ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 27

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

THE RECENT FATAL COLLISION

CONCLUSION OF THE INQUEST.

The adjourned inquest into the death of the late Bernard Riley was resumed at Mount Cook Police Station on Monday, before Mr James Ashcroft.

Michael’Cropp, labourer, deposed /hat he saw a person whom he was told "was .named Riley, in an express upon the night on which he met his death. He appeared to walk all right, and got up into the vehicle without difficulty. There was another man in the vehicle. There was nothing to cause "witness to connect the person with deceased except the fact that he was told at the time that the. man’s name was Riley. Dr Anson said the deceased came under his care on the night of the accident. Deceased died from shock. He had evidently been drinking heavily. Witness considered deceased showed signs of delirium. Frederick Gapes gave evidence that on the night cf the accident he met Riley near Searl’s Hotel. Witness saw he was in trouble with his horses, and so witness got into the express and drove it along Lambton quay as far as Kirkcaldie and Stains’. Near the City Council Chambers deceased insisted on driving. He then lit a match, and attempted to light one of the lamps, but witness could not say whether or not he succeeded. When witness left Riley the latter stated his intention cf driving straight up ’ Willis street. His road home lay in that direction. At tire time he left deceased witness thought that Riley was capable of driving the trap home.

John Halleran, express-driver, said he saw Riley on the night of the accident He walked straight when going to his express, but it was a hard matter to tell from his gait if he was drunk or sober. Witness thought he was the worse of liquor. Saw no lights on the trap. Witness once had a wheel of his express caught in the line. In such a case a certain amount of skill was requisite to get it out. If deceased was going to his home in Nairn street he was out of his way when on Jervois quay. John Lyons, police constable, gave evidence that he saw Riley on Lambton quay on the night of the accident. He seemed unfit to be in charge of horses. Witness heard Halleran ask Gapes if he would see Riley home safely, and Gapes replied affirmatively. The horses were restive.

James Hesie, engine-driver, deposed that he was in charge of the engine which left Te Axo Station on the night of January 22 at 9.20 o’clock. It had a large headlight on, and was travelling five miles an hour at the outside when witness was opposite Laery and Co. s. There witness suddenly got a glance of two horses about twenty yards in front of the engine. He whistled for brakes, sounded the engine whistle, shut off steam, and opened; the sand-valve &1-

most instantly, but the horses still came on. and a collision took place when the engine was nearly stopped. The engine did not go over Riley. He must have been thrown sideways, and have rolled under the first car. The trap must have been coming on to the line sideways. Had it been coming straight down the headlight of the engine would have allowed witness to discern the vehicle. Wit-ness-was positive that the wheels of the trap were not jammed in the rails.

William Williamson, fireman on the engine before-mentioned, said he observed deceased on witness’s side of the engine when he was eighty yards away. He had then plenty of room to pass. •When he drew close to the engine the horses appeared t-o take fright, and one pulled round on an angle toward the line and a collision occurred. The man did not. appear to be taking much notice of the horses, nor to be holding the reins tight. f

Several other witnesses gave evidence, . which tended to prove that the accident occurred to deceased while he was in an * unsober condition. The jury found that “ on the night of January 22nd, on Jervois quay, Wellington . a train collided with a vehicle driven 'by Bernard Riley, by which he received such injuries, that he "died therefrom at Wellington. Hospital; and that such death was accidental and by misadventure and not otherwise.” A rider Avas added to the verdict to the effect that the railway 'fine shorn J be protected ao as to ensure the safety of the public.

STRATFORD, January 28

A man named William West, aged about sixty-one years, fell dead at Toko last night. He was playing with some children, and complained of feeling faint, and went into a house, where he expired. West is supposed to be well known in racing circles.