remit of the collision was that she was thrown on her face, falling under the wheel. Bowie wag also thrown out and rendered insensible. Baw Bodgera and the man with him both lying on the road. Was quite sure that the left wheel of the cart she was in was well on the grass on the slope of the road on their proper side, the right wheel being on the shingle. When witness first saw the other trap it was about thirty yards distant. John Bowie, being sworn, gave corroborative evidence, stating also that the oart driven by deceased was on the crown of the road, and that witness pulled bis trap still nearer to the hedge to avoid ft oallisiop. John Collins deposed that he lived on Shand’s Track, and on the evening of Tuesday, whilst sitting at tea, he heard a noise, and going in the road, saw a loose horse with trap harness about it, which heat once recognised as belonging to Rodgers. He mounted it and went towards the Wheatshoaf, and found deceased lying insensible on the road ; two carts stood near, the off wheels of which wore looked together; they were standing as near as possible on the crown of the road, but slewed across it, Ho put a horse into one of his traps and drove Rodgers home, George Simmons deposed to having visited the scene of the accident the following morning, and found a trace tag that had been broken off, Leslie’s cart lying about seven and a half yards from Wade’s fence. A patch of blood and some grey hair was lying on the near wheel track, coming from the Wheatsheaf. He thought Leslie’s trap must have been on the crown of the road.

By a Juror—He did not refuse to take Rodgers into his house, but said that his home or the hospital was the moat fitting place for him, seeing he was hurt. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of “ Aooidenta death.’’