CORONER'S INQUEST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3625, 27 September 1890, Page 2

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Vordiot of Accidental Death. An inquest touching the death of the child James Phillips was held in the old Courthouse yesterday afternoon, Coroner Roberts presiding. A jury, of whom Mr C A Pinkerton was chosen foreman, was empanelled and proceeded to view tho body of the deceased. Harriet Phillips, sworn, stated she was mother of the deceased, whom she saw alive about 5.25 on Thursday, evening for . the last time, At that time he walked out of the house at the back way. Followed him and called him. Did not see the cart pass over the child, About throe minutes elapsed between the time he ran out and was brought back dead. Believed the doctor was immediately sent for, Dr S. F. Beard deposed to being called toMrsPhillipa' place on Thurs-

day evening about tenininu teß past five. Ho was told that a childhad been run over; On. arrival he found the dead

body of a male child about two yean of age, Examined the body ant found it very little bruised. Ther was an abrasion about four inche

long on the outer part of the left fore-arm, and a few small bruises about the legs, which he thought were a few days old, Discovered no fracture of bonos iu the body. There was an oozing of blood from the

nostrils and the body was warm. Thought the cart had passed onto the child's chest and then fallen back. There was no fraoturo of any kind, and death must have resulted from the rupture of an internal organ. • A, E. D'Arcy, lawyer's clerk, deposed that he was in the vicinity of Mr Phillips' house shortly after fiye on Thursday evening, He observed at {hat tirno a trap ooming along in whioh thoro were threo persons. When he first saw the child the trap was about ten yards distant. The horse was going at an ordinary trotting pace. From all appttttances he would not think tllo driver of the cart saw the child. • The child was knocked dovfp hy the horse and the right wheel of the cart passed over its body. Mr Eobiuson picked up the child, whioh died a few minutes after being carried inside. He thought the affair was purely accidental, and there was no carelessness on the part of the driver, who pulled up after going a few yards. John James Boagey, saddler,

deposed that he was driving in a spring trap along Queen-street on

Thursday evening in oompany with a IMr Robinson and Mr Rigg, They were going towards Kuripuni, 'First

saw the deceased on the centre of the road about two yards frpm th? hprso, Bulled tho horse to! one side in order to avoid running oyer the' child. The child oloared tho horse, but some part of the vehicle must hav9 struck it, Thought tho child was too far away for the wheel to pass over it, Did not feel a jolt. Was driving at a very moderate pace at the time. Pulled up as quickly as he possibly could. He could not say v/hero the child came from; it. was running across the road, towards the creek. Richard Robinson, carpenter, stated he was in the cart with tho last witness at the time of the accident, Mr Boagey was driving at a moderate pace. Saw the deceased in the street about two or three yards from the part. He.was running towards the creek, He made no effort to gpt out of the road' of tho vehicle. Thought some part of tho yehiplo must havo struck lip Believed the wheel passed over him as he was sitting on that side of the carl, and felt a considerable jolt. There was no carelessness iu the driving of the horse. W. M. Easthope, clerk to Chamberlain Bros, stated that he knew the deceased,, tjip father of whom was employed by the same firm as himself. He was at the baker's shop about five o'clock on Thursday evening, at which hour he saw the deceased alive. Heard the mother pall him, Saw the cart ooming and nodded to the occupants. | The horse was going .at an ordinary trot. Looked round from the street and saw the child lying in the road about a yard from the cart, the wheel of which had evidently passed over hun. One of the men was in the act of lifting the., child from the road. Rushed across and carried the child imo'lue house. There was theu a mark of dust across its 'brgasi. Sent aiyay for the doctor 'immediately. %' child was insensible when he tptjlf it/and'live.d for about a Quarter pf an hour after the accident. After a short retirement the jury

returned a verdiot that deceased'mdt his death by accident on Septembor 25th, no blame being attachable to anyone.