STREET FATALITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1924, Page 5

STREET FATALITY

DEATH OF MB FENTON. CORONIAL INQUIRY. An inquest concerning the death of Charles Lowe Fenton, aged 38 years, a single man who had resided at College street West, and who died following injuries sustained us a result of being knocked down by a motor cor iu Main street We?t early on Wednesday evening, was held at the Courthouse before the Coroner, ilr A. J. Graham, to-day. Sergeant Power appeared for the police and Air Cooper watched proceedings on behalf of Mr H. T. Avery, who was driving tho car which knocked down deceased. Dr. Bett stated that, at about six p.m.. on Wednesday the deceased was brought to his surgery in Mr Avery's car. Witness found deceased to be very ill, and he accompanied him in the car to the hospital, but life became extinct prior to arriving at the institution. Witness had since conducted a. post-mortem examination on the body of deceased. Externally, witness found bruises about the body but no bones were broken. Internally, the organs were healthy, but the abdominal cavity was full of blood. In witness's opinion death was due to shock following interna! hemorrhage. William Clark Fenton, of Wanganui. said lie had identified the body of deceased as that of his brother. Herbert Thomas Avery, motor car agent, residing at 32 Bryant street, Palmerston North, said that, on Wednesday evening last, lie was driving a motor car along Main Street West in the direction of Cook street. The time would be about a quarter past six. The electric lights in the street were coming on and then going off, but when he actually passed the first light by the station it was in order. There were some taxis on the stand near the station and witness drove his car past them on the left-hand side—the correct side of the road. His speed was about 10 miles per hour. The first witness knew of the accident was hearing Mr Wood, who was in the car with him. shout "f.ook out." Witness immediately applied his brakes after feeling the bump. The spot where the accident occurred was near tlie end of tlie station building. It was ruining at the time and witness had his automatic windscreen going on the ylass screen. He did not see the deceased at all, and at that time the electric lights were coming on and going off. The coroner: Yes: it was just about that time that tho lights did fail. Continuing, witness said that, when he got nut of the car Mr Wood was attending to the deceased at tlie rear of the car. To the coroner: He thought that the left-band front end of the car struck deceased. He pulled up within a ear length, lie hud reduced his speed going down Main street. A bicycle which deceased was stated io have been wheeling at the lime was at the rear of the car after tlie accident, but witness did not have time to take much notice of the condition of the machine, as his one thought was to get the unfortunate man to a doctor. Tile coroner: How do you account for the fact that Mr Wood saw the deceased and you did not?

Witness replied that Mr Wood was sitting next to him iu tlie car at the time, but he could not account for him seeing deceased and he (witness) not seeing him. it might have been due to the different angle of tlt3 light. 'to the coroner: It was very difficult to see on the night of the accident it being very dark and wet. Arthur Adam Wood, motor car proprietor, of Pahnerston North, who was in Mr Avery's car at the time of the accident, said that the speed was about 10 to 12 miles per hour—no faster. Witness had only a momentary glance at the deceased and immediately he shouted : "Look Out !" He could not say from what direction the deceased had come, or whether he was sideways on when witness saw iiini. The cur was immediately stopped and witness and Avery got out and assisted deceased, conveying' hun to a doctor. On the way to the latter deceased spoke to witness remarking that iie felt bad, but he made no reference to the probate cause of the accident. The night, added witness, was exceptionally dark, so much so in fact that, when witness got out of the car to pick up deceased, he could hardly see him. In reply to the coroner, witness stated that he could not say from what direction deceased came in front of the car us he only had a momentary glimpse of him, but. surmising, he should say he came cross-ways. Had he (deceased) been ten yards or so in front of the car the headlighis would have made him visible to witness and Avery. He was satisfied that the accident was absolutely unavoidable in the circumstances.

George William Dixon, a runner employed by the "Standard," said he was riding a "motor cycle down Main street at about 6.15 p.m. on Wednesday at a speed of about 10 miles per hour. He was watching the tail light of a car in front when he saw the car pull up. At the same lime he noticed what appeared to be a dark object underneath it. Witness stop ped and saw Mr Wood assisting deceased from beneath the vehicle on the left-hand side.

William Dustin, caterer, of Palmerston North, deposed that lie had known _ deceased very well and had spoken to him a few minutes before the accident occurred. Witness was standing outside his shop in ilain street and saw deceased, who was wheeling a bicycle, cross over the culvert. Witness said to" deceased that, as there was a likelihood of a heavy shower, lie had better wait and go home with him. _This. however, deceased did not do. Witness watched him cross the road, walk on to the station, retrace his steps, light a pipe, and attempt to mount his bicycle. Witness called out to him: "Be careful," and deceased, replied "All right." lie _ ihen walked on a little way and again tried to mount his bicycle. Witness's attention was then diverted and the next tiling he knew was hearing a voice shout: "Look Out !" which warning was followed by a grinding of the brakes on a motor car. Witness ditl not go to the scene of the accident as he wus expecting a telephone message at the time. TOE VERDICX

The coroner said, in reviewing the evidence, that he was satisfied the car was being driven with every care and no blame was attachable to Avery, who was driving. The verdict would lie that deceased died from shock and hemorrhage caused by injuries sustained by being knocked down by a motor cat.