ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13969, 2 August 1909, Page 6

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

INQUEST AT PLEASANT POINT. An jixiui-st was held at Pleasant I'oint Dii Saturday before the actingCoroner, Mr John Crawford J.l'., touching tlic death of John Boyd., farmer. Constable Crawford, appeared on behalf of the poliee 3 Mr Sutherland on behalf of the widow., and Mr Chas. Smith, was foreman of the jury. Donald Boyd, farm hand, nephew of the deceased, deposed that lie was ■working with his uncle, loading straw on to a dray. After loading iir> lie turned to get his coat, when he heard a cry, and saw his uncle in the act of falling, the wheel of the dray having gone into a. rut. His uncle landed on his head, and was unable to sixjak to him for about half an hour, when he asked for a drink of water, but could not driuk any. "Wituess kept wetting his lips and then propped him up with straw and went for assistance. Edwin Smith stated that ho was at the far end of his farm when Donald Boyd came for him with a horse and trap. He was very excited. They drove to deceased's house, where Mrs Boyd joined them, and they proceeded to the paddock where the accident happened, close on a mile away. The deceased was unconscious when they arrived, but later spoke,, when spoken to. Witness asked him what haa happened, and if he was in pain. He said lie had overbalanced, and was. as helpless as a child, could not move hand or foot. The three of them lifted lum into the trap, by putting a rug under him, took him home and put him to bed, and witness sent Donald, for Dr Paterson, who was absent, and Dr Burns was sent for; but it was nearly 5 o'clock before he arrived from Timaru. Georgina Boyd, widow of the deceased, said the first intimation shu had of the accident was from Donald: who said "Undo has met with an accident, through falling off the dray." She sent him for Mr Smith, and as soon as he arrived they all proceeded to the paddock in which the accident happened. Her husband was conscious when they arrived. She asked him if he would like a little whisky, and ho said not at present. He also said ho was in no pain, and directed them in lifting: him into the trap. After they put him to bed he went to sleep. About 1.30 he turned slightly and said he was dying, and then slept on. He was a very temperate man. About' 5 o'clock Dr Burns arrived. Deceased was then unconscious, and passed away in his sleep about 7.15. A certificate was handed in from Dr Burns ccrtifiying that death was caused by concussion and compression of tinlira in and dislocation of the cervical vertebrae. ' The jury were unanimous in their verdict of "accidental death tli rough falling off a load of straw," and thoy asked the acting-Coroner to convey their deepest sympathy to the widow and relatives in their sad liereavcmont. KILLED BY TRAIN. Per Press Association. WAIPAWA, July 31. An old native named Renata Te Bewa was killed by a train last night while walking on the line towards the pah. SUDDEN DEATH. •DUNEDIN, July 31. Mrs Mclntyre, aged sixty, died suddenly this morning at South Duncdin.