ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 20207, 18 June 1927, Page 5

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

STRUCK BY MOTOR. INQUEST PROCEEDINGS. The inquest was concluded yesterday before the Corner, Mr. G. Cruickshank, S.M., concerning the death of William Elliott, an inmate of Lome Farm, who died on May 5 following on injuries received by being knocked down by a motor car on May 2. The inquiry was conducted by Sergeant Fox. The Sergeant explained that proceedings had been stayed in order to allow the police to conduct inquiries regarding the matter. So far there was nothing definite to establish who was responsible for the accident, unless the evidence to be called that day resulted in the confirmation of suspicions. t Dr. E. H. H. Taylor, a medical practitioner at the Southland Hospital, said that he knew deceased as an inmate of Lome Farm. On the evening of May 2 witness attended Elliott who was suffering from superficial injuries to the scalp, he was bleeding in the right ear and was semiconscious. His condition suggested fairly severe concussion. During the following days witness attended the sufferer regularly until he died on the afternoon of May 5. The cause of death was congestion of the lungs and heart failure following on concussion of F the brain. The predisposing causes could have been brought about by his being knocked down by a motor car. Deceased’s previous health was quite sound considering his age. He was, however, somewhat feeble in his movements.

Gideon Scott, a resident of North Invercargill, stated that he had known deceased by sight. He remembered seeing Elliott on the North Road in the vicinity of Cooper’s corner at about 5.30 p.m. on the evening of May 2. Witness was motoring back to Invercargill in a Ford car. It was dusk and he had to swerve to pass the old man. Witness was quite satisfied that his car had not struck Elliott. He passed the deceased approximately at Mr. J. Russell’s gate, about two chains from the hotel. Witness had good lights on his car but did not see deceased after passing him. At the time he had remarked to a passenger who was with him (Mr Coster) that “he had been pretty close to Elliott.” He knew nothing of the accident until the next morning when he saw an account of it in the paper. Charles F. Coster, a retired farmer, residing in Heriot street, substantiated Scott’s remarks.

Constable Beadle, of Waikiwi, said that he had known the deceased for the past three years. Elliott generally walked along the bitumen when he was out, a practice against which witness had warned him. The morning after the accident witness visited deceased who stated that he was 72 years old. His version of the affair was that he had left the Home after tea to go to the hotel. He had walked on the bitumen track, and when he was coming back he was struck by a car which came up behind him. The impact had knocked him down and the car had continued on. He could not say what make of car it was. Elliott had stated that he had left the hotel just before six o’clock. He did not have any liquor. Continuing, witness stated that on the morning of May 3 he found a pool of blood on the gravel between Langmuir’s store and Russell’s gate, about three chains from the the latter and roughly Hbout six chains from the hotel.

Norman John Ward, an employee at Langmuir’s store, Wallacetown, stated that about a quarter to or ten to six he was standing in the doorway of the shop. He heard a commotion along the road in the direction of the hotel. It sounded as if something had fallen from a car and looking along he noticed a motor car swerving to the right hand side of the road. It was a Ford car. Witness called out to the driver as he passed but he took no notice. The only light was a spot light on the right hand side of the wind shield. He could not estimate the speed of the car at the time but he knew that the speed was accelerated when the car swerved. He then ran along to where he could see something lying on the road and found it to be deceased. He was about 50 yards from the store and about six or seven chains from the hotel. Witness ultimately assisted in conveying the injured man to the Lome Farm Hospital. He was bleeding from the head but was conscious and stated that he had been struck by a motor car. About three minutes before the accident occurred a large car passed the store but it was not a Ford.

F. S. D. Mumford, a barman at the Wallacetown Junction Hotel, gave evidence to the effect that on the night of the accident deceased had left the hotel at about five minutes to six.

William John Harris, son of the licensee of the Wallacetown Junction Hotel, who was with Ward at the time, supported the latter’s evidence. He also stated that the car was a five-seater Ford. Witness was at the hotel when it closed at six o’clock, and cycled to the store after. Therefore, he considered that the accident had occurred after six o’clock. The deceased was not on the road when witness went along to the store. Witness estimated that he had been at the store about five minutes before the accident occurred. He would say that it happened at 6.10 p.m., at the earliest.

Hugh Agnew, a taxi proprietor, stated that he left Wallacetown Junction at five minutes to six in his car for Lome Farm. He did not see the old man Elliott on the road. Witness left Lome Farm for Invercargill at about 6.10 p.m. He noticed a car coming to Cooper’s corner from the direction of the hotel. The manner in which the car took the comer caused witness and others in his car to think the driver had had liquor. The car was a five-seater Ford and there was a square patch on the back of the hood. Another peculiarity at the back of the car was the spare tyre. This was tied on with a piece of binding twine and rope. He particularly noticed these peculiarities because he pulled up three times on the journey into town and the Ford passed him each time. At that time witness knew nothing of the accident but heard about it later on in the evening. Some five or six days later he saw a car of exactly the same description as that he had noticed on the evening of the accident. This was in the day time and the same peculiarities existed. He noticed the driver of the car and also took the number, which he later gave to the police. Mr. Gideon Scott was driving. In reply to Sergeant Fox witness stated that on the night of the accident he noticed that there were two people in the Ford car. Constable Mathews said that in company with Constable Beadle he had carried out exhaustive inquiries. He examined Scott’s car and found it to tally with the description given by Agnew. The lights were good but he did not notice any spot light. In answer to the Coroner Mr Scott stated that there was no spot light on his car. In coming round Cooper’s corner on the night of the accident he kept on his correct side of the road.

The Coroner found that deceased died from concussion of the brain caused by being struck by a passing motor car while he was walking on the Riverton road at Wallacetown.