SAD FATALITY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 145, 12 August 1926, Page 5

SAD FATALITY.

! LITTLE GIRL KILLED. A sad fatality occurred in Oxford ■Street, Putaruru, about 5 p.m. on Sunday evening when a little girl named Thelma Beadmore lost her life through being run over by a motorcycle ridden by Mr. A. H. Cosslett. The accident occurred just opposite the unfortunate victim’s home, and it is stated that the motor cycle was travelling at a slow pace. The injuries consisted of a very severe fracture of the skull and a dislocated wrist. Thelma was a popular favourite with all who knew her and was eleven years of age. THE INQUEST. The formal inquest was opened before Mr. J. W. Barr Brown and a jury of four in the police office on Monday night shortly after 7 o’clock. Mr. G. G. Bell, of Matamata, appeared on behalf of Mr. A. H. Cosslett, the rider of the motor cycle, y John Henry Beardmore, father of the deceased child, gave evidence of identification and stated that her age ins daughter abojit 4 o’clock on Sunday evening, when with her mother she accompanied him part of the way to his work. To the police, witness stated that deceased \v a s shortsighted without .glasses and w 7 as very nervous in regard to motor cars. To the Jury : She was wearing glasses at the time of the accident. Dr. Haslett, of P.utaruru, stated that shortly after 5.30 p.m. on the Sth he received an urgent message stating That an accident had occurred on the Tirau road. He saw the child at her parent’s house and she was then in a moribund condition and died about 5.55 p.m. The injuries to the head consisted of an extensive fracture of the skull on the left side. Death was due to this injury. There w 7 as also a ■ dislocation of the right wrist. In cross-examination witness stated that the injuries could have been -caused by her being thrown violently -against some hard object. Joseph Henry Reading, motor mechanic, stated that he was passing the post office when. Arthur Cosslett passed him on a motor bike at about * J. 5 miles per hour. Witness pointed out to his companion that the wheel A-as buckled. A party including Mrs. Beardmore and the deceased were walking ahead. There was also a car standing on the right hand side of the road about two chains aw 7 ay from witness. The party mentioned were about five or six yards on the other side of the car when the bike over-

look them. When Cosslett was level -with the car, the engine of which w T as t running, the deceased turned round . and looked back. She then took two , paces to the right side of the road, stopped, and then ran to the left side, -where the bike caught her. She was -then facing the fence two feet off the metal. The bike seemed to carry her between the front mudguard and the j forks. After the girl was struck, the I bike was pulled up in about six feet. The bike was not slowed down till it reached the car. To the police, witness stated he had had about 4b years’ experience in riding motor bikes. The brake on this bike which he examined was not in good order. It was of no use at all. To slow it he would have to kick the bike into second gear and turn off the benzine. He must have done this 'to pull up in the distance he did. This method was more effective than a hand brake, because it did not skid the wheel. If he had been in CossTett’s place he could not have avoided “the accident. To Mr. Bell : Cosslett was travelling at a reasonable rate of speed for that class of road. Had deceased kept to the right she would have been safe. As it was, she ran into the cyclist. Cosslett did not blow his horn. James Henry Aspden, bricklayer’s assistant, corroborated much of the evidence given by the previous witness.

John Curtis Porter, contractor, stated that he was standing by the stationary car at the side examining the front axle. The noise of the bicycle rounding the post office comer caused him to look up. So far as he could judge, it was travelling at about 20 miles an hour and then it slowed down to about half speed. Witness paid no particular attention till his companion said “ Look out.” He then stepped in towards the car. The bike went by and picked up the girl on its -front wheel, which threw the bike out of control and caused it to run off the road. Cosslett pulled the bike up without actually hitting the post, but the girl was thrown against the post. The rider did not lose his seat. The to come from behind the finally seemed to run into the bicycle. Had she stood still she would not have been hit, but by going forward she did not give the rider a chance. She was hit about 10 yards from the post. The bicycle left the

road at an angle of 45 degrees, heading for the post. James Mitchell Spear, motor engineer, stated that he was examining a car outside his garage on Sunday. He did not actually see the accident, but he heard a scream. When he looked up, the bicycle was over by the telegraph post with the child full length on the ground. Witness secured medical aid. To the jury, witness stated that a man would have to be quick with his foot to brake a bicycle through the gear box. It would be very unsafe to rely on the gears only to brake the bicycle at a speed of 10 miles per hour. Arthur Harold Cosslett, builder, Putaruru, stated that at about 4.45 p.m. on Sunday he was riding a motor cycle along the Tirau road at about 15 miles per hour. He saw a car on the road with three men beside it. There were also some women. He passed two of the previous witnesses about half a chain from the post office. When he saw the women they were clear of the car. Just as he passed the car they turned round and saw him. When within 15 yards of the pole the girl dived off towards the pole. She came up against his handle bars and threw him into the pole. He endeavoured to get between the pole and the fence. He put the bike in low gear and this was the best he could do. It saved holding the brake on with his hands. The brake was pretty good, but he did not use it, as, the low gear was easier to put in action, If the girl had not crossed the road there would have been plenty of room to get past. The deceased appeared to get flurried. He was about seven yards away when she started to run across the road. He did his utmost to avoid the girl. He was almost stopped when he hit the post. The lamp might have hit the post. He put the engine in bottom gear and cut the benzine off. This would pull the cycle up in about eight yards. The surface was greasy. If he had had the best brakes in the world the skid might have taken him down the steep camber of the road.

Joseph Reading, recalled, stated j that when he tested the bike he put ; on the foot brake and Constable Cot- ; ter pushed it freely. That night he t had found it effective. “ From my < trial to-night I am satisfied I applied . it wrongly this morning, and I wish to correct the previous statement that the brake was no good.” The brake had not been' tampered with, as the ; mud was still caked on it. i At 2 o’clock in the morning, seven ( hours after the inquiry opened, the : jury returned the following verdict: — 1 “ That Thelma Beardmore met her : death through being run into by a motor cycle ridden by Arthur Harold Cosslett on the Bth of August, but the jury, though not imputing recklessness, is not satisfied that Cosslett took all reasonable precautions to avert the i accident.” During the hearing Mr. Bell had several passages-at-arms with the coroner and a member of the jury, and he asked that his objection be noted to the tone of the questions put by a juror to witnesses. At the close of the inquiry Mr. Bell charged the jury with being biassed against his client, and he later explained that he referred to a particular member of the jury. The foreman explained, at the request of his fellow members, that no bias had been intended or shown in their opinion. Any questions were prompted by a desire to draw out certain facts, that three members of Ithe jury were fathers of children, and as there was no legal representative watching the interests of the other side this may have tended to cause the ' imputation, which was reseated. * Despite protests, Mr. Bell seized on this to mean that a reflection was ' made on the capabilities of the police - officer conducting the case, and he k later enlarged on Constable Murphy’s • good work. Mr. Bell also commented • that the verdict was totally against the weight of the evidence given.