Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 470, 6 May 1857, Page 7

Correspondence.

To the Editor ■ oftkeLijttelton Times. Sie,-—ln,'th6^"ab'sencijpf a;'fuller report,.l have to request yolir iiiWertiph of this following brief particulars of the, recent accidentVwhich occurred in Christehurchj together \vith the verdict of the Jury, and accompanying caution, which your local correspondent, either .wilfully or through the_ absence of correct information, has wholly omitted, and thereby endeavours to dispute the, decision of the jury, although: their verdict was fpunded on a careful^ arid .'lengthened examination of several witnesses." : '. "■■.' ' . ''"' ,: ■'.;I.'am,;&'c., ,V, ■.■;.''.', ■. ■ < '-"■";.. "■;.: -l : . ONE OP THE) JUROES. Chris,tchurch,3dth;April : lßs7. ,

After'viewing the body, the jury proceeded to the large, room of the Royal Hotel, where a number of witnesses who saw the accident were examined by the Coroner and very closelycrpss-examined by the foreman of the Vjury; the- whole .of the evidence Went clearly to prove that six persons were crowded \ in a dogcart which could: only conveniently seat four and that the driver in consequence,was obliged to sit on the outer rail,of the cart, the wheel of which passed through[. a hole in? the road, byj which the vehicle gave a sudden jolt; throwing the driver from his seat to, the ground, one of the-wheels at the same time passed over both his feet and the reins were dragged from hishand; thejhorsethen.finding itself at liberty, and the loose reins becoming entangled amongst its feet, it immediately started at a violent pace j"along Cashel street, and, whilst rounding the corner of Golumbo; street, the cart; was. suddenly upset, dashing the passengers to the ground the deceased being oindermostj and; from the medical evidence given, had no doubt fallen oh her head, the fall being the immediate:cause of death. ■ The Coroner summed up the evidence, after which the room was cleared- of the public, and the jury immediately afterwards gave a,unanimous verdict of "Accidental Death," accompanied with a request " that the Coroner would convey a caution to the owner of the horse to be careful in future to furnish on such cccasjdns no animal which was : addicted to running away; to funish none but sober, trustworthy drivers, and to be especially careful that his conveyances were not suffered to become overcrowded."

[Accidental error may, have occurred tin our short narrative, though the particulars given by us were derived from better authority ;■ than that of 'One! of the Jurors/ and are not impeached by his narrative. There was no endeavour to.dispute the decision • of the; jury. Wilful misrepresentation in. :: narrating so sad an accident is impossible. We are much obliged for the additional information as regards; the *autionto.the. . owner of the horses, on that account we are glad to pnblish the above communi- / cation.—Ed.'L.T.']>