KILLED BY A HORSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1617, 7 December 1912, Page 2

KILLED BY A HORSE.

DEATH OF ARTnUR KIRKE. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. The District Coroner (Dr. M'Arlhur, S.M.) held an inquest yesterday on tho body of Arthur Kirke, who diod from injuries received through being knocked down by a runaway horso on Saturday last. Mr. T. M. Wilfont represented tho relatives of the deceased, and Mr. T. Neavo appeared for Mr. Johnston, owner of tho horse, and Mr. C. Mallows, tho driver in charge of tho animal. Tho evidence given by JJr. Whitehouso, senior house surgeon at tho Wellington. Hospital, was to tho effect that tho deceased died from concussion of tho brain and fracture of tho baso of the skull. O. A. Clarko, a traveller for Ross and Glondining, stated in. evidence that ho engaged a trap from Johnston, on. Saturday last, and Mallows, an employee of Johnston's, drove tho vehiclo. Mallows drove witness to tho Empiro Hotel, and on arrival there witness said that ho might bo about ton minutes. Witness saw Mallows in tho hotel about an hour and a half after ho had entered it. Mai--lows asked witness when he was coining, and he said that ho would be with him in a few minutes. Witness' did not see Mallows when lie caino outßide, but ho was just in time to see tho liorso and gig collide with a post at tho lower end of Victoria Street. Witness then, got his friends, and' they went along to tho 6pot whero the gig was lying smashed up. Charles Mallows, tho driver of tho gig, gave similar evidence, but eaid that when ho wont in the hotel to soo Clarke ho loft a stranger in charge of the horse. Ho did not chain tho wheel, or tie tho reins, and when witness returned after an absence of three or four minutes tho gig was not thcro. He did not eee tho man he left in chargo of tho horso.' In reply to Sergeant Darby;' witness said that ho did not go into tho hotel for a drink.

A labourer named Benjamin Scott said that ho pass-od the Umpire Hotel at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, November SO, and saw tho gig. A wharf porter came along with his handcart and tipped it up, near the gig, and wont into the hotel. Tho tipping-up of tho cart frightened tho horso, which bolted southward along Victoria Street. Witness made an attempt to stop the horse, but ho .could not get the reins. He did not see anyone in chargo of tho horso. Ho only saw a constable.

Alexander Moore said that at 1.20 p.m. on Saturday last he was standing in front of Cooper's seed shop in Willis Street, lie saw a horse come galloping along on. the footpath on the same side from Manners Street. Ho and his friend walked out on. to the road .to get out of tho way. Witness saw an elderly man coming across Mercer Street,' ana the horvse knocked him on the left-hand side, and the man fell. Witness went to the man's assistance. Tho injured man was later removed to the hospital. Evidence wag given by Constable Whitehouse.

A tram conductor named. George Murfite said that he did not think ICirko had timo to see the hbrso before it was on him.

The Coroner returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased (lied from a fracture of the base of the skull,, caused by injuries received from a horso which had bolted.