THE GISBORNE TRAP ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11534, 20 November 1900, Page 5

THE GISBORNE TRAP ACCIDENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.--OWN CORRESPONDENT.] <. ■' • Gmborne, Monday. At the inquest on the body of Mary Malone, of Makauri, killed through the trap accident in Gladstone Road on Saturday evening, the evidence showed that, accompanied by her brother, aged 17 years, Miss Malone left home for Gisborne early in the evening, and after remaining in town for some time left in a single buggy, shortly after ten o'clock. Everything appeared to be all right at starting, but when they had gone a mile the horse either shied or stumbled, and became unmanageable. It is presumed that the shaft must have broken, and, striking against the horse's feet, caused it to take fright. Deceased was driving at the time, but her brother took the reins from her and endeavoured to pull the horse up. Miss Malone becoming nervous, 'wished to jump out of the trap/, but her brother ordered her nos to do so. In her excitement, however, she either fell or jumped out, and, falling heavily on her head, fractured her skull. About 300 yds further on the horse got clear of the trap, and Mr. Malone, escaping without injury, went back to look for his sister. When he reached her she was alive and faintly moaning, but in a few minutes she expired. Upon examination, Dr. Cole pronounced life to be extinct, and stated that she could not have remained long alive after the fall. A verdict of accidental death was returned.