A SAD FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 214, 17 February 1915, Page 3

A SAD FATALITY.

DEATH FROM CYCLE ACCIDENT. COLLISION* IX DEVON 'STREET. A bicyclP accident occurred in Devon street, New Plymouth, on .Monday afternoon, at about 1 o'clock, as the result of which a lad named Loenard Edward Jiullot, aired Hi years, the son of Eugene Isidore ISullot, of Mojairoa. died a .cw hours later. The lad was cycling down Devon street, and when near Yeale's store collided with Mrs. C. T. .Mills, who was crossing the road. X high wind was Wowing at the time. The lad, who just touched Mrs. Mills, was thrown heavily to the ground. Mrs. .Mills was uninjured. Tins boy was carried into Veale's store unconscious, and, after examination by Dr. McClcland, he was removed to his home. No serious complications were expected, but death supervened at 9 p.m. THE INQUEST. An inquest was hold at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon, before .Mr. A. Orooke, S.M. (Coroner). Sergeant liowden represented the polic'. Dr. McClcland depo " ■■'■ fa': he saw the deceased at 4."'< ;■■-. <.n Monday, lying unconscious in a room at the back of Yeale's shop in Devon street. On examination he found him to be sneering from concussion of the brain. There were no bones broken, nor any signs of a fractnred skull. There was a \ slight swelling over the left temple, Ilis breathing and his pulse were normalHe appeared to slightly regain consciousness, and then relapsed into unconsciousness. Witness ordered the lad to be taken home and put to bed. giving thin instructions necessary in such cases. He asked the father to ring hi n up about 7 p.m. The father did so, saying that the boy had once regained consciousness, and then appeared to have gone to sleep. Witness was called to a case in Molesworth street, and during his absence the father rang up inj»reat alarm. Witness belie Dt. Tilaekicv was sent-for, and on ...s arrival found the boy dead. In the opinion of witness death was due to a severe fall, which caused laceration of the brain substance, with subsequent hemorrhage. The injuries could have been received by a fall from a bicycle. I •Mrs. -Kate Emilv Mills, the wife of C. T. Mills, deposed that she was waUling across Devon street, from Webster's towards "Yeale's store, on

Monday afternoon, and when twotliirds of the way across the street a basket which witness was carrying was knocked out of her hand by someone on a"bicycl(. colliding with her. Witness did not hear or see anything till the boy was right in front of her. and as far as she could remember she had nut her hand up to shield her face. She did not remember anything until she saw the boy on the ground in front of 1 her. The liny was coming down the hill. Witness did not hear anyone enll ou4_ To tile Coroner: She did not have any time to see whether the boy tried to 1 avoid her or not. The occurrence was sn sodden. The wind was blowing at the time, and sh f . did not remember whether she lißd her head down or not. Witness went to the lad and lifted his head as lie lay on the ground, but he did not speak. John Mitchell, shop assistant at Veale's. deposed that he heard something clash outside the door. He looked out of tn" window, and saw someone lying on the street. A lady was near by, anil a bicycle was lying close by. On going out immediately he recognised the kid as Leonard liulkd. Th.. previous witness had raised the lad's head, and he was at once lifted up and taken into the back of the shop and the doctor telephoned for. The lad. to witness' knowledge, did not speak. "Eugene Isidoro Ilullot deposed thit he was the fatVor of the .deceased, Lfonard Kdward Tlullot. who was an apprentice to the engineering witli Mr. Elliott, in Silver street. He was Ifi years of age on the previous day. Witness deposed to being called to Veale's shop, and to removing the lad to his home in accordance with the doctor's instructions, which the carried out, but the; boy died about ,fl p.m. The boy was competent to ride a bicycle, and was a very careful rider. \*> Sergeant Tiowden stated that the police had made enquiries, but could not find anyone who had actually witnessed the accident. i A verdict of accidental death was [ returned.