INQUESTS.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6153, 9 June 1885, Page 2

INQUESTS.

An inquest was held yesterday morning at the Magistrate's Court, Kaiapoi, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr E. Bevell was foreman, touching the death of Annie Matilda Wright, who was thrown out of a boggy on Saturday. E. M." Wright, father of deceased, stated ehe was in her twenty-fifth yew and unmarried. He wan driving her is a buggy over the Kaiapoi bridge on Saturday when hie horse shied at a herd of swine, and he gave it a hit with hie whip. The person in charge did bis best to turn the pigs withadog. The buggy came in eon tact with a post of a temporary fence at the bridge, and broke the sbafo. The wheel of the buggy went iaudejtbe guard rail for foot passengers. He told his daughter to jump out, but she could not for the hand i aU The harness kept giving away till only th* breeching held, and he was sot able to retain hold of the reins. At the junction of Cooksoa and Charles street, meeting a dray, the horse swerved on to a post at the fire brigade station, »nd caused a capsize, jjeceasedwae thrown on her head, and remained apparently insensible till her death, about 7p£T WiW**ta<*fd so blame to anyone, and would have acted ac he►did on any eimOar occasion, for the best. Con* stable Hector stated ifce accident happened at 215. He assisted last witness to convey hia daughter to Mr Charles Wrightfe house. Dr. Ovenden came is three

iiu' inquest was held at the Junu Hotel, E&ngiora, on Monday before C. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner, anjd s^M J jury of fourteen, of whom Mr J. JPolteeW we c foreman, touching the death Edmund Bobinson, who was knoeaSF down by a buggy on Saturday evening/ , and died shortly afterwards. y" , Charles Chinnery gave evidence to tlh* - effect that oh Saturday evening five youißg persons, including his brother, two youtte girls, Gto. Buckman, and himself lejffcMγ Chinnery's house at Woodend in £ buggy to go to Bangiora, On reaohin* that part ot the road opposite Mr Chir* nery's flax mill the deceased was knocked " down by the buggy. Witness called oni to his brother, who was driving, to " Stop, as a man was run over." Four of the occupants of the bifggy then got out, and -•- found deceased lying -a few yards beniad>' quite insensible. They put, him on the side of the toad, and then drove up to' Bangiora for the police. They accordingly put up their horse at Mr Manhire's, and want for the police. Sergeant Barlow was not at home, but they found Constable Costin, who returned with them to the deceased, and they brought him in the buggy to Bangiora, and he was taken to Dr. Gordon's. On being cross-examined the witness admitted that before going for the police he had gone to Mr Morrau's and had his hair out, and had also called at the Lion Hotel to inquire for the police. They were not driving fast at the time, and there was one light in the buggy, namely, on the off side. The deceased .was on the near side of the buggy when knocked down.

Dr. Gordon stated that the deceased waa. brought to him in an insensible state, and he did what he could for him. Thinking that he might be under the influence of drink, he tried with the stomach pump to relieve him of it, but found his stomach quite empty. He applied the usual remedies but he never rallied, and expired * about twelve o'clock. On examining the body he found one small abrasion on tho left side, but not sufficient to cause, or even accelerate death. On making a post ■ mortem examination he found the lungs . very much congested, the liver was also diseased, but the heart was quite healthy. The lungs were so far gone that no Imedical skill could have done anything for * him, and he must have died very shortly. , The shook of being run over no doubt accelerated his death, but as the night was not cold, lying on the road for sometime would not have had any influence on the deceased.

Francis Chinnery and George Bucfcinta gave evidence similar to that given by Charles Chinnery, and were severely cautioned by the Coroner before they would acknowledge that they had not gone immediately for the police on their arrival in Bangiora. They were also cross-exa-mined by the jury as to the pace at which they were driving at the time of the accident.

Mr B. Morrall deposed to one of the witnesses having had his hair cut, and that he was in an, excited state, and spoke of going for the police, although the witness did not understand-for what purpose. Constable Costin deposed to being called by the Chinnerye to bring deceased ial» - - Bangiora, and stated that he found hitfe o lying on his back on one side of the toad, < and had him removed to Dr. Gordon's. The Coroner remarked upon the brutality, _ t the young Chinnerye displayed in leaving an old man like deceased lying on the sids , of the road at night, and in their alto not going direct to the police station on arrir- ' ' ing in Bangiora. Death, as the doctor 1»4 « stated, had resulted from congestion of tito ' lungs, and the deceased was no.dona" V knocked down by an accident, but ltd k O , would have been pleased to have or&red ■:-. the three witnesses some punishment if he rXj had had the power. ' ■ .'H' The jury agreed with the remarts of the . , .';■ Coroner, and gave a verdict to that effect. The. Coroner therefore, severely censored -, the young men, and spok > strongly of the disgraceful manner in whioh they had acted. He was glad the matter would be - - reported in the public papers, as being the only way in which they would be punished for their conduct.