FATAL TRAP ACCIDENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1908, Page 3

FATAL TRAP ACCIDENT.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Hospital yesterday afternoon by Mr. Simpson, dsputy-coroner, and a jury of six, into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bernard Keating, who died at the Hospital on Saturday night as tho result of injuries received falling off a cart hfe was driving during the afternoon. Henry Gold, accountant, stated that he saw the accident from the Kelburne bowling green. His attention was drawn to the plunging of a, horse some 200 yards away. Deceased was sitting on ths footboard of the cart endeavouring to control the horse, and shortly afterwards was thrown to the ground and dragged along the \oad. He fell clear of the trap and retained, his hold of the reins, but by reason of vthe horse 3wsrvmg across the road his body practically became "chock" to the wheels. Subsequently the cart and horse went over, leaving deceased some distance away. Deceased was conveyed on to the bov/1ing cjreen and attended by Dr. Huntley until the arrival of the ambulance. Witness, with othors, helped to get the horse up and telephoned for tho ambulance which he accompanied to the Hospital. Deceased was conscious all the time, but did not refei to the cause of the accident. A. youth named Sims v.-as sitting in the cart at the time, ar.d was subseauently thrown out, but was not hurt. Witness found that some portion of the harness wa? broken, and nought it had broken before the horse bolted, as the shafts ware almost on tho ground. Dr. John Ewart, medical superintendent at the Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted to Urn institution about 6 p.m. on Saturday. He was then conscious, but w a state of extreme collapse. He was suffering from abdominal injuries, and nad great difficulty in breathing. He was operated on later in the evening but never recovered. He was conscious up to the time of his death. Witness described the internal injuries, which had been caused by heavy pressure of the wheel against the abdomen. Death was due to shock and loss of blood.' j Harold Sims, aged 11, stated that he went for a drive with deceased on Saturday, leaving Wardell's shop in Willisstreet about 4.15 p.m. When in Kel-burne-parade the horse stumbled and fell, thereby breaking the harness. Deceased was sitting on the seat, but slipped on to the footboard and subsequently, when the horse bolted, he fell to the ground and was dragged some distance. When the cart went over witness was thrown out but was not injured. Magnus Mouat, storeman at Wardell's, identified deceased as Bernard Keating, wbo had been in the employ of WavdejJ

Bros for about five years. Deceased was a steady man. Witness was sent to bring in the Horse and cart. The backhand of tho harness was broken j he produced it for inspection. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries received from a fall from a <art The jury expressed ; the opinion that »f a false backhand had be2n used, the accident would not have occurred, and were strongly of opinion that false backhands should bo used for al l delivery carts of the kind that deceased was driving.