THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT RICHMOND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 145, 24 June 1867, Page 2

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT AT RICHMOND.

Ari inquest was held on Saturday eyening at the Plough Inn, Richmond, before the Coroner, Dr. Squires, and a jury, u pon the body of : Philip Higgins, whose

accidental den'.h we noticed in our issue bf Saturday last. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was given : — Lewis Bryant, assistant to Mr. Dartuell, storekeeper, Richmond, being sworn, said : 1 identify the body as beiDg that "of Philip Higgins, aged 21, waggoner to Messrs. Rod ..and Hounsell, of Bright-warei-.Mill. About 10 o'clock this moranig, he had occasion to stop at the store. He stopped tbe waggon, and in getting down from the front of ifc, he fell between the shafts of the near wheel horse, striking the animal, aud causing it to move on. The near wheel, in front of which he had fallen, went over him. It pushed him before ifc for about, two yards. On seeing him fall, I rau to one of the horse's head, -and slopped the waggon before the hind wheel could go over him. He then jumped up and rau about twelve yards towards the liouse. I theu supported him until a chair was brought for him to sit in. He was brought to Mr. Ryan's house, tbe Plough, but was afterwards taken back to Mr. Dart-nail's, as being more quiet for him. He died about 2 p.m. I consider the death was purely accidental-, and owing to his falling off the cart aud the wheel goiug over him. . Frederick Augustus Laking, a duly qualified practitioner, being sworn, said:. Between 10 aud 11 o'clock this mornin^ I was sent for to see the deceased. On. arriving at Mr. Dartnall's store, I found him lying under the verandah. I heard he had been run over by a waggon. He was then in a state of collapse. Hewas removed to the Plough Inn, bufc as there-' was no proper convenience for hitn in his then state, he was taken back .to Mr. Dartnall's house, where a bed was made up for him. I believe he died about 2 p.m. I found injuries to the chest, such as would be. -caused by great pressure, such as that of a heavy waggou-wheel going over him. Tbe left collar bone was dislocated, and the breast bone broken and driven into the lung, causing emphysema. The cause of his death was injury caused by the wheel going over his chest. The Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."