The Fatal Accident in Hansenstreet.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 156, 31 December 1887, Page 3

The Fatal Accident in Hansenstreet.

+ THE INQUES'i'. The Coroner's enquiry into tho circum" atananoos attending the death of George Brown, fourth eon of Mr. S. Brown, Mayor of Wellington, who was accidentally killed by falling over an embankment in Hansenstreet, on Thursday afternoon, waa held, baforo Dr. Johnson, District Coroner, at the reaidence of tho parents, Hansen-streot, at 9.30 this morning. The jury consisted of the following gentlemen :— Messrs. R. W. Marshall, J. F. Follas, W. F. Tyson, J. B. Foster, T. Warwick, and R. Scott (foreman). The jury, after having been bwCvv, viowed the body, and the following evidence was then takon :—: — Charles Howoll, aged 11, being sworn, deposed that ho was in Mr. Fostor's cart along with Walter und George Brown on tho afternoon of Thursday. Mr. Foster was driving. Thoy drove from Adeloido-road to Mr. Brown's bouso, having to call for some bottles. When thoy reached Mr. Brown's houeo, the witness and tho other two lads went into the house for the bottles, which they carried oafc to the cart, which waa in charge of Mr. Poster. When thoy had finished carrying out the bottles, all four got into the cart, and Foster took the reins and endeavoured to drive the horso, but it jibbed bick towards the bank. When tho horse had bickcd a fow steps, Walter Brown and witness both jumped off the cart. George Brown also endoavourod to jump clear of the cart, just as it was going over tho bank. Foator made no attempt to leave tho cart, but stuck to the reins, trying to prevent tho horse from backing. In falling, the cart appeared to completely cover those in it. Witness looked over the bank after the cart had gone down, and saw the deneased laying motionless, olose to a furze bußh at tho bottom of the cliff. Foster was lying a short distance away, but did not appear to be very severely hurt, as he got up and walked up tho bank. Mr. Croirin came out after the accident and went down and earned the deceased to his parents' house, and Foster, who was lamed by tho fall, was taken to the Hospital. Waltor Brown, brother of the deceased, corroborated the foregoing ovidonce, Dr. Hassell, resident surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, sworn, deposed that on Thursday afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock someone telephoned to him at the Hospital, asking if ho would attend immediately at Mr. Brown's house, as someone there had received serious injuries. On arrival at the houso he was informed of the nature of the accident, and found the deceased lying- on a sofa. Ho was then quite insonsible, and treathing had stoppod. The heart was beating feebly, and witness employed artificial respiration for a short limo, but death occurred about a minute after ho first saw the deceased. Thero was little or no external injury to the deceased. In his opinion death was caused by the rupture of some internal organ or organs, .caused by the fall. James Foster, bottle dealer, sworn, said ihat ho waß employed collecting bottics in Uewtown on Thursday afternoon. He mot the two Brown boys and the lad Howell in Adelaide-road, when Walter Brown said they had some bottles at home, which witness could call for. He drove the boya to Mr. Brown's residenoe, and they carried the bottles from the house to the cart. Alter putting the bottles in the cart, the boys also got in, and witness started to drive ■away. The horse jibbed towards tho bank opposite the house, when witness had driven a few yards. As the cart tipped, the lad Howell jumped out, and the deceased endeavoured to follow. Witness did not fall -to tho bottom of tho bank, but alighted about half-way down. He saw the deceased lying at the bottom of the bank, and he appeared to bo trying to get up. Deceased called to Mr. Cronin, who appeared on the scene at that moment, saying that he was killed Mr. Cronin went to him and carried him to bis home. Witness, who was hurt across the hips, managed to crawl down the bank and release the horse, which had escaped with a few scratches. Witness was afterwords taken to the hospital, as his leg lecame very painful. By the Coroner — The horse wsa anew one, and he hod driven it for the Kcab time that day. It had been quiet onoagh during the day. Patriok Cronin, eontrajtor, living in Han-son-street, deposed to Raving had his attention drawn to th^ accident by hearing the noise of the oar., When he appeared on the scene the c«/t had fallen over tho bank. He ran down and picked up the deceased, who said to aim, "Mr. Cronin, I am killed." The deceased also muttered something about his back paining him when witness was o&rryug him into tho house, but never spoke ftftsrwardß. The Coroner, after the taking of evidence was concluded, expressed his deep sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and remarked that the jury would have very little difficulty in finding their verdict, as the unfortnnato affair appeared to have been puiely acoidental. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of Accidental Death, adding a rider that the attention of the Corporation should be drawn to the dangerous state of the «mbankmeni, which should be at onoe fenced off, in order to prevent accidents of a similar nature ooourring in tho future.