DEATH OF JOHN SKINNER.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1917, Page 7

DEATH OF JOHN SKINNER.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST, The adjourned inquest into the circuih-1 1 attending the death of the late John Skinner, on the BuHs-Turakina load, on December 19, was resumed l at the Marton Courthouse on Thursday morning. Mr. J. J. McDonald (coroner) conducted the inquiry; Df. J, M. Warren, medical practitioner, stated that 'he examined the body of the deceased. He> did not external injuries, hut the face, head, and neck were of a dark blue color. He had evidently sustained a fracture at the ibase of the skull. There was evidence that something must have caused .pressure on his throat and chest, as the blueness of the face indicated suffocation. The fracture was sufficient to cause death.

Kenneth Cyril Webster, Sutton's representative for the North Island, deposed that on the lfith the deceased left Hawera with him to proceed to Palmerston North. On the Bulls road, while going up the hill towards Mr. Lethbridge's property, when nearing the top of the bill, after rounding the last bend, he saw another motor car approaching. He got on to his right side of the road, but when within eight or ten yards of the approaching; car be realised that he had still further to go to his left owing to the approaching car continuing on the centre of the road. His front wheel evidently went over a small rut or bank. His car seemed to continue for a njoment or two without answering the steering gear, and finally capsized. \ Had room hoeh left him his left wheel would never have been near the rut. He found himself lying on top of Mr. Skinner, with the car holding them down. He called for help and Mr. Lethbridge's son was the first to come to their assistance, with others soon afterwards. With the assistance of jacks they, were then extricated. Mr. Skinner was then dead. Immediately after they were capsized Mr. Skinner said, "We are in a fix, Ken. (let help." That w% all he said. They tee probably half an hour under the car. Witness was held down by a weight on his chest. After medical examination it was found that he had his collar-hone broken. He was travelling at the rate of about 15 to 20 miles when the accident occurred, and his gears were in at the top. He did not know who were the occupants of the other car, but ho thought it was of a creamy green color. It was running at about 15 to 10 miles an kour, and probably the occupants*)f the car' did not know of the accident, as he did not touohgijbo car. After the accir dent he examined the roadway and saw marks, which he believed to have been made by the passing' ear, about eight feet fromnthe edge of the bank, which gave him very little room to spare. Harry Yates Lethbridge, farmer, of Turakina, stated that ho heard a crash', as of a car falling, and noticed a car upside down against the fence and heard someone calling for help. He got assistance and proceeded to the scene of the accident. Mr. Webster was completely under the car, with the exception of his face, which was outside the edge of the car. Mr. Skinner was lying with most of his body outside the car. Shortly after hearing the crash he h <ard a ear going down the hill. After t-iey got the car raised and the occupants out, he examined the road, and found Mr. Webster's marks well on the outside of the road till he went over the bank. There . were so many marks on the road that one could not be certain as to which were those of the passing car. He paced the road and found that where the accident happened it was about 18 feet wide. To give a fair chance for cars to pass -there in safety the car on the inside would havafts inside wheel in the watertalle. There were no recent' marks in the watertable on this occasion.

Constable Sweeney stated that in response to a telephone message he went to the of the accident. The deceased, John Skinner, was dead. He made inquiries for the driver of theother car,.hut so far without success. i Quite a number of cars travelled along jthp.t road on the afternoon of the 39th. The coronee returned the following verdict: "That tho deceased, John Skin,nor, was lulled on the Bulls-Turakina road ou ' lie afternoon of December 19, through injuries received bv the overturning of a motor ear, of which doceased was an occupant I The coroner added the following rider: "That tho attention of the Eangitikei County Council Hb called to the fact that the roadway oil this' particular hill is considered too narrow for motor traffic"