THE LATE MR A. G. COX.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2540, 10 August 1893, Page 2

THE LATE MR A. G. COX.

IXQUEST,

An inquost touching the death of Arthur (iladstone Cox was held at the Courthouse, Temuka, on Tuesday, before 0. A. Wray, K £ ,q., coroner, and Messrs T. Dignan, W. T. Hook, E. C. Dann, A. W. Gaze, J. W. Miles, and T. Herbert, jurymen. Mr Dignan was chosen foreman. Tho jury having viowed the body, the following evidence was taken :

Alexander So >tt, stock-dealer, residing at Temuka, stated that he accompanied tho deceased to Geraldine, leaving Temuka on Wednesday, the 2nd, at about twenty minutes past eight. They went in Mr Cox's gig, driving a young horse, pa.tly broken. Had a slight dilliculty in getting away from Temuka, owing to the horse being fidgetty. The horse wont fairly well, and w;ts not more restive than young horses usually are. After they had gone about nine miles, the horse travelling fairly well, someone rode by on horseback at a trot, and startled tha horse slightly, Deceased was driving, and had per'feot control of the horse. After the horseman passed, the horse deceased was driving immediately began to plunge, and kicked the bar of the trap. Being a powerful horse, and well strapped into the gig—which was a heavy one, used for breaking purposes—every motion of bucking and. kicking seemed, to lift ths

trap off the ground bodily. The horse got his head down and the driver had no power over him. The horse attempted to bolt, but did not get much way ou. As the trap came down after one of the plunges, witness was pitched out on the left side of the road, and he believed deceased must have been pitched out about the same time. After witness fell, he believed the wheel passed over his thigh, as he felt a shock. He was slightly dazed, but got up in less than a minute and noticed the horse galloping up the road in front of him Saw deceased lying on the opposite side of the road, a little on his left side, face upwards. Went to where deceased had fallen. He was moaning, and the left side of his head and the collar of his coat were deluged in blood, and there was a pool of blood in the road. Blood was issuing from his left ear, and he was quite unconscious. The man who had ridden past, pulled up, returned, got off his horse, and asked what he should do. Sent him to Geraldine to. Dr Pish. About five minuces afterwards a boy rode along, and witness sent him to Mr McKenzie's for a conveyance. About a quarter of an hour afterwards a trap came from Geraldine, and Dr Fish arrived at the same time. Deceased was conveyed to Mr McKenzie's, where Dr Fish examined him and remained with him until he (witness) went to Geraldine and brought back an express with mattresses, and deceased was then removed to Temuka and admitted to Dr Hayes' hospital. He never spoke or became conscious. The horse had only had winkers on twice before, and in witness' opinion he was frightened at seeing the other horse in front of him. The accident happened within a few yards of the place where the horse started bucking. Nothing could have been done to avert the accident. Deceased must have been thrown out very suddenly, or he would probably hive held to the reins. The whole thiug did not take half a minute. They did not leave the trap at any time. Had driven about nine miles in the hour.

John Shaw Hayes, a duly qualified medical practitioner residing at Temuka : On Wednesday morning received a telegram from Mr Scott, stating that deceased was very seriously injured, and that he was- coming down to the hospital. Got things ready to recive him, and he arrived about twelve. On examination found that he had received a fracture of the base of the skull. There were no external marks of wouuds or violence on the outside of the head, except that blood was issuing from the left ear. The only mark of any violence was on the left hip, where tttere was a severe bruise. The fracture probably occurred from the violence of the concussion when deceased fell to the ground. He was quite unconscious when he arrived. Towards the next day the discharge of blood almost ceased, but a watery discharge of brain fluid continued. He rallied considerably and was in a semiconscious state. Oil Friday afternoon he spoke and said something like " get back " twice. The symptoms rather improved until Friday evening, when a change took place. Witness went to see him between 12 and 1 on Friday night, when he could see a change had set in for the worse, which continued until his death on Monday morning at about 3 o'clock. Death was due to fracture of the base of the skull, followed by inflammation. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." THE FUNERAL. The funeral of the late Mr A.. G. Cox took place yesterday, and the esteem in which the deceased was held, aud the sympathy felt for his family was evinced by the large attendance. Throughout Tuesday and from an early hour on Wednesday the hospital was visited by numbers of the friends of the deceased, anxious to take a last look at his remains. Wreaths and other floral tributes wore sent by Mrs Ross, and Mrs Jiuckney (deceased's sisters'), other members of the family, his bachelor friends, Messrs Clinch and West, Mr S. F. Smithson, Mr H. LeCren, Mrs G. Barrett, Misses Gaffaney, Mrs and Miss Gaze, Miss Nicholas, Mrs Burnett, Mrs P. and Miss Wareing, Misses Patersou, Miss Macphersou, Nurse Waymonth, Mrs Cutten, Miss Turner (Christchurch), Mr Wynn Williams, Mr Pearpoint, Mrs McDonald, and one from Ohunga (aunonymous). At the hour appointed, half-past two o'clock, the road was thronged with vehicles, horsemen, and foot passengers, among them being members of tho principal families in South Canterbury, and representatives of the South Canterbury Hunt Club, the South Canterbury Jockey Club, the Geraldine Racing Club, together with a few of his former fellow students from Christ's College, and the principal business men of the district. Mr C. Wynn Williams, the master of hounds, sent his hunter. The pall bearers were Messrs C. Kingsley, J. Mee, B. Tripp, E. Guinness, F. B. Early, J. Grigg, W. Hook, and A. Scott. Mr Alfred Cox, the chief mourner, was supported by his sons-in-law, Messrs F. Barker and R. Pinckney. The service at the Church was most impres3ively onducted by the Revs. Gillam aud Butterfield. At the close of the preliminary service the cortege was re-formed, and the body conveyed to the cemetery. All the business places were closed, aud the procession, consisting of 84 carriages, 51 horseman, and a number of foot passengers, made a very imposing appearance. At the cemetery a number of people had already assembled, and probably nearly 409 persons were present a,t the conclusion of the service. An affecting incident the conduct of deceased's dog, which followed immediately behind the, hearso, and stood by the side of tho grave until the close of the ceremony, when it had to be removed,