SOUTH ROAD MOTOR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1918, Page 3

SOUTH ROAD MOTOR FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. The inquest touching the circumstances surrounding the death of Tom Henry Morgan, which occurred on the 24th instant, was resumed at the Hawera Courthouse yesterday, before the coroner (Mr. W. R. Haselden, S.M.). Mr. P. O'Dea appeared on behalf of O'Donnell and Mr. Etherington for Mrs. Morgan and family. Dr. Sloan deposed that he arrived on the scene of the accident at about 5.45 p.m., and found Morgan lying on a stretcher at the roadside, There was just life in him. He had Morgan removed to his home, but death had taken place before witness's arrival at the house. Both legs were broken above the knee, and there were punctured wounds on both legs. The lower jaw was broken on the right side. There was a wound on the left side of the neck, and all the tissues were cut down. There were minor (not deep) wounds on the whole of the scalp, as if deceased had been dragged. The hands and arms were also torn a little. There was also an extensive wound on the back of the right hand. All the ribs on the left side from the fourth downwards were detached from the breastbone.

The Coroner: What would you say was the cause of death? .

Witness: A severe shock, accelerated by the loss of blood. The old man must have had wonderful vitality, or he would have died sooner than he did. The injuries would be consistent with a motorcar accident.

To Mr. O'Dea: Deceased appeared to have been struck straight on. Mr. O'Dea: He was wheeling a cart. Would it have been possible for the cart to have been struck, and then for it to have Btruck him?

Witness: No, I don't think so. The cart could have been hit as well as deceased.

To Mr. O'Dea: He examined the head, and was certain that deceased had been dragged.

To Mr. Etherington: Could not say how far lie was dragged; probably three to four feet. From the nature of the injuries he would judge that the wheel of the ear went over the body, and in so doing pushed it along the ground some three or four feet. He did not think the injuries could have been caused by being hit by the wheel of the car and thrown some distance.

The coroner: Do you think a car travelling at 15 or 1(1 miles an hour and striking a man could inflict such injuries? AVitness thought the car must have been going faster. He did not think the lamp of the car could inflict such injuries.

Constable Nuttall deposed that some yards on the Hawera side of where the body was lying there was a splash of milk on the asphalt. He examined the road, but could find no trace of recent motor-car wheel marks on the asphalt. On Thursday he took measurements, and found that the body was lying 130 yards from the corner of the Waihi Koad. The body was lying 42 feet towards Manaia from where the milk was splashed on the road. The width of the asphalt at i that part was 11 feet; on the right hand | side, towards Manaia, there was five feet of macadam road alongside the asphalt, and alongside this waa seven feet of sand and earth, and from that to the fence was about 18 feet of grass. Where the body was lying on the stretcher was a heap of horse manure, and alongside this was blood. From where the mifk stains were to this blood stain there were no signs of any recent motor-car wheel marks, or sign of anything having been dragged along the road between these two points. He made his examinations on the morning after the accident. On the night of the accident he could sec no recent marks. About 2 p.m. on the 25th Mr. James O'Donnell, accompanied by Mr. P. O'Dea, came to the Hawera Police Station. Mr. O'Dea said that Mr. O'Donnell had come to leave himself in the hands of the police, and was prepared to tell all he knew about the accident. Mr'. O'Donnell made the following statement, which was written by Mr. O'Dea, in witness's presence, and signed by O'Donnell: "I, James O'Donnell, of Inahaj state as follows: (1) I lit my lamps about 5.30 on the Lake Road. I was going at 16 miles an hour. The car was recently overhauled; had been in the garage yesterday. While going along the South Road on the left, near Budge's corner, towards Manaia, it was getting dark; getting on for six. I saw a dark object on the side of the road, which I took for a broken-down motor bike, on the left-hand side. I kept straight on, and just as I got opposite the object a man walked straight across the lights. I was very close to him—right across the front of the ear. I swerved to avoid him to the seaward side. I felt no bumps, but thought the corner of the mudguard had sheered him off. I was going at sixteen miles an hour. I lpoked round, heard nothing, and thought everything was all right. I went home. The lights were all rightacetylene lights. Turned lights off when I got home. After dinner, looked round the ear, and found the bracket on the driver's side pushed back about 2£ inches and glass broken. I got a shock in the morning when I read the morning's paper. I noticed spots of milk on the car I was by myself. I did not notice any boy on the road. I thought at the time that the man was not old. I thought he had a coat on. I came to town, visited Goodson's sale, and bought cows. 1 make this statement voluntarily, and I leave myself in the hands of the police" Continuing, Constable Nuttall said that soon after the statement was made he examined the car, which was an oldfashioned Daimler. The off-side lamp and bracket were missing from the car Mr. O'Donnell having taken them off in the morning, and left them in a shed. On the left side of the radiator van a recent scratch. Two bolts were missing out of the number plate. The off-side-bolt hi the number plate had been biv.tsed mto the radiator. All the injuries •appeared-to be recent. A dent ia eue

of the headlights corresponded with the scratch on the radiator. To the coroner: He did not know who put the body on the stretcher. Did not see any milk splashes on the car. Did not see any blood stains on the wheels of tho car. The car did not appear to have been recently washed.

To Mr. O'Dea: Only examined the road 55 feet back towards Hawera, where the accident occurred. Could not say where the go-cart was found. The handles were lying in the grass on the same side of the road as deceased. He considered that tho deceased had been struck at an angle. Alongside the stretcher on the soil were blood marks where the body had lain. Host of the spilled milk was on the left side coming towards Hawera, and extended to well across the centre of the road. Knew deceased well, and had met him on the footpath with tho go-cart. It had always been in the day-time when he saw him. Did not see any glass on the road. Did not detect any signs of dragging. It was about ten minutes past twelve when Mr. O'Donnell gave himself up to the police. The motor ear was now in the hands of the police, but had not tried whether it was in working order. Mr. O'lfemnell was quite prepared to answer any questions put to him at the police station. To .Mr. Etherington: The night was fine when the accident occurred, with the ground slightly damp. If there had been any marks on the road he would have been certain to have seen them. To Mr. O'Dea: He had not heard of anyone being struck with motor cars in the same vicinity. Huia George Sheppard Smith, aged 14 years, deposed that he was a grandson of deceased; and resided with his grandparents at Wilson Street, Hawera. On Wednesday, July 24 he had been with his grandfather in the evening milking the cows in Buchanan's paddock, a quarter of a mile from Disraeli Street. The paddock was on the left hand side going towards Manaia. They finished milking about a quarter to six. When they left the paddock he and his grandfather were together. Witness had a bicycle, and his grandfather was pushing a little cart, in which was a bucket containing milk. ,They would be about 15 yards from Buchanan's gate when they crossed on to the road. Witness was riding his bicycle ahead of his grandfather. When about 150 yards on the town side of the Waihi Road he looked back and saw his grandfather on the left-hand side of the road. When he first saw the car coming, he (witness) was nearer Vogel Street than Waihi Road. • The car was then passing lArgyle Street. He watched it coming. The car zig-zagged three or four times crossing from Argyle Street. It had two headlights burning. When the car passed him he looked back, and saw his grandfather near Mr. Stanner's gate on the South Road. He could see him clearly with the lights of the. car. His "randfather was on his left-hand side of the road. The lights of the motor-car were shining on his grandfather. After passing him (witness) the car crossed to the right-hand side of the road. He heard a crash, but the view was stopped by the car getting in front of him. The ear was going about as fast as the express tram. There was no light on the go-cart He had accompanied his grandfather when going to milk, for about 24 years His grandfather's practice after crossing from Buchanan's was not to cross the road again. After hearing the crash he ran back and found the go-cart at Buchanan's gate, and his grandfather was ten yards further away. Tho handles of the cart were broken off, and the wheels on the loft side were buckled. The cart was still standing on its wheels, and the bucket in the cart. About a quart of milk.was left in the bucket, out of two gallons. He went on from the cart and found his grandfather on the gravel portion.on.the right hand side going to Manaia, He spoke to him, but he did not reply Witness ran and told Mr. Canty He did not move the go-cart. His grandfather was 73 years of age, and was active.

To the Coroner: The car swerved to the left after the crash.

To Mr. O'Dea: The car was goin<r very fast. Ho was with hjs grandfather the night before the accident, but did not remember a car nearly running over him. Ho was not told to look after his grandfather. When the car passed him it would be about three yards' from him The car did not go off the asphalt when it swerved, When coming out ot Buchanan's gate he left his grandfather on the road. He could hardly see his grandfather when he was 130 yards ahead of Mm. He could just see the outline.

To the Coroner: He told his "randmother about the accident. To Mr. Etherington: The lights on the car were good bright ones. There was no tail light on the car. When he saw his grandfather on the road he was not crossing the road.

Richard Canty and Thomas C. Hobbs also gave evidence, the latter stating that he was the first to reach deceased, who was bleeding very much, also that he never knew him to carry a light. James Faulknor Murray, deposed that on July 24 ho was at the scene of the accident. He had come from the direction of Manaia. He was driving six cows, and met the last ear near Mr. Welsh's house. Tho last car had one light; could not say which side it was on. He and the cattle were pretty well on tho asphalt. The car was travelling pretty fast and did not cheek its,pace when passing him. The pace would be about thirty milea an 'hour. He considered the car passed the cattle too fast. About a quarter of an hour elapsed from the passing of the car_ until he'reached the scene of the accident. He passed one or two cars previously, and in each case they eased up their pace when passing him. Did not see who was driving the car that had one light. Thought there was a person in the back seat, but was not sure.

Frederick Cyril Purser, motor mechanic, Hawera, deposed that on July 24 he stopped on the Waingongoro hill at about 5.50 p.m., repairing a bicycle. He noticed two or three cars passing, more particularly one with one light going towards Manaia. At a bend in the road near the bridge the car did not slacken its speed. Witness was right at the bend in the road. He recognised the car as Mr. O'Donnell's, but did not recognise the driver. It was a Daimler car. There was only one man in the car, which was travelling very fast when jit passed him. The speed was too excessive for the bend in the road; he thought the driver must be in a hurry. The light was on the left side of the car. When taking the hill the car increased its speed at the bottom.

To Mr. O'Dea: When going up the hill the speed gear was changed. It was not dark; the moon was up. He was positive that it was O'Donnell's car. The driver of the car was sitting well down and he could not recognise him. JConld not say what kind of coat the had on. Recognised the car -outI aide the courthouse that day. This concluded the evidence.

The Coroner asked O'DonneU-.^lwt!