THE SANDON FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8542, 24 March 1908, Page 6

THE SANDON FATALITY.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The adjourned inquest in connection with the death of the lad Lawrence H. Walters, as a result of an accident on the Sandon road on tho 15th inst., was resumed before Captain Mowletn, coroner, yesterday. Sergt. Bowden conducted tho enquiry, and Mr C. M Ross was foreman of the jury. Fresh evidence was given by Wm. Murphy, labourer, residing at Sandon. On the evening of the 15th inst. witness said he was cycling into Sandon. It was not quite 8 o'clock. Deceased and Alfred Road were with witness, who was in front. Near the English Church at Sandon they met a horse and gig. There was one lamp upon tho vehicle, on tho right side. Witness passed the gig on his left hand and Road kept the gig on his right. Neither of them had lights on their cycles, and they were riding fairly fast. Witness could not state positively where deceased was riding. tho middle or either side of the road. Witness, after he passed the gig, heard tho noise of deceased's collision with it. He (witness) stopped his bike and returned to deceased. When ho got back witness .saw a lady standing near the gig, and a man holding the horse's head on the ground. (The horse had fallen as a result of tho collision.) Deceased was on the grass on tho side of the road. Witness asked him if he was hurt. He said "No, I am not hurt; go and help with tho horse." Then Dr. Wilson came up. Witness subsequently lifted deceased to hi 3 feet, and he then complained of pain in his stomach, though ho thought' he would be better if he walked about a little.

Replying to a question, witness said they saw the light of the gig as it approached, before tho accident, but witness took it for a bike lamp, there being only the one lamp. Alfred Read, 15 years, telegraph messenger, Sandon, corroborated in detail the evidence of tho last witness. Ho added deceased was riding just behind witness, on the right hand side of the road. They were close to the gig before Murphy, who was in front, called out, "Look out for the gig." Witness heard the shock of tho collision with tho gig. Deceased also told witness he was not hurt, and shortly after witness, at Murphy's request, went to tell Mr Walters of tho accident. Witness and deceased had turned down handles on their machines, and were riding loyr.

W. Young said he was the driver of the gig, in which was also seated Mrs Oliver, of Feilding. They left Sandon about 7.15 p.m., and had travelled about three miles before the collision occurred. They wero driving steadily, and had one lamp in the trap—carried on the off side. Tho cyclists rode close up to the gig before witness noticed them and appeared, as far as he could see, to be riding abreast. One of the three passed one on each side of the trap, tho third one rodo into the chest of the horse, which was knocked up in tho air and then fell on the lad. Witness was thrown from the trap on to the grass at the side of the road. Mrs Oliver was thrown out on to the pony. Witness got her away from the pony, and then got deceased from under the pony. The bicycle was also under the pony. Deceased told witness he w-as not hurt much. There was no recrimination as to tho cause of the accident. Tho evidence of the latter witness was read ovor to Mrs Oliver, who swore to it being correct in every particular. They wero driving at a very steady pace, and she thought deceased had never seen the horso or gig; otherwise he would not have struck it in the chest. The jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict of accidental death, adding a rider that had lights been burn ing on vehicle and cyclcs the accidcnt might not have occurred.