THE MOTOR FATALITY

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIV, Issue 26, 20 April 1912, Page 7

THE MOTOR FATALITY

THE INQUEST ON FIELD, x NOBODY TO BLAME! An inquest touching the death of Percy R. Field, 28,wh0 was* struck by a motor car at Longburn on Wednesday night, and died next morning, was held at the Palnierston Courthouse yesterday, before Mr. A. D. Thomson, Coroner, and the following jury: W. C. Turner (foreman), F. M. Garner, H. M. Haycock, A. Levy, S. T. Hunt, M. Millar. L. S. Downes, statioumaster, Longburn, said deceased was clerk at the station. On Wednesday at 10.20 to 10.30 p.m. witness and Field were standing about 3-i feet from the left side of the road" facing Longburn from Palnierston way. Field was directly in front of Avitness with his back towards the direction the car approached from, and they did not see it until it was about 10 to .15 feet from them. The road Avas straight for about forty yards. The car had two lights but no headlight, and they were not bright. Witness called to Field to "Look out," and jumped clear, but the car struck Field, avlio had not time to move, and carried him some distance. Witness ran after him, and found Field stretched on. the side of the road unconscious. The car pulled up about 20 paces further on. Witness rung up Dr. Martin, avlio came within fifteen minutes. The occupants of the car assisted with the sufferer. Witness told thern they must have been travelling 25 to 30 miles an hour, but they said it was only ten. Deceased and Avitness Avere perfectly sober, and were perfectly sober, and were going home after their usual Avalk and chat. Dr. A. A. Martin deposed to linuing Field unconscious, bleeding freely from the nose, mouth and scalp. There A\ - as a long wound on the right side of the forehead, and a smaller one on the cheek. Took him to Nurse Iloby's hospital, but he never rallied and died about seven hours afterwards, Field was completely paralysed down the left side, and had bruises on both lower limbs and upper arms. The cause of death was shock caused through compound fracture of the base of the skull consistent with a motor car accident. To the jury: There Avas no evidence of Honor on deceased.

John 'William Miller, driver of the motor car, deposed that he left the Occidental Hotel with Finn, Aldrich, Nicholson, and "Wingate, taking the latter home to LongWrn in a 24-h.p. Ford. Had two oil lamps, but 1 didn't light the acetylene head lights as' he Has only going a short distance. It was dark, but calm, and he was driving very carefully on account of there being cyclists on the road without lights. At the approach of vehicles witness blew his horn, and also at each corner. On the way down to Longburn, after passing the railway station saw two or three men standing on the road. Slowed up because it was very dark there. The men were practically standing in the middle of the road. After leaving Wingate aboupt 100 yards past the railway crossing they started back for Pal-. mcrston. They went across the crossing at about four miles an hour and blew the horn. After passing two cyclists the car was doing between 8 and 12 miles an hour. The next thing he saw was one Wn run into the car and another run from it. Field ran into the car, was knocked down, <!nd the body of the car went over hi '; but not the wheels. They came on.•••' ;>■ men so suddenly that he had no tinib,to apply the break before the car knocked Field down. Stopped about 1J car lengths from Field. To the Coroner: It was possible to pull up in the car's length, but witness had never tried it himself. Continuing, witness said they all got out and. went to help deceased. The left side head light was damaged. Was burning kerosene, but would not use it if he were going a long distaneer o going at a high rate of speed. His lamps threw a light between 30 and 40 feet ahead. The horn wcmld be heard 100 yards away. He could not account for not seeing the men before the accident. The car party were perfectly sober. Constable G'ow deposed to visiting the scene of the accident just before 9 o'clock on Thursday 'morning, when Mr Downes pointed out the spot. The ear wheel mark showed that it ] had turned sharply to the left and j went within 5 feet of the grass. The road was perfectly straight. Saw blood marks 34 yards a.way from where Mr Downes stated they were standing at the time of the accident. Cedric George Finn, commercial ! traveller, on the front seat with Miiner, corroborated lids evidence. K. I). Churchill, Longlmra Freea- [ ing Works, said he was returning tro'in. Palmerston with Aird on bicycles. The car passed them on the other side of Awapuni about 10.30., Heard the horn. "When they i*n Longburn saw men standing on. the road and just escaped them by a few inches. Diirectly afterwards saw a motor-car coming over the crossing ;at between 12 to 15 miles an hour, and heard Mr Downes call out. Went liaek a,nd saw deceased lying on'tilie road. Had no reason to think ; auiy one present was the worse for drink. William IT. Aird corroborated this witness.

,C. Midwood, proprietor Occidental Hotel, deposed that he saw Miinar, Aldrich and 'Finn on his returning from the picture show, and they were perfectly sober. H. A. Baigent, Longburn, who was cycling home with a lady after the pictures when a car passed them albout tlireequarters of a mile from Longburn. Some singing was going on, but not very loud. Passed Mr Doiwnes and deceased on the road, recognised them but did not speak to them.

William Cahill, of itihe Freezing Works, also saw- Air Downes and deceased as he cycled borne. Could see them twenty yards off. Heard tlie ear, but did ,not hear a Iborn.

The foreman of the jury said thlat tljey had sufficient ■- corroboration of 'the driver's evidence.

The police had two more to call, but cm. being asked "by the Coroner, the Sergeant stated that they would not get a,ny fresfa evidence from them.

The jury retired' at 4.55 p.m., and arrived in court at 5.10, with a ver-' diet that deceased met 'his death ias the result of a; collision with .a motorcar driven "by Milner, and that every reasonable precaution was taken (by the driver, no blame being attachable to anyone.