ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11531, 18 March 1898, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT SYDENHAM. Tho inquest on the unfortunate child Nonna Sparks, who was killed on Wednesday through being dragged along th&atreet by a runaway horse, was held at the Railway Hotel yesterday morning, before Mr R. Beetham, coroner. Mr James Moody was chosen foreman of the jury. Charles Bowley gave evidence as to the capsizing of the gig, and the consequent running away of the horse. He was an experienced driver of twenty-three years’ standing. A lad named William Gelaud stated that when coming from school he saw the runaway with tho capsized gig tearing up Durham Street towards him. There were two little girls playing on the kerbstone opposite the Sydenham Chambers. He called out to them to get out of the way, and ran towards them, but they appeared to be too frightened to move. The gig in passing took one of the children along with it. When it passed him he could plainly see the little girl rolling under it. Further evidence was to the effect that when the horse got to the railway gates, it was followed by another runaway. Near the railway station a lad pluokily caught the trailing reins and held on until he either accidentally or designedly trod on one of the reins, falling himself, and bringing-the horse round with a sharp, turn, tilting the gig on one side at the same time, and freeing tho child. A verdict was returned that the deceased was accidentally killed by becoming entangled in an overturned gig, no blame, being attachable to-anyone.