INQUEST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 5

INQUEST.

Lawrence Simpson, EBq., Coroner, on Thursday last held an inquest on the body of Mary Ann Eastman, who met her death by the upsetting of a spring cart, caused by a large stone, placed on the road for the purpose of keeping the traffic in the centre or metalled part of the road. The first witness called was Andrew George Moody, miner, who, on being sworn, said — I reside at Paddy's Point, on the Waitahuna Road. I recognise the body now before the jury as that of Mary Ann Eastman, of Havelock. I saw her alive at a quarter to one o'clock p.m. this day. I was coming along Grant's Cutting on my way to Lawrence, when I was overtaken by Edwin Purdy and the deceased, who were driving in a spring cart. They drew up and 1 got into the cart and drove along with them. We stopped at Chalmers' for about 15 minutes, Purdy had two nobblers of brandy, and I had two of ginger wine ; we then proceeded on our way to Lawrence. We got nearly a quarter of a mile from Chalmers' when a waggon was seen in front of us. When we overtook it we were passing it on the right hand side coming towards Lawrence, and were abreast the front of the waggon when the spring cart upset. It was so sudden that I can hardly describe how it happened. I found myself beneath the cart all butmyleftleg. Purdy was driving and was quite sober. The deceased sat on the left hand of Purdy, and I sat behind him on the right hand side. I can't say if any one was beneath the cart besides myself. I called to the waggoner to lift the cart off my leg, and he did so immediately. When the cart was raised I saw the deceased lying with the upper part of her body between the hind legs of the horse, which was lying partly on its side, quite quiet. Having assisted Purdy to remove the deceased from the horse's legs, I went for Dr. Stewart, who was coming towards Lawrence with Mr. Chalmers. There was plenty room for us to pass the waggon on the off side. Examined by Mr. Mears, foreman of the jury — The cart canted over on the off or gully side of the road. We were walking fast when the upset took place. In answer to Constable Titchener, it was elicited that the deceased had no relations at Waitahnna ; she had a sister in Dunedin. Witness had known her for about three years. Edwin Purdy, sworn, said — I am a miner. I identify the body now before the jury as that of Mary Ann Eastman. I left Havelock- in company with the deceased about 11 o'clock in the morning, and was driving in a spring cart. We overtook the last witness at Grant's Cutting. We were coming to Lawrence. We stopped at Chalmers' for about five minutes, and T had two nobblers of brandy ; the deceased had a glass of sherry. We overtook a waggon abont 200 or 300 yards from Chalmers', and I was endeavouring to pass the waggon on the off side, where th-.re was a large stone on the road, when the near side wheel struck it', and immediately afterwards the off wheel went into a. small rut, and our ' spring cai-t capsized. We all fell imcler- \ neath. the cart. The cart rested on my shoulder. I felt the deceased underneath the cart, my arm was across her. The driver of the waggon came and raised the cart, and the last witness and myself got from beneath it. The deceased lay on her back, with one arm under the back of the horse ; her head was near the hind legs of the horse. The deceased never spoke after the accident. Dr. Stewart and Mr. Chalmers came up about two or three minutes after the accident. I did not call to the waggoner to pull further off the road, as there was plenty of room for us to pass. I did not observe the stone until the wheel struck it. The stone was one of those placed to keep the traffic on the metal. We were going at a very slow jog trot at the time the accident occurred. Daniel Campbell, sworn, said — I am a waggoner, and reside chiefly in Dunedin. T was on my way to Lawrence to-day. I first saw the spring cart near Mr. Tyson's. The other witnesses and the decased first passed me there. I passed them again at Mr. Chalmers' They were driving at a very steady pace, and overtook me again near the flaming. I did not observe them coming, or hear them call to me. I was walkiug on the near side of my horses when I heard a crash. I ran round the head of my leaders and saw the cart turn completely over. The horse was on its back, I saw a part of deceased's dress, also one of the men's legs. I lifted the cart, and the men got up and took deceased from under the cart. I was at the back ' of the cart, so I cannot speak as to the position of the deceased. Purdy remarked that the deceased was quite dead. By Mr. Coverlid — I believe the stone i to be the cause of the accident. It jolted the off wheel into the ru 1 ;. There was plenty room for them to pass on the water table. Had they called out 1 would have pulled on one side to let them pass. Dr. Stewart, sworn, said — I am surgeon of the Tuapeka Hospital. I was coming in company with Mr. Chalmers towards Lawrence, at about a quarter to one o'clock p.m. I met the witness, Moody. He told me they had a capsize, and the woman was killed. I had previously passed the parties in a spring cart on my way to' Mr. Chalmers. I rode on and saw the deceased lying on her back. I got off and found she was dead. The horse I was nearly on its back. I observed a; large quantity of blood on the ground and in the cart. Blood was oozing from the ears of the deceased. I have since, in company with Dr. Halley, made an examination of the deceased. We found an I indention on the left side of the posterior part of the skull, and a semicircular fracture extending across the posterior part of the head, about five inches in length towards the right side. I consider the fracture to be most likely caused by a blow from the iron or wooden rail on the Jjgft side of the cart. Underneath the jHShcan be seen a bruise, and then the BBmree can be discerned. The deceased HHHgitting on the left side, which side the ground last, and consequently would come down with great force. The fracture of the skull and the shock caused the rupture of the cerebial arteries, which, in my opinion, caused the death of the deceased. Dr.- Halley, sworn, said — I am a qualified medical practitioner, residing in Lawrence. I examined the body now '■ before the jury, with Dr. Stewart. I fully concur in what he has said as to the cauße of the death of the deceased.

The Coroner here said that although it did not appear to be necessary in this case, he would take the opportunity of remarking that waggoners generally evinced a great reluctance to pull off the road to allow other vehicles to pass. Frequent complaints were made to him about the same thing. The driver of the coach often experienced delay and difficulty in passing waggons through this practise. The jury retured a verdict of accidental death, caused by the upsetting of a spring cart. The jury added the following rider, in which the Coroner fully concurred : — That in their opinion the practise of putting large stones on the road, apparently for the purpose of confining the traffic to the centre or metalled part of the road, is highly dangerous to traffic, and ought to be discontinued, and some other means devised for the carrying out the object in view.