INQUEST

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 8

INQUEST

DEATH OF MRS STOBO SEQUEL TO COLLISION WITH BICYCLE That Jane Rankin Stobo died in Cairnsmore Hospital on May 13 from a fracture of the skull as the result of being knocked down on May 1 by a bicycle ridden by a young schoolboy, was the verdict returned by the Coroner (Mr G. Cruickshank) in the Coroner’s Court yesterday afternoon. James Stobo, a teacher, said that he saw his mother on April 30, on the evening prior to the accident when she appeared to be in good health. He understood that she was under treatment for her heart. To his knowledge she had had no heart attacks prior to the accident. Her hearing was particularly good and her eyesight was quite normal for one of her age.

Dr Robert Henry Hogg stated that on May 1 he was called to a house where he found deceased unconscious. She was bleeding at the nose and was bruised on the left side of the face. He ordered her removal to Cairnsmore Hospital. On further examination there she was found to be suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull. He saw her daily. She partially recovered consciousness for a few days, then she lapsed into unconsciousness and died of heart failure on Sunday, May 13. Her injuries were such as would be caused by falling against a hard substance. They were all on the left side. Her previous health would not affect the result of this accident. Some days before the accident he had seen deceased when her heart had been troubling her. Norman Gilbert Le Sueur, a schoolboy, 11 years of age, stated that on May 1, he was riding a push-bicycle along Y’than street coining towards town. He had another boy, Albert Crighton, on the bar of his bicycle. He saw a lady crossing in front of him whereupon he made a noise like a motor horn. Deceased did not seem to take any notice. He called out and she seemed to hesitate. He did not know which way she intended to go. He was travelling on the lefthand side of the road and deceased stepped off the footpath. He struck her and they all fell over. A moment later he was on his feet. Two men rushed to the scene of the accident and carried deceased into a house nearby. The boys had not been travelling fast. Albert Crighton, a schoolboy, aged 11 years, stated that he was riding home from school about 5.30 with the boy Le Sueur. When they saw the lady crossing the road Le Sueur made a noise like a motor horn. Deceased seemed to hear because she stepped back. They were trying to pass her when she stepped back. If she had not done so she would have gone on in safety. George Leslie McFarlane, a bookbinder, stated that at ten past five on May 1 he was riding in a southerly direction along Y’than street. He saw the two boys riding north, coming towards him. They ran into deceased whom he saw leaving the footpath. The boys were about eight or ten yards away when one whistled and then* yelled: “Ilbok out!” Witness looked round and saw them run into the lady. The boys were on their correct side and deceased crossed at a regular crossing. In his opinion the boys had enough room to pass either in front or behind deceased, but they swerved towards the middle of the road. She did npt seem to hesitate, passing straight on. After the accident he helped to lift deceased up and two men carried her into a neighbouring house. If there had been only one boy on the bicycle he would have had more control of it.

William Alexander Y’ates, a draughtsman, stated that at 5.20 p.m. on May 1 he was standing about 30 feet from the corner of Y’than and Earn streets. Prior to the accident he noticed the boys. He was talking to a friend when he heard a crash and, on looking round, he saw deceased and the boys lying on the road. He helped to carry deceased into a house nearby. Quarter of an hour later he came out and saw the boy Le Sueur waiting outside and asked him his name, which he gave.

John Robert Nicholson, who was driving a dray on the day mentioned, saw deceased crossing the road and also noticed the boys on the correct side of the road. The boys were travelling at a slow pace—anything up to five miles per hour. In delivering his verdict, the Coroner remarked that it was a very sad accident. The boys were young and unfortunately could not avert a collision.