THROWN ON THE ROAD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16559, 25 May 1914, Page 5

THROWN ON THE ROAD.

CHARLES KERR’S DEATH. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at the Hospital on Saturday by Air H. W. Bishop, District Coroner, in regard to the death of Charles Kerr who was injured on May 16, and who died at the Hospital on Friday night. Dr A. M. Trotter, House Physician, stated that the deceased was admitted to the Hospital on Sunday, May 17. He was unconscious and had a lacerated right ear, and was bleeding from the nose. He recovered consciousness while the ear was being stitched. While ho was in the Hospital he refused all food except occasional sips of milk. He gradually sank and slowly lost consciousness and died at about 5.30 p.m. the previous day. There was a fracture on the right side of tho base of the skull, extensive laceration of tho brain on the left side, and meningitis at the base. The lower ribs on the right side were fractured. _ The heart, liver and kidneys showed signs of fatty degeneration. Death was due to laceration of the brain and the basal meningitis. There was indication of alcohol m the odour of the breath when the deceased was admitted to the hospital. Frederick Johnston, blacksmith, living 1 at Colombo Road, Sydenham, said that he had known the deceased for thirty years. The deceased lived at Wainoni Road, New Brighton. Ho was 54 years of age, and was married, and had one child. Witness saw the deceased at 10 p.m. on May 16, tho night of tho accident, in Colombo Street. Deceased left witness to go +o Clariclge’s stables on his way home. Deceased was quite sober and fit to go by himself. Witness knew nothing in regard, to tho accident. The horse deceased was driving was a valuable one, and deceased had driven it- regularly. George Francis Scott, a livery stable keener, said that deceased went to his stables at about 6.30 p.m. on May 16. He had a horse and gig. Witness had seen deceased before in charge of the horse. Witness saw him again at 10.30 ip.m. that day. when he left for home. He was alone"in the trap and seemed to be the same as usual. James Malcolm Turner, a moulder, living at 34, Queen Street, Sydenham, said that on May 16. at about 11.35 p.m., he was leaving Woolston to take a tram car to go home. Just past Radley Bridge, ho saw a horse and gig coming along at a furious speech The driver seemed to have control. He heard the crash of an accident about 200 yards away. He ran back and saw deceased lying on the ground. Tho horse had bolted with the body of the gig. and the wheels, were on the side of the roach It seemed to witness that tho gig had collided with a tramway pole. The deceased had no lights, and the speed at which he was travelling would account for the accident.. Witness and two other men carried the deceased to the side of the road, and witness went to ring up a. doctor, but could not get one. Ultimately, the deceased was taken to the Hospital in an ambulance. The deceased was on the wrong side of the roacl when the accident happened.

Sergeant Jackson, in reply to the Coroner, said that there oe n. gap o* about an hour in regard to the deceased’s time on the night of the accident, and he could not fill it. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased died from injuries received bv being accidentally thrown out of his Iran.