ADJOURNED INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1918, Page 6

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

t—, » EAST END FATALITY. . ; The adjourned inquest into the eir cuinstanccs surrounding the death o: John Wm. Taylor, of Warea, who dia in tho New Plymouth hospital on Tucs day, February 10, from injuries receive* while bathing in the river lit the Easi End Reserve on Sunday, 17th inst., wa; resumed at the courthouse, Xew Ply mouth, yesterday morning, before thi district coroner (Mr- A. C'rooke, S.jfr) Sergeant Trchey represented the polite Frederick L. Parker, carpenter) Pit/, roy, deposed to ibeing at the East Eik Reserve between 0 and 10 a.m. on th< 17th inst. lie saw deceased dive froir the small row of sand-bag; into- tin water, and when he came to the surface he rubbed his head with hie hands, Mid witness concluded he had struck hif head,' Witness did not hear deceased make any reamrk. There was only oni other person besides witness and de ceased present at tho time. Deemed swam across the stream and mounted the ladder leading up to the Spring board. He then walked along the spring board and seemed to be trying the spring of tho board for nearly ten minutes. Ht then turned Tound and faced the aea aM dived straight down off the corner oi the springboard. He reappeared, head downwards, and bubbles began to rise on the water. Witness said to his e<jm panion (Mr. Cross) that deceased was drowning. He then threw off his coal and swam to the deceased and carried him to, the Fitzroy bank of the river, They rubbed him and lie came to and said two or three times that he was all right- He was then carried across to tile pavilion, and witness tried 'to get n doctor, but could not. Thev rang up the hospital and got the ambulance sent down, and deceased was, taken to the hospital. He was then quite, con«cioiin, Tiie spring-board would be.jibuUt bis feet from the surface of the' water. Where deceased dived in tlieje would he about 3ft- or 4ft. of water. .'Deceased could not stand when he was taken Out of the water- He complained that his arm was feeling numb. Joseph Cross, painter, Leach Street, New Plymouth, gave corroborative evidence. He said he examined the bottom of tho river at both places where deceased dived in and it was perfectly smooth hard sand. The depth of water at the sand-bags would he abbut 18 incites- It was quite unusual for anyone tii dive from that position. ~ The Coroner: He could not ftave known the locality. Witness: I understand he knew the locality, but had not been bathingthere for some time. Matilda Phipps Taylor, wife of dereused, said they had been spending a holiday with their daughter at New Plymouth. Deceased left home about 9 it.ni. on the diiy of the accident, with the intention of going to the EiistEnd for is .swiui She did not think he had ever been there to swim before. She next saw him at the hospital, when he said lie had dived off the spring-board, but tlie water was too shallow. He was always a good swimmer and diver, but lie had not been swimming for some time. He was Strang and in good hwlth. The inqueßt was further adjourhed Until the evidence of the ined'eal superintendent of the hospital ctiukl be obtained, he having been called awav on urgent business. l)r. Walki-r. medical superintendent of the Xew Plymouth liosaitiil, deposed that deceased was admitted to the hospital at 10 a.m. on the 17th ia«t. He v.iis a'uMihi'.ely paralysed in both legs l! 1 '■ had lost control of the lower portions of the body. His right ann was partially paralysed. An X-ray examination showed injury to the? 4th and sth cervical verte-hrae. He died about 2 a.m. on the iiitli. Death was due to iaihire of the heart and circulation, due to spinal haemorrhage and fractureDivinz from a height Into shallow water would explain the injury. The coroner's verdict was in accordance with the medical testimony. JX)Y THROWN PROM A POXY, The inquiry concerning the death of Roy f'amucl Kmickev, who died in the New Plymouth hospital on Wednesday, February 20, from injuries received through falling from a pony at Waitara on Tuesday, 19th inst., was continued at the courthouse. New Plymouth, yesterday morning. Mary Jano Knuckey, mother of the deceased, said he went on the afternoon of the accident, to get a calf in from the paddock. She warned him to be careful, as he often rode fast- She saw him go to the washhonse and get the stock-whip. She was then inside and heard, the pony move away, and or opening the pantry window to look out saw deceased lying on the ground and the pony a little distanec away. She run to help him and found him lyinf face downwards. She carried him in'am bathed his 'head with cold water. There was no mark on him at all, She believed the pony must have fallen or deceased. .Marks on the ground showet that the pony had fallen, and deceased's hat was covered with hair from the pony. He was riding without a saddle on the pony. He had been riding the pony for several years. She did not know that lie had ever had an accident before. He never regained ponsciousness Dr. Walked deposed that deceased was admitted to the New Plymouth hospita at G. 30 p.m. on February 19. He' was unconscious, but struggled when an attempt was made to examine him. There were no marks of external injury, bul the unconsciousness and restlessness pointed to laceration of the brain substance. He died at 12.55 a.m. on the 20th inst. The cause of death was heart failure resulting from concussion and brain laceration. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.