Death of Mr Pelham Jones.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5018, 28 May 1889, Page 3

Death of Mr Pelham Jones.

.The following is the principal evidence given at the inquest on the late Mr Pelham Jones on Saturday afternoon : Frederick Tugwoad deposed that he was a trainer, residing at Maihibiki, and ho trained a horse for the deceased, whq -syas a farmer near Waimate, Witness believed the deceased was not married, and that deceased had been between 12 and 15 years in the colony. He had a marriei sister named Mrs Day. He came to Dunedin on Wednesday night last, and witness brought his horse down on the next day. The deceased rode his horse in (he Hurdle Race, but witness did not see what happened to him. Hearing people say that Mr Jones was down, witness went across to tjie place, and deceased was then being carried ajray on a hqrdle. Witness vyas witji the deceased all night, but ho never spoke. Was present when Mr Jones died, about 11.33. Mr Jones was a very plucky rider, but witness thought he had never been quite iig)it since b° had a b a 4 fall in Dunedin between two and three years ago. He wanted the deceased to give some one else the mount yesterday morning, but he would bo}; c}o it. Young Cotton wanted to ride the hprse, but tlqe deceased §aid, “ Oh, nonsense; I ijm going to ride myself.” Dp Ogston stated that he was called to see the deceased. Ife examined bin* and found no bones broken or dislocated, and he came fo fhe conclusion that the deceased’s head was injured—probably fractured. He was never sensible. Witness waited with him till 5 p.m., and then left him in charge of Mr Cook, whom he had summoned from the hospital, and sent a competent nurse to take care of him. Witness visited him again about 7.30, when he was still unconscious, almost pulseless. Witness saw the body this morning and from a rough examination made out a fracture of the base of the skull. That produced concussion of the brain, which was the papse of death. fclppstahlo Brennan stated fhat he saw deceased fall. His horse struck the hurdle heavily fell and rolled over the deceased. Witness immediately dismounted and lifted the deceased off the course. He was unconscious and witness handed him over _to a □umber of people who came up, witness leaving to get medical assistance. There was nothing specially dangerous at the hurdle at which 'deceased fell. Robert H. EJiodes, residing at Blue Cliffs, stated that he kpow the deceased. Witness knew that he was a Harrow boy, ars he thought he was an Englishman. The coroner, in submitting the evidence to tbe jury, said the case appeared to bo one of pare accident. The deceased was engaged in a pastime that was always attended by more or less danger. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally killed in a hurdle race by his horse falling and rolling over hina,”