CORONER'S INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1917, Page 6

CORONER'S INQUEST.

| FATAL FALL FROM A HORSE. I The adjourned inquest into the death of Thomas Or:-, who 'was thrown from a horse in St. Aubvn Street, New Plymouth, on Tuesday last, was held on Saturday morning, before Mr. A. Crooke, district coroner. Samson Roberts, -blacksmith, gav«. evidence that at 11.30 on Tuesday, Orr, who was employed by Mr. Newton King as a groom, -brought a young- horse to be shod for the first time. The shoeing was done in 35 minutes, indicating absence of vice in the horse. Witness took the bar down for deceased to take the horse out, saw him patting the horse on the neck, and did not see any more until almost immediately afterwards his attention was drawn to the accident 'by a lady, and he saw deceased being picked up near the corner. Orr was a most competent and careful horseman. He had ridden the horse down. To the coroner: The rattle of the shoes on the asphalt might have frightened the horse.

Harry Pelham, carpenter, said that, n Orr was in the act of mounting, the horse sprang forward and he did not get in the proper position in the saddle. The horse started pig-jumping, so that the rider could not get his right foot into the stirrup, and he was thrown on his left shoulder and head.

Mrs. Mary Elder, sister of the deceased man, deposed t'nit her brother was 56 years of age, born in County Armagh, Ireland, and had been a sober man all his life. He was married in Auckland in ISB9.

Dr. E. A. Walker, superintendent oi the New Plymouth hospital, gave- evidence as to the cause of death. The coroner returned a. verdict of accidental death.