INQUESTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 24

INQUESTS.

AN AGONISING DEATH. Mr J. R. Bartholomew (coroner) continued the inquest in the Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon as to the death of Robert Bernard Reany, 46 years of age, who was found pinned to the ground by a fallen tree at Ratanui, after suffering agonies for eight days. The unfortunate man was found by a search party on the 14th inst. and died on the 15th. Malcolm Allen, farmer, at Ratanui, said that ho knew deceased 'well. They lived half-a-mile apart. He (witness) was one of a search party that scoured the bush to find Reany. Witness and Messrs Slater and Overton found deceased lying on his right side with his left arm, near the shoulder, caught by a log. Deceased said, '"Malcolm, lift this log straight up," and repeated the l-equest over and over again. He said he never worked on Good Friday before, and that the' Lord must have sent the accident as a punishment. Witness raised him from his position and had him removed to the Dunedin Hospital. Guy Overton, teacher at Ratanui, said the deceased was quite conscious when he was found, and attributed the occurrence to accident. He said that he_ had been pinned at 12 o'clock on Good Friday. A verdict was returned that deceased died on April 15 from exhaustion, following on injuries caused by being crushed by a log at Ratanui on April 7. KNOCKED DOWN BY A MOTOR CAR. An inquest was then held concerning the death of John M'Kenzie, 80 years of ago, who was knocked down by a motor oar, driven along George street by Arthur E.rio Ellis on March 16, and who died on April 15. , Sub-inspcrtor conducted the inquiry, Mr W. L. Moore appeared for the driver of the car, and Mr Hanlon for the relatives of deceased.

Wm.-M'Lean stated that he was standing in front of the Robert Burns Hotel on March' 16, and saw a motor car travelling about 16 or 17 miles an hour. Witness saw the deceased knocked down by the car. Thp drn-er of the car pulled ur> immediately.

Samuel Win. Jarvis, tailor, said that on March 16 he was standing inside his shop about 65 paces from the scone of the accident, and saw a motor car going north. He made the remark that the motor car was going at a great rate. He estimated the speed at 20 miles an hour. He saw an old man knocked down at the intersection of George and London streets. The car was then clear of deceased. Witness saw deceased removed to the Hospital. John Clark, motorman employed by the City Corporation, stated that he was standincr waiting for a trnmcar and saw an old man crossing from Mollisons to London street. He saw a motor coming along George street going north. It was on its right side. The driver blew his horn about a chain distant /from the old man. The car was then going about eight miles an hour. The old man started to run out of the way of the motor car in the direction of London street. He succeeded in -clearing the car. but it swerved towards Mollisons and the old man, running back, was caught by it. There was no other traffic on the road. The car struck the old man. knocking,him down, and pushing him alongin front of it for about three feet. Witness thought the driver had pulled his car up remarkably well. The old man was pushed along on his back. Thomas Stanley Be-wlev, commercial traveller, said he saw the car going- slowly, and he also saw the old man crossing the road. He saw the car swerve towards Mollisons. The old man got a bit excited and turned back: and witness saw that he was knocked over by the car.

To Mr Moore: If the old man had not got excited and gone backwards, there would not have been any accident. John L. Davoren, commercial traveller, gave corroborative evidence, and said that the car knocked deceased down, and he struck the back of his head. The car did not actually go over deceased, but his legs were under the car. To Mr Mooro: Witness should say that the driver reversed his car. He considered the driver did every thing ho could to avoid an accident. Donald L. M'Lennan, employed by MolJjsojja (Ltd.), estimated the speed at which tho car was going at eight to nine miles an hour. The speed was being reduced as the car approached London street. The car swerved and was clear of_ tho old man, who appeared to get excited, and hurried back in the direction of the car. Witness saw the car strike the man, and carry him along about three feet. To Mr Moore: Witness would say Ellis (the motor car driver) pulled up promptly and did everything he could to avoid the accident. Constable Fairbanks stated that the driver of the car on being interviewed said that he reckoned ho was travelling about 10 miles an hour when the accident happened. Ho said further, that he would •"»\n cleared the old man if the latter "kept going." A verdict was returned that death was due to hypostatic pneumonia and exhaustion following on injuries received through being knocked down b.-n- a motor car driven by Arthur Eric Ellis. _ Tho evidence did not establish ahv ncerliVnv.™ "*> the part of the driver of the motor car.