FATALITY AT KAUPOKONUI.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 July 1928, Page 4

FATALITY AT KAUPOKONUI.

FARM LABOURER'S DEATH

KICKED) BY A HORSE

An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Bernard McKenna, 33 years o/f age, which occurred on Sunday 'evening -at the Hawera Hospibal, was held "at the courthouse yesterday afternoon /before Mr R. S. Sage (acting-coroner), and a jury of four consisting of Messrs J. J. Meldon (Foreman;, El. Foden, H.. Fryer, and D. A. McPherson. Sergeant Henry conducted. the inquiry on behalf of the police.

Dr. W. F. Burst deposed that the deceased was admitted to' the hospital at 4.JQ p.m. op Thursday 19tli hist. The patient was in a collapsed condition from grave internal injuries. He received suitable treatment, and at 9.30 p.m. an operation was performed, the right kidney, which was very badly damaged as a result of the blow on the right- side, being removed. The patient recovered partially and was doing well on Friday and Saturday, but on Sunday he showed /signs of intestinal obstruction, so that at 6 p.m. witness was compelled to operate again in order to relieve the patient’s' condition. Witness found that the patient- was suffering from; tnesenteriathrombosis, which i,s a clotting of the blood vessels supplying the intestines, the result of severe injuries he had' sustained. In witness’s opinion the cause of death was one of rupture of the right kidney. To Sergeant Henry: The injuries . were consistent with being kicked by a horse. The patient had every appearance of being a. strong, healthy man. . Arthur Cdmvay, farm labourer residing at Kaupokonui, stated that he knew the deceased. He was a sharemilker, employed by Airs Sbanahan, of Kaupokonui. On Thursday 19th, witness was with deceased, assisting to break-in a young horse. The animal was very nervous, .and deceased had hold of a rope, and sending the horse round him, which was the usual custom " lien breaking-in a young horse. After tips continued for some time, witness left deceased to procure a pair of reins. Before (he left, he noticed deceased patting the horse’s neck. Witness next noticed deceased following him, leading, the horsef later, he heard a thud, /and on looking round, saw de l ceased in the act of falling. He was holding his side, and the horse was going away in the opposite direction. Witness went to deceased and picked him up, deceased exclaiming, “I am finished, the horse has kicked me.” Witness 1 summoned Mrs Shanahan, and Dr. Davies, of Manaia, was communicated with, and on arrival /soon after, deceased was ordered to the Hawera Hospital. This would be about one o’clock. Deceased had previously been

naiKning toe morse, nut iracl not worked the animal for a few days. Witness had never known the horse to lack before. Be: did not actually see: the kick, but he (heard the thud'. , In reply to Sergeant Henry, witness said he had known deceased' since he was fourteen years’ old in Ireland. Both witness and deceased came from Qounty Derry to New 1 Zealand about two years ago. Deceased had no relatives in the Dominion and both his parents were dead, and be was a .single man. To Mir Mp.ldon : T&vhh ■unt.rjPGe nmrl

deceased: had previous experience in breaking-ini horses. The present one was not vicious, and witness could not understand how deceased came to be kicked. A verdict in accordance, with the medical testimony was returned, the finding being death by misadventure.