SHOW FATALITY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1072, 21 November 1911, Page 3

SHOW FATALITY

WAS THE HURDLE DANGEROUS ?

A coronial Inquiry iuto the facts surrounding the death of Miss Polly Weaver, who was killed while competing in the ladies’ riding event at the Whangarei Suow, was held on Friday before Mr J. M. Kilien (district coroner), who sat without a jury.

Dr. H. A. Good said he was standing thirty yards away from the hurdle when the accident occurred. He saw the horse fail to properly rise to the hurdle, aud strike heavily. The horse pitched forward, and threw the deceased of! sideways and ou the off-side. Iu reply to Sergeant Moore, who represented the police, witness said he considered the hurdle was unsafe, particularly for a girl rider. Earlier iu the day he had seen a gentleman rider nearly thrown at the same hurdle.

Andrew Wilson, one of the Show f Committee, said the jump where the accident occurred, the last hurdle, was a solid woodeu one aud supposed to represent a stone wall. He considered the accident was caused by the deceased’s horse taking off to soon at the jump. Sergeant Moore said that he witnessed the accident. He did not think that the “hencoop” hurdle could be classed as dangerous. The coroner summed up briefly. He said that he would not express an opinion as to the wisdom of girls being allowed to ride iu hurdle events. That was uot within his province. Nor would he touch ou the question that had been raised as to whether the hurdle was dangerous. Death, he said, was due to injuries described in the medical evidence, and as the result of an accident. In conclusion, the coroner expressed his deepest sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.