CORONER’S COURT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 8

CORONER’S COURT

SIX INQUESTS CONCLUDED

Mervyn Richard Bedding, aged 35, died on August 21, 1954, from injuries suffered when a cycle ridden by him and a station waggon driven by Gilbert Thomas Forward were involved in an accident on New Brighton road on the night of August 13, 1954, the district Coroner (Mr E. B. E. Taylor) found when the inquest into Bedding’s death was concluded yesterday. The cause of death was found to be cardio-respiratory failure due to fractures of the skull and cerebral contusions. Sergeant B. R. Alty represented the Police at yesterday’s inquests. Dr. C. T. B. Pearson gave evidence of postmortem examinations. Death of Motor-cyclist Jezef Franciszek Kaczmarek, aged 24, was found to have died on November 11, 1954, at Christchurch, the cause of his death being cardio-respiratory failure due to fractures of the skull and cerebral contusions, the injuries being suffered when a motor-cycle ridden by him collided with a car driven by Brian Oliver Daly on the Main North road, Belfast. Evidence was given by Laurence Graham Radford, of Leithfleld, that Kaczmarek’s motor-cycle had had its headlamp completely shattered in a previous accident, and Kaczmarek had bought a torch to use instead. The accident occurred about 8.30 p.m., and Kaczmarek died later the same evening. The Coroner found that Charles William Dowzer, aged 68, died on December 22, 1954, the cause of his death being shock due to multiple injuries suffered when he came into collision with a car driven by Frederick Aloysious Dean in Moorhouse avenue on the evening of December 18, 1954. Evidence was given by Denis Charles Lander that he had seen Dowzer drunk earlier on the evening of the accident. Swimmer’s Death George Noel Cranfield, aged 23, was found to have died on December 26, 1954, from asphyxia due to drowning,

his death taking place while he was bathing at Waimairi Beach. His companion at the beach, Gilbert Herbert McAlister, said he had seen Cranfield go out beyond the breakers. Charles Selwyn Skinner, aged 46, was found to have died at Christchurch on December 6, 1954, from nicotine poisoning, the poison being selfadministered. Doris Irene Caroline Cook, aged 54, was found to have committed suicide on December 15, 1954, at Belfast, while of unsound mind, 1 the cause of her death being asphyxia due to hanging.