INQUEST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1519, 30 November 1886, Page 3

INQUEST.

Mrs Westropp, the unfortunate lady who was ihrown out of a buggy at Geraldine on Friday last, died the same evening, shortly before 10 o'clock. Ad inquest was held upon the body at the Courthouse, Geraldine, on Saturday evening at eight o’clock before H. C. S. Baddeley, Esq., coroner, and the following jury : -J. 0. Meek, W. D. R. Lawson, M. Connolly, S. Baxter, A, Fisher, and H. N. "Hiskens. Mr Meek was chosen foreman. The jury haying viewed the body, the following evidence was taken ; George William Westropp identified the body as that of bis wife Anne, Mary Josephine Westropp. Thomas Finch, deposed: I am the Postmaster stationed at Geraldine. On Friday the 26th I happened to be in the office at 1.10 p.m., and heard a horse rush away. On going out I saw the conveyance Mrs Westropp was in near the Town Board Office, the horse going very rapidly. It shied to the left when Mrs Westropp tumbled out. I ran over, and a Mrs Boss well came np about the same time. Mrs Boswell undid Mrs Westropp’a necktie, and took off her gloves. We then raised her up and gave her some support until she was carried away. Blood was running very fast from her mouth, and the back of her head. 1 believe it was owing to the blinkers being off that the horse ran away. When I saw the horse the blinkers were off. It must have shaken them off, as there was bo throat strap on. Robert Fish deposed : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Geraldine. On the afternoon of Friday, 26th I was returning from Peel Forest. Just’this side of the Orari Bridge a igap with a baggy informed me that there had been a serious accident at Geraldine, and I was wanted as soon as possible. I came on at once and saw Mrs Westropp

iyi-K tin police residence. She was suffeii g from the effects of veiy severe injuries. She hadj) a severe cut at the back of her head, the lower jaw was very much swollen and bruised. We found out subsequently that it was fractured. The sk.n about the neck and chest was good deal distended from a condition which medical men call emphysema, which was cause by severe internal injury about the lungs. 1 remained with her for some hours with Dr Hayes who had also bean summoned from Temuka. We did everything that could be done, I was not there at th# time of her death. I was compelled to go away for a short time and she died a few minutes before I arrived back. All the injuries were very serious, but I consider the immediate cause of death was the internal injury. She died about twenty minutes to ten p.m, The jury without retiring, returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” n» blame being attributable to anyone.