FLEMING RUSSELL'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 17483, 14 October 1920, Page 4

FLEMING RUSSELL'S DEATH

DRIVER OF THE TRAP HELD kivt BLAMEABLE. On the night of the Bth inst. Fleming Alexander Russell was killed at Otokia as tile result of a. collision between a motor cycle and a horse and gig. Mr J. R. Bartholomew opened an inquest at Oto* kia on tho 9th, when the evidence of T. H. Russell and Dr A. S. Moody was taken, tho proceedings being "then adjourned until to-day, This morning, at Dunedin, the inquest was resumed. Chief-detective Bishop produced the witnesses: Mr Irwin appeared for the relatives of tho deceased ; Mr CM-' lan for _ Philip Douglas Garside, driver of the gig. John Logan, clerk, Taieri County Councd, produced the by-laws, and said that the road from Allanton to Berwick was c.osed to motor traffic, signboards being up to that effect, but tho weather and other causes had obliterated tho notices. John _ Alexander Ralston, 18 years of age, said that he loft Milburn with deceased on his motor cycle, riding behind* deceased. They were going to a dance at Berwick. The bicycle had an acetylene J-imp, which was not working well. After crossing the_ bridge on the Berwick road deceased said ho would wait for Alex-bki-lston, who was behind, as he did It now the road. After crossing the oridge on the Berwick side he slipped the_ clutch and ran along with a free engine at about 15 to 20 miles an Wir. After going thus for SOyds witness saw a dark object approaching, almost on them. \ cimess-’called out “ Fleming,-look.” Ho P I® the side, and then the ■collision occurred with a horse and gig. Uitness saw no lights on the trap. Doceasecl was about the centre of the road. J iie bicycle was flung across the road, deceased and witness still on it. Deceased fell face downwards. The trap was knocked into the water on the same side. Deceased expired almost at once. Witness was pretty sure the bicycle lamp va a alight at the time of the collision, but it might not bo very bright. Neither witness nor deceased had any drink. To ri , , a R : cf>ldd swear the light was alight before they reached the bridge • con.d not swear to it afterwards. To Mr Irwin : Deceased could have seen the road f?/ 1 mn Ur r e l '' V2tl ? out a li e hfc ’ :j,Vlt not *or tar The light they had would not show further than 20ft ahead. It would show E OI)S 30ft. when they were at the oridge. lo the coroner : They were going about miles an hour before getting to tno bridge. After the accident the lamp was warm.

■ a *i der Rastol J’ butcher, Allanton, said in the course of his evidence that he T U i in t0 l he witn ess. Witness passed deceased and the last witness on tne road, deceased asking him to lead, and he led for about a. mile, when deceased went into the lead. Deceased must Xif 11 have been going a little more than or 2o miles an hour. Deceased’s bicyc.e had a lamp,_ but it was not a big one. it was burning when deceased shot CacL rnnM ne f lost si S ]lt of him on a corner 500 yds from the accident. There were no marks on the road to show positions at the moment of the accident. Witness saw no light on the gig when it was knocked into the water. Constable Southgate produced a plan ot tne scene of the accident. The' extrerne width of the road there was 15ft. VVnnoss tested the deceased’s lamp after the accident, and found it in working Deceased was apparently struck by the shaft oi the gig. The night was

Ihihp D. Garside, employed by Mr Quuk at Berwick, deposed that he was chiving to Henley to take a young ladv to the dance at Berwick. The night was l £ -“ J A*’ A here was no light on the A ter going two miles he saw a liMifc approaching, 2Goyds ahead. The road being narrow, and he not wishing to meet anyone on the bend, he slackened, almost stopping and whilst doing so the accident happened The motor that struck him was not the one which showed the light that he was watching. Witness, was at thotime well over to his proper side. Iho Coroner said in the course of his remarks that Garside was on his right side and almost at a walk when the collision occurred, and his attention was focussed on the light from the other bicycle, not the _ deceased s. Garside was wron? in nTi'A? 0 . knt it had to be remembered that the road was supposed to be closed to motor traffic. A motorist should nave a sufficient light to show obstacles ahead. The collision could not have happened if the motorist had used the amount m care tnat was obligatory upon him. tie (the coroner) could not say that any responsibility attached to Garside. ’ The verdict would he that death was due to hemorrhage andshock following the injuries received.