FATAL ACCIDENT AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4605, 30 January 1883, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

On Friday evening, a fatal accident happened to a man named Timothy Oronin, a farmer, living near Southbridge. It appears he had been to get some young gums for fenoing a stack, and must have fallen off the dray. His wife observing the dray pass the house went out to see what was the matter, and, on looking down the road, saw her husband lying dead.

An inqueßt wbb held at the Courthouse, Southbridge, on Saturday, before R. B. Willis, Esq., Coroner, and a jury of thirteen, of whom Mr G. F. Marshall was chosen foreman. After viewing the body, the following evidence was taken :—

Mrs Oronin, wife of deceased, said : The last time I saw him alive was about 2 o'olock on Friday afternoon. He wag at dinner, ani afterwards went to Mr Gillett's farm with £r dray for some gums. Ho had only one horse in the dray. It was not his own and was rather restive. The next thing I 6 aw was the horse passing the stock-yard gate about halfpast four. The horse was travelling fast, and I went out to see whcro it was going. I noticed my husband was not with the dray, and went and stopped the horse with great difficulty. Mr Gorman came and helped me to unyoko it. I thon went to look for my husband. When I had gone down the road about three-quarters of a inilo I saw tho dogs, and the body of deceased near them. I called to him several times, but ho never spoke, and I then caw ho was dead. Ho was lying almost on his face. I then went back for Mrs Craig. On the way, I met Mr Gorman and Mr Craig, who prooeeded with me to the body. Mr Gorman then went for the constable. Mr Oraig and myself staved until my husband's brothor came. Tho body was afterwards taken to Southbridge by the constable, about 10 o'clock the sante night. My husband had not been drinking to my knowledge before he left homo. He had not been drinking since Ohristmas.

Mr Gorman corroborated the evidonce of the last witness. The accused was lying partly on the left aide, with his face turned towards the ground, olose to the dray track. I don't think the wheel went over the head. There aro no stones on the road. In my opinion the acoidont occurrod through the bad state of the road. There is a hill at the spot, and I fancy in coining down it the horso began to trot, causing tho poles in tho dray to shake, and frighten the horse. I think deceased was in the dray, and tried to jump out and hold the horso, and in getting out slipped and struck his head against the wheel. I consider the road is the worst in the district.

Several other witnesses gave evidence, and the jury returned a vordicfc of " Accidental death," adding a rider •• that had tho road been in a proper state of repair, the acoident would probably not hare oecurrod."