ACCIDENTALLY KILLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 6

ACCIDENTALLY KILLED

DURIE HILL INQUEST FELL FROM BICYCLE “The verdict is that Allan Hector Abernethy ‘lied in the Wanganui Hospital at 7.45 a-m. on Alay 6, the cause of death being meningeal haemorrhage and fracture of the skull, accidentally sustained by deceased falling off his bicycle on Webb Road, Durie Hill, on May 5,” said the Coroner, Air J. IL Salmon, S.M., at nn inquest yesterday on the death of the late Air A. H. Abernethy. Dr. A. H- E. Wall said in his sworn statement that he was called to an accident in Webb Road, on Alay 5, at 7 p.m. He found Allan Hector Abernethy in the house of Air Weir. He bathed Abernethy’s wound and put him to bed at his home. Ho warned his wife that if any fresh signs showed or if he lapsed into unconsciousness, she should communicate with him. She did that about midnight. lie found sign* of bleeding inside the skull. He then ordered deceased to hospital. At the operation, it was found that the skull was cracked on the right side and that a blood-vessel between the skull and the brain had been lacerated. That was the cause of the bleeding. This was attended to but deceased passed away at 7.45 a.m. on Alay 6. The cause of death was meningeal haemmorrhagc and fracture of the skull-

Doctor Wall said there were no indications of deceased’s having been knocked off the bicycle. There were no signs of any injuries or abrasions except the injury to the skull. He must have fallen on his head.

John Sydney William Freeman, warehouseman, stated in his sworfi deposition, that he left home, 34 Durie 'i» 10, at 6.53 p.m. to go to drill. When at the junction of Durie Vale and Webb Road he heard groAis and went up Webb Road, where ne found a many lying on the road by a bicycle. He switched on his torch and found it w r as Air Abernethy. He picked up deceased who was badly injured and placed him on the side of the road. Another witness was sent to telephone for a doctor. The injured man was carried to Air Weir’s house. While waiting Air Abernethy said to witness: “What happened to me?" Witness said: “You fell off your bike.” Deceased then said: “What i/ a bike?” He did not seem to know where he was or what had happened. Air Abernethy was wearing an overcoat and this may have caught in the wheel, said witness, and caused the bicycle to conic down. There was a steep incline on Webb Road, and there was no doubt that Air Abernethy would fall heavily as he was coming downhill. There was not a great deal of loose metal on the road except at the sides. The road surface was rough, half the metal being exposed.

To the Coroner witness said he examined the bicycle. The handle-bars and seat were twisted which would be caused by the impact on the road. The Coroner then delivered his ver-