GORGE FATALITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 31 May 1937, Page 9

GORGE FATALITY

VERDICT AT INQUEST. INSTANTANEOUS DEATH. FolloAving the finding of the body of Victor Arthur Johnston, of Wellington, on Saturday at a point about 30 chains from the Ashhurst end of the Manarvatu Gorge, an inquest Avas held yesterday at Woodville before Mr J. D. AVilson, of Pahiatua. A verdict Avas returned that deceased met his death on the night of May IV Avhen his car fell into the ManaAvatu River at the AVoodville, of the Gorge, death being caused by a broken neck. The first Avitness Avas Jones J. Young, a draper, of AVoodville, who gave evidence of identification. Dr. P. H. Mules, avlio had, examined tho body after it Avas recovered from the river, said the neck had been broken, in his opinion, before the car hit tho Avater. Death had been instantaneous.

Constable L. Skinner gave evidence of arriving on the scene on the morning of May 18. Skid marks measured on the bitumen extended for 49 yards to the point Avhere the car Avent over the bank; it travelled nearly 70 feet before it struck earth again, went another 17 feet on to a pumice bluff, and from there rolled 20 feet down to the Avater, where it was found submerged except for six inches shoAving above the river.

AVilliam Charles Coldicutt, hotel keeper, of Pahiatua, said that deceased left his hotel by car at 5.45 on May 17, saying that he Avas gong to Dannevirke for dinner. AA 7 itness thought he must have been the last man to sec lrm alive.

| Constable Skinner pointed ’out in evidence that it had been reported to him by a transport lorry driver that he noticed the fence broken away at 11 p.m. on May 17. The tragedy therefore occurred at some time previous to that, but there Avas nothing to shoAV Avliere deceased had been since leaving his hotel at Palratua. Except for his Avife and child, deceased had no knoAvn relatives in Neiv Zealand, said Mrs Lyons, of Berhampore, Wellington, a cousin of Mrs Johnston, in giving evidence. He had been marred for 12 years and had an eleven-year-old daughter. Witness had knoAvn deceased for 18 years and had al- . ways found him a very steady _ sober man. Stic had never knoiyn him the iAvorse of liquor. His married life wasj ' fiappy and his first consideration had always been for his u-ife and child. Mr Lyons, avlio Avas present, expressed the thanks of deceased’s widow for the care and attention Avith which Constable Skinner and other police had made their inquiries and conducted the search ior the body. Constable Skinner paid a tribute to the services of Mr Brockie, the Gorge overseer, avlio, he declared, had been prompt and efficient in his aid. It was not the first time he had rendered valuable assistance folloAving an accident in the Gorge. The Coroner returned a A r erdict as stated.