REGINALD BELL’S DEATH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 25, 4 June 1913, Page 7

REGINALD BELL’S DEATH.

0 THE INQUEST. An inquest concerning the death of the late Reginald Bell, was held at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Mr C. J). Sole, Act-ing-Coroner, and th,e following jury of ■:ix :—Messrs Garret Wilson (foreman), A. O'Leary, J. W. Boon, W. McDonald, E*;.Jackson, and E. G. hosier. Mr S. Spence watched the proceedings on behalf of .Ah, Newton King. The first witness was a youth, Norman Patrick Curd, who stated that at the time of the accident he was with two companions walking up Fenton Street in the direction of the town. He noticed a..cart near the Orlando Street corner going in he same direction. He could just distinguish the outline of the ■ drum’, who appeared to he standing,, and was carrying a lantern in bis hand. As the cart passed him, travelling on the loft side of the road, he heard the motor cycle coming in the opposite direction. The cycle seemed to lie going at .a fair rate, although lie could not see it, hut,.lie judged by die explosions of the engine. He

also heard the sound of the collision, and at once went over to the scene. Witness found the cycle wedged in between the body of the cart and the right wheel. .The injured man was lying on the right, wheel track. Witness helped to shift him .to the side of the road, and awaited medical assistance. The only remark the injured man made was to inquire what he had run into. A man,named Murray went for the assistance. To a Juryman's He thought he card a warning cry just before the ollision. ’ M »■ M To the Coroner: The motor cycle arried no lamp. Reginald Curd, nephew of the preious witness, and a ■ school-boy raiding with his parents in h enton treet, gave corroborative evidence xcept in the detail that he had heard o warning cry. Philip James, licensed carrier, livig at Stratford, deposed to having driven along, Street at about <i.3o on Saturday night. He was going towards Broadway, and was driving in the centre, the road. He was carrying a socket lamp undei Ids arm. The horse was going at a jog. trot. Witness saw the approaching inotpr cycle without a light about a chain distant. It was well oh its

;roper side of the road then, 'but on etting nearer it .seemed to go more o the centre. Witness tried' to pull

~is horse out of way in order to leave plenty of room to pass. He .bought,the travelling very fast, nrijd he jias tfoi much. titne to lo .anything, • q'He ,'tjUcT not remqmher singing,: out untU ;ge' ( collision. J. The hiah .on the ,q,vpT$ Vl struck the point ; f the shaft, and was knocked on his back. Witness pulled up at once, and called to some men who were passing. He'then went up to Fitzgerald’s Hotel to summon a doctor.

To a Juryman: Bell never spoke after the. .pccidf&Jdyj.j*, huilu-.I V, Another,. Juryman; ( “Do you, think lie position of your ' light woiijd loacl Bell to believe that he had plenty of .roqm to pass i} fso> 1 don’t, believe l.e ever saw it.

In answer to another question by ,ie jury, witness stated that the light ,-as quite clear, and was not obscured ■v his coat.

Sergeant McXeely stated that after

he man had been taken to the bosjital he examined the spot where the collision occurred._ It was marked by a,pool of blood. The nearest street light, at the corner of Orlando Street, was forty-five yards distant. The netalled portion of the road was over 17ft wide at this point. The pool of blood was mine feet from the left side of the road facing down Fenton Street, thus proving that he cyclist must have had plenty of room to pass. He found blood on the right shaft of the cart. In the cab on the wav to the hospital Bell asked what

had done it ,and upon being told, said: “It’s my fault. I had no light.”

Dr Carbery deposed to being in atittendance on deceased shortly after rhe accident. Deceased had a very large penetrating wound on the right side of the chest, and was suffering severely from shock.. Dr Steven administered morphia* and the; vjetim was removed to the hospital, wlfcie, lie received surgical treatment undpi i n anaesthetic. Examination reveal'd an extensive laceration of the lung. '■'When seen by witness on Sunday night Bell was still suffering from shock, and died at 7.45 that night. The cause of death was shock, the direct result of-the injuries received at the accident.

To a Juryman : 1 am of opinion that leceased must have been travelling it a rate or speed exceeding fifteen miles an hour judging by the injuries which he suffered. The Jury, after a short retirement, brought in a verdict of accidental floatb, no blame being attachable to nivnne.