TRAGIC DEATH AT SHANNON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3799, 31 May 1928, Page 2

TRAGIC DEATH AT SHANNON.

YOUNG MAN VICTIM OF OVERTURNED DRAY.

A sad fatality occurred at Makerua on Tuesday- afternoon, when a young man named Martin Kenneth Dalzell, 21 years of age, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Dalzell, lost his life through the capsizing of a dray which he was driving.

Deceased at the time was engaged with a dray and horse in loading rubbish from behind the stripper at the Makerua flaxmill and carting it to a dump at the rear of the mill. His father and brother hearing him call out several times to the horse, and thinking something might have happened, proceeded to the spot, where they found the dray capsized and the horse lying on its back, deceased being under the dray apparent!} dead. As they were unable to remove the dray further assistance was called and Dr. Mackereth was immediately sent tor, but on his arrival could only pronounce life to l)e extinct.

Deceased was a very popular young man and was well known in football circles, being captain of the Shannon Club’s junior fifteen, with which combination he played against Foxton on Saturday. THE INQUEST.

The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Martin Kenneth Dalzell was held at the residence of deceased’s parents, Makerua, yesterday, before Mr. A. Fraser, coroner. Evidence was given by deceased’s father and brother to the effect that deceased had been engaged in carting rubbish from the mill to a dump on the day of the accident. The dump was located over a ridge from the mill. Witness heard deceased calling out to his horse to stop, and thinking something wasamiss, they both ran to the top of the ridge, and saw the overturned dray at the foot on the other side. On investigating deceased was discovered underneath with the side of the dray across his neck, and the reins tangled around l,is ankles. The road to the damp was perfectly safe and of an easy grade, but on both sides the ground was fairly rough. It was surmised that the horse was frightened by the flapping of a piece of iron in the rubbish, and taking fright, pulled off the roadway and overturned when negotiating a piece of rough ground. It was evident that deceased had been taken unaware.

A verdict was returned that deceased met his death through the accidental capsizing of a dray which he was driving.

Messrs H. Hutchins (President), R. liornblow (secretary), 11. Ross (captain), G. Williams and A. Stevenson represented the Foxton dub at the funeral this afternoon and placed a wreath in the Club colours on the graveside from members.