KILLED BY A DRAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16550, 14 May 1914, Page 8

KILLED BY A DRAY.

FATALITY AT SWANNANOA

INQUEST ADJOURNED,

On Tuesday afternoon a man named Frank Holmes, about fifty years of age, employed as a camp cook at Swannanoa, near Rangiora, was sent by his employer with a horse and dray to fetch water from a water-hole. While he was engaged in this work, a passing motor-car frightened the horse, and Holmes was knocked down, a wheel of the dray passing oyer Ins abdomen. Ho was taken to the Clinstchurcli Hospital, but his injuries, howover, were very serious, and he died at 7.30 a.m. yesterday. An inquest was held in the afternoon before Mr H. W. Bishop, Coroner. Scro-eant Bird appeared for the police. Br Francis Scott, medical superintendent of the hospital, said that deceased had been admitted to the hospital on May 12 at 6.15 p.m. Witness had been told that a dray containing an empty water tank had passed oyer deceased's abdomen. On examination he found evidence of haemorrhage in the patient's abdomen. He had been operated on as soon as possible and it was found that the spleen had been ruptured. He did not rally and died at 7.30 a.m. the following day. The Coroner: What time did the accident occur? p Sergeant Bird: Wo received a wire from the Rangiora police about 12.30. The Coroner remarked that six hours was a long time to 'make the journey from Rangiora. James Arthur Pawson, hotel-keeper and licensee of tho Prince of Wales Hotel, Colombo Street, said he had known the deceased for about eleven years. Tho deceased had been in a mental hospital in England and had been sent out here by his relations for the benefit of his health. Witness had known him first in Hunterville. He had left witness's place in Christchurch to »o to a position as cook at Swannanoa. Tho Coroner: Did ho show any signs of any mental aberration while you knew him? Witness: No. Continuing his evidence witness said deceased had. a wife and two children in London. The inquest WW adjourned till Friday.