DEATH OF MISS BARRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2804, 30 October 1924, Page 2

DEATH OF MISS BARRY.

An inquest touching- the death of the late Miss Stella Barry, of Foxton, was held at Otaki on Tuesday before Mr Alf Fraser. Coroner. Dr. Sharp, in evidcm-c. said he a.l tended deceased at Mr liulliman’s residence. She wn- tlien turnon scions, and bleeding' from the right ear and the nose. There uas a mar I nil abrasion on the rigid side of the smilp. There were no oilier injuries io he made out. She was suffering from a serious concussion of the brain and witness ordered her removal to the Otaki hospital. Made

another careful examination hut could make out m> fracture of the) vault of i lie cranium. Wit.nc.ts decided that the lesion was at the base of the skull, and in consultni aiu with Dr. Curtis, considered operative measures would he of no avail. 'flic patient never regained consciousness, •• gradually became worse and died at about 5 a.in. on the 27ilt (Monday). Death was, in wiines.'.' opinion, caused by a basal i'r act nre of the skull w ith consequent hemorrhage into the brain. Thor.* were no other marks of injury on any other pari of the body. Percy George 1 flint deposed that ■ a ceased was his wile’s step-sister, lor I lie past live weeks she had been living with him, keeping house while his wife was away. Slu- Id l home ai about 5.15 on Thursday evening led on horseback togo-to Mrs Bui liman's, about a mile from witness place. The horse ridden by her wa'a trap horse and very quid. It does not buck, but occasionally shied when in the saddle. Witness saw the horse near Bulliman's and found one stirrup across the saddle. It was too (lark to examine the road for marks. Deceased was 18 years of age on October 3rd and was quite used to riding horses. Witness was of opinion that: the accident occurred through deceased overbalancing w hile adjusting'her cloak.’and while the horse was near a hank by which Miss Barry was mounting. The horse, by suddenly swerving might cause her to fall; did not think the horse shied unless something suddenly frightened it. By the horse swerving Miss Barry would fall and thus he the means of causing the stirrup to he thrown over the saddle.

Elizabeth Charlotte Bullimnn, deposed that she had met deceased on two occasions. She came to witness’ place for Mr Hunt's mail. This was about 5.40 p.m. She appeared to be quite all right and stayed with witness about live minutes waiting for the mail. On the arrival of the mail deceased left for her home. About ten minutes later a man.came to the house and asked if I would assisl with a i lady who had fainted. I accompanied him and found Miss Barry. She was lying on the road and was unconscious. She was lying straight across the road, face downward. Witness noticed blood on. her and asked the man to assist to remove her to the house. She was bleeding from the nose and ears and had been very sick. Medical aid was summoned. Witness had no idea how the accident happened. Alfred James Bulliman said he examined the road next morning, Imi could lind no trace of her being dragged. Her clothes were not torn. Witness knew the horse to he a very quiet one hut somewhat eager t,o get on the move if not cheeked. A verdict was returned that death was due to a basal fracture of the skull, owing to a fall from a horse.