THE FATAL ACCIDENT A T HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2793, 7 June 1890, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENT A T HAMILTON.

THE INQUEST. The inquest on the late Mr .George Edmonds was held at his lute residence, Olaudeland.s, on Thursday, at 10 a.m., before \V. N. Searancko, Esq., coroner. The jury was composed of Messrs Ridlcr (foreman), Smith, Kelly, Odium, Pearson and Tristram. P. LeQuesne, proprietor of the Waikato Hotel, deposed that the de.ceased camo to the Waikato Hotel about six o'clock on Tuesday evening to get some fish he had left there early iu the afternoon. He was there fur about an hour, and then witness, after tying the fish on his saddle, saw deceased ride down the road as if to go home. About five minutes afterwards the Salvation Army came and started their worship and singing under the gum tree near his house. Deceased must have heard them, for he came back to them and remained there tor some time on his horse, and at last got off his horse and joined in with the crowd. When the Army had finished and went away, deceased followed in the crowd, leading his horse behind him. Witness saw no more of him until he was carried into the hotel about a quarter of an hour afterwards in an insensible condition. Deceased was taken in and put on a sofa, and witness sponged his face until Dr. Alurch arrived. The doctor came in about half-an-hour and examined deceased, witness being present all the time. The doctor did not say that the deceased was seriously injured, or that he considered his life in danger. His wife came up in a buggy and took deceased home about 10 o'clock. Ho seemed quite conscious then, and helped himself in walking, and answered questions. This was the last he saw of deceased until he saw the body lying in the adjoining room, which he recognised as that of Ueorge Edmonds. James Bastable stated that on Tuesday evening he was in Hamilton Eist along wfch the crowd following the Salvation Army, and was standing in front of the Waiteato Hotel while the Army service was eoSig on. Deceased rode up to the ring from the direction of the hotel and got off his horse, and then joined in the ring still holding his horse. Witness then left the ring and went up to Mr Bell's and got his horse and afterwards saw deceased following the Army and still leading his horse opposite Mr Slade's house. He said to deceased "Come on, Mr Edmonds, mount and I will go home with you." In getting on his horse deceased fell over to the side and witness tried to pull him on again but could not. The horse moved on and then commoncod to pig jump, when deceased fell off. Deceased fell clear of the saddle and was not dragged, and fell on his head with his right arm stretched out. The horse did not kick or injure deceased iu any way. Witness saw two or three people rush out to where deceased lay and he went after the horse, following it right home as he could not catch it. He told Mrs Edmonds of the accident to her husband. Thos. Slade deposed : A little before 8 p.m. on Tuesday lie came out of his house to go over the river, but seeing the Salvation Army up the road he walked up on the right side ot the road to hear them. He saw deceased up there but was not speakmsr to him. When the Army left he followed them down the street. Deceased also followed the crowd, leading his horse. At the corner he turned round and saw deceased in the act of mounting his horse. He then walked on and after walking a few steps he heard the clatter of horse's feet and looking round he saw deceased lying on the ground and his horse galloping away. He was the first to reach deceased who was lying on his side with his head under him, and he turned him (deceased) over on to his back. He was insensible and was breathing very hard. Others then came over, and after assisting to carry deceased a little way he went and got Dr. Murch. About 10 o'clock witness assisted deceased into his trap and went home with him. Deceased was talking, but was not quite sensible, and he did not think him seriously injured. Dr Kenny deposed : He saw deceased at 12 o'clock on Tuesday night. He was delirious and showing slight symptoms at that time of concussion of the brain. He considered that his condition at that time was rather more the result of alcohol, but nevertheless he treated him for concussion of the brain and then returned home. He saw deceased again about 9.15 on Wednesday morning, and found that the symptoms of concussion were fully developed and the patient's life was in imminent danger. Deceased was never sensible, but very delirous and very wild. He prescribed with little effect. He was again called to see deceased and arrived about (1.30, but deceased had died about 10 minutes before he arrived. Death was due to contusion and laceration of the brain, caused by the fall, which tore away the brain from the membrance and bursting the blood vessels, causing internal hemmorage, which speedily caused death. A verdict of'' Accidental Death," caused by a fall from a horse, was returned.