DRAGGED BY A HORSE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 11

DRAGGED BY A HORSE.

YOUNG MAN'S DEATH. A tragic fatality occurred yesterday afternoon, when Albert Milne McKenzie, aged about 20 years, met his death through being dragged by a horse. He was employed by Mr A. B. L. Smith, coal merchant, of Barbadoes Street, and at 4.15 p.m. started to take a horse to a paddock in Stapleton's Boad, Bichmond. He was on a bicycle, leading the horse. Shortly afterwards, Mr James Wilson, of 336 Tuam Street, saw the horse galloping along North Avon Road, dragging McKenzie. When the horse reached Stapleton's Road, McKenzie's head struck a culvert very heavily. The animal was not stopped till it reached Hill's Boad. It was then found that McKenzie had the rope tied round his wrist. Life, was extinct, and the body was badly bruised. Constable McLeod, of Bichmond, had the body removed to the morgue. Mr H. W. Bishop, coroner, held an inquest touching his death to-day. Alexander McKenzie, a joiner's machinist, of 207 Cambridge Terrace, said he was a brother of the deceas-l ed. Deceased was just over 20 years! of age. and was temporarily employ- j ed at the coal yard. As the result of 1 an accident he was deformed in the} right hand, and this evidently made! him lie the rope to his wrist. De-j ceased was not accustomed to horses. I He was quite healthy. Alfred Bertie Leslie Smith, employer of the deceased, a coal deal-' er, said deceased had been in his employ for the last seven months as an oflfce boy. He also had to do odd jobs. Deceased generally took the horses from the coal yard to the paddock, a distance of a mile and a half. Deceased had never had any trouble with the horses before. The horses were very quiet animals. Witness had previously warned deceased against tying the rope to his arm, and had never seen him lead the horse in that way. Witness saw deceased leave the yard on this particular occasion taking the horse to the paddock. Witness could not say how he was attached to the horse. Later he received a telephone message telling him of the accident. He went to the spot. The horse had never bolted in its life. Deceased was riding a bicycle, and one hand was employed in steering the machine.

James Wilson, carpenter, said he came on to North Avon Road from Leith Street yesterday at about '1.20 p.m., and he met a horse galloping and dragging a man, face downward. Witness attempted to stop the animal, but it turned up Stapleton Road. Witness followed. He called out to the man telling him to let go, but he then discovered that the man was fast to the horse. The horse stopped at the entrance to the paddock. The man turned over as if to free himself, and then the horse commenced to gallop on again. Farther on, the man's head struck a bridge. After crossing the bridge, the horse continued for about a quarter of a mile, and was finally slopped in Hill's Road. By this time the man was dead. Henry Robert Voice, an electric linesman, also gave evidence. The coroner recorded a verdict that the deceased was accidentally

killed by a bolting horse which was attached to his right wrist by a rope.