LUCY GOLDFINCH'S DEATH.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 282, 6 December 1907, Page 5

LUCY GOLDFINCH'S DEATH.

THE IS QUEST,

A coronial enquiry was held at the Courthouse yesterday morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of tho school-girl, Lucy Goldfinch on Wednesday morning. The enquiry was conducted by the District Coroner, Captain Mowlem, the following being the jury:— Messrs A. Hopwood" (foreman), A. McWilliams, H. M. Garner, A. S. Williams, H. S. Wycherley, and S. T. Hunt. Mr Cooper appeared on behalf of the relatives of deceased, and Mr Meatyard for Mr E White.

The first witness was Sidney Goldfinch, a brother of the deceased child. Her age was said to be twelve years and seven mouths. He first s w her that evening about seven o clock, when she was in an unconscious state. Death took place at about a quarter to eight on Wednesday morning. The girl was perfectly healthy and never complained of sickness.

The medical man who was called iu to attend deceased after the accident, Dr Putnam, described the state in which he found her. She was suffering greatly from shock and was unconscious, and had a very large bruise at the right side of the back of the head. The next day she regained consciousness and her condition improved, but in the evening she sank and never again rallied. The cause of death was concussion and possibly laceration of the brain as the result of the accident she had sustained. The injury to the head was a very severe one.

A schoolmate of deceased, Alice Stubbs, described how, when going home from school on Monday afternoon, they were indcced to have a lide by a man whom she did not know, but whom in Court she identified as being E. White. The horse's pace, which at first was slow, soon became much faster and the two.girls slipped off. Her companion struck the ground first and she herself fell on top of her. She had never seen the man before and did not know why he was so anxious to give them a ride. A witness of tlie accident, D. B. Harris, stated that the children fell off when the horse began to buck somewhat.

Another schoolmate, Edwin Lorck, said that when the girls were put on the horse White advised them not to go too fast. Although he was fairly close he did nothing to assist the children after the accident.

Charles Denmau said that White, to whom he spoke just before the occurrence, was not sober, but, was "betwixt and between."

Emanuel White was next called, but was advised by counsel not to say anything. He persisted, however, in doing so. He stated that the pony was perfectly quiet and there was no trouble in gettiug the children on its back. Its pace was not more than a'canter but the girls lost their balance and fell off backwards. Hβ denied that he was even partially drunk at the time, and said that he had had no misgivings about putting the children on the horse. At first they refused to ride, but later on took their turn after seeing the other children do likewise.

The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said that there -was no doubt that the death was brought about by an accident, but what they would have to consider was whether any one had contributed towards the accident by any negligence or otherwise.

The jnry retired for an hour and returned "a unanimous verdict that on the afternoon of the 4th December, 1907, deceased, Lucy Goldfinch, died at her parents' residence, Main street, from injuries received by falling off Emanuel White's horse in Prince's street on 2nd December, also that White contributed to the accident by placing deceased on the horse and neglecting to take proper precaution for their safety. ARREST OP WHITE. Emanuel White was at oners arrested and charged before Captain Mowlem, J. P., with manslaughter. Accused was remanded till 10 o'clock on Monday morning, and was released on his own recognisance of £25.