THE GORE MOTOR CAR FATALITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2701, 20 December 1905, Page 29

THE GORE MOTOR CAR FATALITY.

' fFfcoic Or* Own Corbespondent.7 GORE, December 15. The inquest touching the death of Margaret Winsloe, the victim of the motor car fatality on show day, was continued to-day. j[. G. Winsloe, husband of the deceased, gave evidence to the effect that the car at the time of the fatality was travelling at the rate of cix or seven miles an hour. Deceased was sitting in the hack part of the car. "When witness first noticed the liorse and cart they were fully 50 yards away. The horse appeared frightened, and crossed the road towards him. The horse fcore down on the car, but he could not say .whether it was with or against the driver's will. Witness foresaw an accident, and just before the collision actually happened he called out to his wife to look out. The motor car driver could have steered nearer the footpath, and had he done so witness supposed no accident would have occurred. •Witness saw the shaft of the cart strike his •wife under the right arm and lift her and ,the boy on her lap right out of the back of the car. The horse continued for a few yards after the- collision. Witness was of opinion that the driver of the cart could not have had the horse under i control, or the collision would not have occurred, as he Shad plenty of room on the road. Witness's •wife died within half an hour of the collision.

Dr Matthews gave medical evidence that 'death was due to shock and internal hemorrhage from broken ribs. John L. Whittingham gave evidence- that lie was the driver of the cart that collided with the car. The horse was quiet, and did not shy at motors. On the occasion of the collision he considered he was on .the right side of the road as long as he passed vehicles on his right side. He did mot think his horse bore down on the car, but was not prepared to say more. He thought the car pulled into him. He did not see the shaft strike the woman. He could not account for not seeing the collision take place. When he saw the car about 20 yards away he pulled into the middle of the road. The collision occurred too quickly for him to tell how it happened. He was not a teetotaller, but on the day of the collision he had no drink whatever. He could not offer any explanation of the accident. After the collision something caught the belly-band of the horse, and he •backed into the footpath. The harness was not damaged prior to the collision. Jas. M'Neil {driver of the car), John Petrie, and Constable Scandrett gave evidence. The jury returned the following verdict : " That the deceased met her death by being struck with the shaft of the trap driven by the witness Whittingham, and we are .further of the opinion that Whittingham did not exercise sufficient care in the management of his horse. No blame is attached to the driver of the motor car." Whittingham is summoned to appear at 'the court to-morrow morning to answer a charge of manslaughter.

GORE, December 16.

As the outcome of the verdict of the jury Sn the inquest touching the death of Mrs Martha Winsloe, at Gore, on Friday, Bth November, John Whittingham was to-day Oharg-ed before Messrs J. S. Millar and A. Martin J.P.s, with manslaughter. On the application of the police, accused wan remanded until Fridwr, S2nd_ instaiiti at 10.50

a.m. Accused was admitted to bail, himself in £100, and two sureties of £50 each.