AN AWAHURI FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10107, 15 October 1917, Page 5

AN AWAHURI FATALITY.

THE CORONIAL ENQUIRY. At the Courthouse this morning an inquest was held into the circumstances suri rounding the death of John May no, who , died iii the Palmerston Hospital as a ! result of an accident on the Ist September, while leading a horse at Awahuri. Mr A. J. Graham, ,7.P., acted as coroner. and tlie following jury was oinpaiinellcd Messrs B. T. Hunt (foreman), F. \V. Smith, G. Belfit, E. S. Dawick, Robt. McTaggart and F. Luim. Mr Cooper"appeared for the relatives of I deceased, and Sub Inspector McKinnon conducted the enquiry. Dr. Putman said bo saw the deceased when be was taken to the hospital on September 1. Deceased was then imcon scions. lie had a big scalp wound over the right brow, and (he back of the head was much lacerated. The right band was a good deal abraised, as were other parts of the body, including the base of the skull, and he was suffering from an injury to the brain itself. Some days afterwards ho regained consciousness for some time, but was never completely in bis right mind. Deceased bad wild delirium, and remained in tins condition until the time of bis death. Ho considered nettling could have been done surgically to relieve his condition, which was caused by a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain. Ho considered being dragged would cause these injuries. Bridget King, wife of Solomon King, of Awahuri, and sister of deceased, staled she bad identified the body of deceased. William Arthur Flynn, licensee of Enclymion Hotel, Awahuri, know deceased very well, and saw him between 2 and 3 o’clock on the day of the accident, when he called at the hotel for a drink. Deceased sal down and told witness that he had some money in the Post Oflioo and intended to draw out £4OO and put into war bonds. He asked witness’s advice, and be said be thought it was a good suggestion, but told deceased to please himself. Deceased sat there for some time, and then loft, witness believed, to go to the Post Office. About three-quarters of an hour afterwards, deceased came track with a war loan prospectus and asked witness to look over it. Being busy at the time, witness could not do so. Deceased bad another glass of ale, and about a quarter of an hour after he left, as witness believed, to see the local blacksmith. Witness saw him again between 5.30 and 5.45, when lie came back to the hotel and called for a medium beer. Witness asked him if bo bad fixed up the money business and he said No. Shortly after witness went to tea, came out, and saw deceased sitting in the billiard room. Deceased said to him: “I must take my horse down.” Deceased had had live drinks altogether, one from the barman and four from witness. When decease! came back the last lime witness asked him if ho had put Ins horse away. He said “No,” and witness suggested that he put. it in his paddock but, deceased smd lie would take it elsewhere. Shortly aftn that, lie left. Witness did not see mm a train until he saw him laving on the road _ Witness was in the billiard room when bis son came in and said that deceased had been knocked down and killed, and witness rushed out to whore the accident had occurred. Deceased was then taken to the hotel. Deceased was breathing heart y. AVhen Dr. Lovosy arrived, be ordered deceased straight to the hospital To Sub-Inspector McKmi.on; Tie know a man called Walter Donghi He was at the hotel the last time deceased was in in hotel! He said, “I’ll give■ old Jack a. hand to get bis horse. ’ The horse was .M> wild and very frightened of mntois Witness understood that be left to help ( eer.i.cd as ho went out with him, but n'tnuinl afterwards. Deceased, who was quite solim. had no tea. Witness concluded Im working for Smith and Seifert, as ''J* CJS j ! l ' a cheque for deceased drawn by that tnm that dav for about £ls . To Air Cooper: He bad a £lO note sides the cheque. That was all 'V when em There were several m the hotel when t" ceased caslmd the cheque. 1 )ongbi was the. e when witness got to the scene of the act. Dc S Mr Hunt; Several cars went by during tho time deceased left the bote! and the me of the accident. Witness did not think deceased was knocked down by a ca - The mark on his brow looked like made by the shoe of a horse. . j Walter Dongln, labourer, stated inar m the TTo l '(witness) l Bum went To. hack about ten minutes later, when be . deceased near the store, staggering about e was so drunk be could not stand up. and Iked witness to got bis horse VVdnes (hen went to get the horse, and deceased accompanied him, but fell over two or 1 him times. Deceased then asked witness to M his saddle, which witness could not find, after which lie led the horse away by » niece of tether rope,, but was not m a (It condition to do this. Witness tried to help him, but deceased wanted his own wav and witness let him have it. He bad previously tried to get deceased, earlier m the night to go and sleep m a shed at the rear of the hotel, but deceased bad ieU Sub-Inspector Mackinnon ; Did you not consider it your duty to go along a road lined with motors and vehicles, with deceased? „ . . . i (Loft sitting.)