THE PUKERAU FATALITY

Southland Times, Issue 19389, 1 November 1924, Page 4

THE PUKERAU FATALITY

INQUEST OPENED AT GORE. (From our Correspondent). An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Joseph Kearns, who was killed in a motor accident near Pukerau on Wednesday evening, was held at Gore yesterday afternoon, before Mr A. Martin, District Coroner. Sergeant Tonkinson represented the Police and Mr R. B. Bannerman watched proceedings on behalf of the Ocean Accident Insurance Company. The body was identified by Joseph Kearns, of Oamaru, as that of his son, who was a single man, aged 24. Joseph E. Rogers, registered medical practitioner, of Gore, said he remembered the evening of Wednesday, October 29. About 6.30 p.m. he received a message to proceed to where the accident had occurred on the Gore-Pukerau road. On arriving there he examined the body of deceased, and found that he was quite dead. He also found that he had received a fracture of the right leg, a fracture of the left thigh and an abrasion on the left side of the forehead. Blood was issuing from the ears, indicating a fracture of the base of the skull. The injuries which he had sustained were the cause of death. He had the body removed to the morgue at Gore, and notified the police by telephone. He thought death would be instantaneous. To Sergeant Tonkinson: The body had been shifted before he arrived at the scene of the accident. He got there at about 6.45 p.m., and it was quite light then. Sergeant Tonkinson asked for an adjournment until Monday week, at 12.30 pun. This was granted.