ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 5

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

MOTOR AND TRAM COLLISION. INQUEST ON VICTIM. (Per Uuited Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. Tfae inquest was continued to-day before Mr S. E. McCarthy, Coroner, concerning the death of William Arthur Griffin, who was killed on the night of May 22 as the result of a collision between a motor car he was riding in and a tram. After hearing the p'idence (he Coroner recorded a verdict that the motorman, Smith, was sober, and tue tramcar at the time of the accident was travelling at a speed of about live miles an hour. The motor car was being driven after dark at a fast pace, though it was impossible now to estimate the approximate rate of jpeed. The evidence did not disclose any negligence on the part of the motorman. The driving by Robert Bruce Forsyth wa.s negligent in three particulars: (aj Forsyth was under the influence of liquor; (b) the motor car was being driven at. a fust pace after dark; (c) Forsyth either failed or was unable to keep a proper look out. Such negligent driving was the sole cause of the death of deceased.

YOUNG MAN P'OUND SHOT.

WHANGAREI, June 4. The police have been notified that the dead body of a young man, Cyril Hugh, s, was found in the bush near Kaeo with a gunshot wound in the abdomen and another in the head. He had been missing since Sunday when lie went away alone ou a shooting expedition. The theory is that the abdominal wound was accidental and that the head wound was self-inflicted to end his sufferings as no help was forthcoming.

DEATH OF SYDNEY SMALL. INQUEST FURTHER ADJOURNED. (Special to thv Times). CHRISTCHURCH, June «. The inquest touching the death of Sydney Caleb Small, of Inverccrgul, a newly-mar-ried returned soldier, who was killed m a motor accident at Bromley on Friday afternoon lost, was to have been proceeded with this morning. However. James McCausland, who was the driver of the motor, is not yet sufficiently recovered from Ins injuries to give evidence, so the icquest was further adjourned.