CORONER'S INQUIRY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3529, 4 February 1880, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUIRY.

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An inquest on tho body of the boy James Win. Arbury, hilled on Monday by the wheel of a dray passing over his neck in Edwards-street, was held at the Globo Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Mr G. N. Brassey, Coroner, and tho following Jury, of whom Mr Wm. Deeble was chosen Foreman '.—Messrs H. P. Driver, J. Danby, J, Townsond, C. Ahier, J. Eogarty, W. Newman, E. Walters, J. 11. Walsh, E. Woods, G, Henderson, and J. Saunders. The Jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken :— Dr Payno deposed that ho know the deceased. He was sent for by one of the warders of tho Hospital on Monday afternoon, who told him that there had been a bad accident. He nt once proceeded to the Hospital, and found the child quite dead. There was a very bad gash over the neck and throat, and from appearances he judged that death must have been instantaneous. He was informed at the time that the accident was caused by the wheel of a timber waggon passing over it. The wound was such as would be caused by the wheel of a dray.

Ji'obert Arbury deposod that he was a miner, and tho father of tho deceased. He last Baw him alivo on Monday mom. ing. He had no idea of the cause of death. It was 5 o'clock before he heard tho news. Tho child never had a day's sickness einco it was born, He was never subject to fits. William Ash by deposed that ho resided near the Karaka bridge, and was a carter. On Monday afternoon he was going round Walton's comer in Tommy's Lane from Sealey-street with a load of timber. This was about four o'clock, Two horses were attached to the dray. He wag in tho act of turning the corner, with the reins 6f the leader in his hands, when he noticed several boys clinging to the tail of tho dray. He let go the reins and drove tho boys away, and on returning, to resume control of tho horses he observed ono of the wheels passing over the child. He could not tell whether the boy was lying on his side, back or stomach, He appeared to be lying quite motionless. When he first saw him the wheel was passing over him, but it was a matter of impossibility for him to have stopped the animals in time. By jurors—When he left tho horses' heads he did not observe the child on the footpath. Ho might have come from tho off side, and witness not noticed him. Tho horses might have quickened their pace, and knocked him down. As soon as lie saw tte child he picked him up, and took him to the Hospital. After he picked the ehild up he gave a gasp, and never moved afterwards. He believed he was instantly killed. He exercised every precaution in driving round I the corner.

Frederick McAlpine, a bey of a nino years, deposed that he lived 'in Edwardstreet, Block 27. On Monday afternoon about 4 o'clock he was near Mr Walton's store, at the corner of Sealey and Edwards-slreet. He had just turned the corner, when he saw the child lying on the ground in front of the wheel of a dray driven by Mr Ashby, Witness thought he had been knocked down. There were several boys hanging on to the timber. The horses were walking quickly. He did not know whether the deceased was hanging on to the timber. His feet were lying from Walton's shop, and he was on his side. He must have come from the off side of the dray, Joseph L. Walton deposed that he was a storekeeper} residing in Edwards-street. He first saw the child a little before four o'clock. He was then in the front of witnesses shop door. His attention was first attracted by hearing Ashby crying out" Oh, oh!" and on going out he Baw that person taking up the body. Thomas Bee was also examined, his evidence being similar to that given by McAlpine.'

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of accidental death, and added a rider that no blame was attached to the driver of the cart.