INQUESTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 3

INQUESTS.

AUCKLAND FATALITIUS

[BY TKI.ROItAI'H—I-ER I'UF.SS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, Jan. 1.1

An inquest was held to-day concerning the death of Ernest Whitehurst Neild, a motor cyclist, who was run over l>y a motor lorry in Kliybor Puss on January 9tli. It was stated that Neild was passing a motor lorry going up a rise, when his motor cycle suddenly slackened, and the buffer of a motor ear, driven by Norman Ah, Chee, fruiterer, followng behind, hit the back of the motor-cycle, the rider of which fell underneath the front wheel of the lorry. '1 he coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, caused by deceased falling under the wheels of a motor lorry. The coroner said he had to find negligence on the part of Ah Chee for not keepng a sufficient distance behind the motor cyclist.

An inquest was also held regarding the death of Emma Thorburn, an old lady, who was walking across from the footpath in Broadway, Newmarket, on <1 aminry Blii, to hoard a traincar, when she was knocked down by a motor-car driven by Mrs .Margaret. Esther Rogers. The coroner said that death was due to injuries received through being struck and run over by a motor car driven Mrs Rogers, who was driving slowly at the time, and did her best, by swerving, to avoid injury to the deceased, who, by hesitating when crossing the street, contributed to the risk ot accident, but the driver of the motor-car was to blame in not observing the law which required the driver ol vehicles to keep to the rear of a tram car, which has stopped to take up or discharge passengers. The inquest into the deaths of two railway surfacemen, .John Harland and i>«/l i) i It iv lu» iv<M*p ki llt'd

through being knocked down by n shunting train at Newmarket on December 23rd concluded to-day. ihe Coroner found that the deceased were accidentally killed through being run over by a shunting train. “I commend to the attention ot the Itailway Department,” lie added, "the necessity of in some way giving notice to engine drivers tliat men are working as surfacemen.” A suggestion that the deceased had committed suicide was made by a witness at the inquest to-day into the death of William Taylor, who was bunched down by a train at Newmarket last. Saturday. The witness, a boardinghouse keeper, said she watched the deceased approaching the railway line from her window. In her opinion this was the explanation of the accident. The deceased took bis cap off and allowed himself to tail on the the line. Other evidence was to the effect that the deceased was walking

with his head right down, a net seemed to he under the influence ot hquoi. Although the whistle was sounded, and Uh'p wanning bells rang, lie walked right into the engine. Tue lireman ot the [train said he saw , the deceased take off his cap, and walk more quickly, as if to cross in front ot the train.‘The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. There was not enough evidence to uphold the supposition of suicide. The driver and fireman of the train were entirely tree ot blame. PALMERSTON, N., dan. 15. The victim of the Bunnythorpe crossing fatality, is Denis Francis Greaney, aged 21 years, a. resident with Ins father and brother at Saudi lands Street, Feikling. 'Hie other relatives reside at Rotorua. _____