MOTOR FATALITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 138, 9 December 1919, Page 7

MOTOR FATALITY

INQUEST CONCLUDED,

CORONER'S REMARKS.

The adjourned inquest cpncerning the death pf William Edward Foi-ster Nattrass, who was killed by a motor-car at the Thorndon-quay tram terminus last week, was held by Mr. E. Page, S.M., Coroner, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon. Detective-Sergeant Scott represented the police, and Mr. P. W. Jackson the relatives of the deceased. Mr. H. F O'Leary appeared for the.driver .of the motorcar (Pearon). Reginald Strain, house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said the deceased was admitted to the Hospital at 10.50 a.m. on the 3rd inst., and was then in a semi-dazed condition, rapidly becoming unconscious. Deceased was apparently suffering ' from a fracture of tho base of the skull. His condition became infinitely worse at about 12.50 p.m., and, although artificial respiration Was applied, life became extinct. Death was evidently due to compression' of the brain caused by sudden haemorrhage.

Tp Mr. O'Leary: The fact that the deceased did not immediately heepme unconscious after being struck wpuld tend tp indicate. that the blew hsd not been violent

Patrick .Farley, motor driver, gave evidence' as to having passed the car driven by the deceased quite near tp where the accident occurred. The car driven by Fearon was travelling. at about 25 miles per hour

The verdict of the Coroner was that the deceased died as a result of injuries received through having been knocked down by a motor-car driven by John Fearon. As to the speed at which the car was travelling, the Coroner said that the evidence seemed to show that the speed was considerably in excess of 25 miles per hour, as stated by the, driver. Considering the position of the traracar from which the deceased had alighted,, and the narrowness of the road, as well as the fact that there were several persons standing near the corner, these having also alighted from the tram, the pace at which the h.ill was being taken was quite unsafe, and excessive, and dangerous.