DID OBSERVER WITNESS SUICIDE?

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2346, 16 January 1926, Page 9

DID OBSERVER WITNESS SUICIDE?

Unanswered Riddle to Newmarket Tragedy

NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO UPHOLD THEOSEY [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND Last Night. As a suggestion liiat deceased had committed suicide was made by a witness at the inquest to-day, into the death of Wm. Taylor, who was knocked down by a train at Newmarket last Saturday. The witness, a boardinghouse keeper said she watched de ceased approaching the railway line, from her window. In her opinion, there was no accident Deceased took his cap off and allowed himself to fall on to the line. Other evidence was to the effect that deceased was walking with his head down and seemed to be under the influence of liquor. Although the whistle was sounded and warning bells rang, he walked right into the engine. The fireman of the train said he saw deceased take off his cap am, walk more quickly, as if to cross in front of the train. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. There was not enough evidence to uphold the supposition of suicide. The driver and firemman of the train were entirely free of blame. CHINESE MOTORIST’S NEGLIGENCE. THREE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN MOTOR-CYCLISTS DEATH. AUCKLAND Last Night

An inquest was held to-day concerning the death of Ernest Whitehurst Neild, a motor cyclist, who was run over by a motor lorry in the Khyber Pass on January 9. It was stated Neild was passing the motor lorry going up a rise, when he suddenly slackened and the bumper of a motor car, driven by Norman Ah Chee, fruiterer, which was following behind hit the back of the motorcycle, the rider of which fell underneath the front wheel of the lorry. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death caused by falling under the wheel ct a motor lorry. The Coroner said he had to hnd negligence on the part of Ah Chee fo«not keeping a sufficient distance behind the motor cyclist. An Inquest was also held regarding the death of Emma Thorburn, an old lady who was walking across from the footpath In Broadway, Newmarket, on January 8 to board a tramcar, when she was knocked down by a motor car driven by Mrs Margaret Esther Rogers. , The Coroner said death was due to injuries received through being struck and run oyer by a motor car driven by Mrs Rogers, who was driving slowly at the time and did her best, by swerving to avoid injury to deceased who by hesitating when crossing the street, contributed to the risk of accident, but the driver of the motor was to blame in not observing the by-law which required drivers of vehicles to keep to the rear of a tram car which has stopped to take up or discharge passengers.