A SAD FATALITY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 215, 13 August 1918, Page 3

A SAD FATALITY.

THE CHILD DAMPXEY’S DEATH ' An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Jack Dampney, the 15 months old child of Mr. E. R. Dampney, of Te Pohue, who died en route to tire Napier Hospital on Sunday afternoon as the result of injuries caused through his being run over by a motor car, was held yesterday afternoon, be fore Mr. A. L. Beattie J.P. (Acting Coroner) and a jury of four—Messrs C. Whitehouse, G. Daniell, G. R. Mackenzie and P. Bear. Sergeant H. Cox, conducted proceedings for the police. Edward R. Damppey, sheep far mer, Te Pohue road, deposed that he last sa’.v the child at about 10 a.in. on Sunday on the back verandah. Shortly afterwards witness went to the garage for his car, about 12 yards away. He started the engine running and as he put her I into backing gear found that the i break was on and it didn’t move. I He released the break and started to back out and struck something—lit was the child. His brother sang I out and witness immediately stopped. The car did not go more than two feet. Witness’ brother picked up the child. Witness looked to see if there was anyone about on the right side when he started to back. He thought the child must have been standing in the wheel track. Leonard AV. Dampney, sheepfarmer, brother of previous witness, and who was visiting there, said he accompanied his brother to the garage and as the car started saw the child fall down under the wheel on the opposite side. He thought the wheel went over the body. Witness did not see the child from the time it was on the verandah till then. They' immediately' took the child into the hospital but it died or. the way. , ~,,,, Dr. T. Gilray, deposed that the child was brought to the Hospital at noon, but was found to have been dead for at least half an hour. Death was due to injuries to the brain, also severe hemmorrhage caused through laceration of the vessels. ... -,1. ! The injuries were consistent with the child having been run over with A verdict was accordingly returned that the child met his death accidentally by being struck by the back wheel of the car.