CORONER'S INQUEST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 67, 13 May 1870, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

.The inquest on view of the body of 9?homas Lawson, who was accidentally crowned while attempting to cross the Taieri River on the sth inst., took place on Saturday last at Collett's Ancient Briton Hotel, Naseby, before the Coro»er, H. W. Robinson, Esq. The following was the evidence: -Edward Andrews Amies, sworn—l am an hotelkeeper, and reside at Main Gully, Hogburn. I knew the deceased Thomas Lawson. On Thursday last he came to my house on his road from Naseby to Hamilton. He was in a

*pnng cart with his son, and a man •flamed George Monroe. He said that Monroe was going shooting. I got incart a?ftd went with them. About halfrway towards the Taieri River I remarked to himrthat his horse appeared tired. He said his horse was weak v being off the grass. When we got to the ford the river was bank high, and I said I did hot think we could cross. He said * I must cross," when I told a 3um..£e could not. He replied, " I don't care so-long as the bread's not wet." He had. bread in the cart. Monroe and myself both declined to cross. I said, *" if you are determined to cross, ride jour horse in before taking your cart," He took the horse and took off the harness, and told his son to jump on and ride across. The boy said, " I don't like, Lawson seemed to get said, "What's the use of v. lookiigatthe river?" He then put tup horse into the cart again. I tried to dissuade him from going in with the cart before trying the depth with the borse.:. He got into the cart, and said, 41 Bitiy, jump in." The boy got in, and Lawson then drove towards the ford. I told him he was going to take the wrong ford. There are two fords. I showed iim the easiest, and he took that. The horse was out of his depth directly he got into the water, and headed down stream. They came out again afe the lower ford, on "-the same side of the river. I -enough; fchatborse will never take you across. Lei .us.us ;dl go back." He insisted on try-lug- it ag;in. On the . second attempt ii'ie horse got further out into the current about three :: lengths of horse and cart. He fcheu Again turned down stream. By this time the cart was half-full of water. IJawson t'ued then to bring the horse hack to the lower ford again. The horse could not turn in the current, and they sailed right down the middle .■of the .'river, He was trying to pull thehorse round iowards the shore. I him/to lei/.the horse have his head, 4nd he would make the island, but still continued at his head. Presently he called to me to help him. I said he was too far from me. The boy said, " shall I jump ?" I said, "N T o; stick to the cart as long as it is under you." At this time the cart was entirely under . water, and the horse also, except his , head; Just after that the boy jumped towards me, and the cart was swept by , the stream towards the opposite bank. •Mr. Lawson was still standing in the cart holding the reins. I followed the boy down the stream, and when I looked back I saw nothing of the cart, but the bread was all afloat, and Lawson cgling amongst it. I still followed the jboy, and when I next looked the father was no longer to be seen. Shortly after that the boy cried, " Oh! George," to Monroe, and- sank immediately. We still tracked down the stream, and soon [ saw the horse's head emerge. It was alive and struggling, but, at a rapid place in the river, it suddenly threw itself up, and then sank. When next the horse and cart came in view the horse was dead. The cart grounded on a bank in the middle.of the river, and remained there. We remained some time, but seeing nothing of the bodies we came to Naseby to give information. Where I last saw Lawson was between 200 and 300 yards below the ford, and the cart re-appeared and grounded about 100 yards below that point. George Mon roe, sworn —I am a miner, and reside at Naseby. I knew the deceased Thomas Lawson. I last saw him alive about one o'clock on Thursday last, sth inst. On that day I went Jjjfith him and his son William* and Mr. Amies, in a cart to the Taieri River. JVlThen we got there I saw that the river Was swollen. 1 had heard night before that it was not safe, and I said I would not cross. Lawson wanted his xnto ride the horse in, but the boy declined, The father harnessed the horse again. Amies and I both refused to cross, : H° told the boy to get into the

c&,rt t .and tried to cross, but came out lower ford. He tried a sVeond tifiie in spite of cautions. The hdi'sestood in the current until it " slewed " him down the stream. He made no effort to reach either bank. Lawson and his son were both standing up in the cart. The cart went in that way ; about 300 yards, when it seemed to go into a hole, and all the things floated out. The boy then jumped clear of the cart. The next thing I saw was that the father was floating alongside the wheel. I don't think either of them could swim a stroke. The father went down almost immediately, but the boy kept his head above water for about two minutes by beating the water. He then called to me, and turned on his back and sank; I thought he had the cramp. The eddy was whirling him round. Amies said he could not swim. I could swim, but, being weak from illness, was convinced that I should have lost my life had I entered the water. The horse was drowned directly afterwards, and soon the horse and cart grounded on a sort of bank. • We could see nothing of the bodies*, and we then came to the Hogburn to give information. Where the cart grounded was about 100 yards below where the boy was drowned. When they went in the horse turned, and took the cart down stream in spite of the driver.

Samuel Moore, sworn—l am Sergt.Major of police, in charge at Naseby. On the morning of the 6th inst., I proceeded to the Taieri River with other persons in search of the deceased. About half-a-mile iroin the Hamilton ford, down ihe river, we saw a horse and cart in the water. On shifting them the body of the deceased became visible. It was in a standing posture between the wheel and break. We got the body ashore, and on scearching it found six £1 notes, and 18s. 6d. in silver. I could find no marks of violence on the body. The jury re» urned a verdict of accidentally drowned while attempting tocross the Taieri River.