INQUEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1920, Page 4

INQUEST.

A FATAL ACCIDENT. YOU .NT! FARMERS' DEATH. At the New Plymouth Court on Saturday, an inquest was held bv Mr T. A. B. Bailey (coroner), concerning the death of a young farmer, Jol.n Thomas Cook, who succumbed at the New Plymouth tal'on Wednesday from injuries receivod in a gig accident the previous Friday. .lames McPhec, laborer, of Oaonui, said that at 12.30 p.m. on the Bth inst. he was working at the store, when his attention was drawn to a horse 1 and gig galloping down tin? Kina road with no driver. ( He noticed that the left rein was broken at the ring of the liames. Witness followed up and caught, the horse about eight chains further on, where the gig lind capsized. Accompanied by Mr. Reynolds he went up the road in 'Reynolds' car, and came to the deceased lying on the road, about thirteen chains from his home. Cook was in a semi-conscious condition, but recovered a little. He said he was paralysed, and later told them that the horse had played up. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent of New Plymouth Hospital, said that Cook was admitted to the hospital at 5.30 p.m. on (he Stli. lie was suffering from shock and paralysis of the arms, legs and muscles of the trunk and abdomen. Cook gradually sank, and succumbed suddenly of respiratory paralysis at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The verdict, was in accordance with the medical testimony.