It is with pleasure our readers will learn that William Godwin, the young man who was so seriously hurt on returning from the fire at Newton on Wednesday morning, is progressing very favourably. He is recovering rapidly, and will probably be able to leave the Hospital in a few days. We are requested, however, to remind his friends who may be desirous of seeing him, and congratulating him on his recovery, that they cannot be admitted to see him. In the present stage of his recovery the greatest quietness is necessary, and any undue excitement would hare the effect of at least retarding his progress towards perfect health. -NZ Herald, 21/1/1878.
The unfortunate man, William Godwin, who was .severely injured by an accident on the morning of the Newton fire, was dying yesterday, and in all probability is now dead. Sub-Inspector Pardy and Captain Fergusson proceeded to the Hospital yesterday to take the poor fellow's depositions, but he was not in a fit state to give any account of the accident. Should he die, an inquest will be held on the remains. -NZ Herald, 30/1/1878.
The young man William Godwin died a few minutes after eleven o'clock this morning in the Provincial Hospital, after suffering great pain. An inquest will be held on the body to-morrow afternoon, before Dr Goldsbro and a jury. -NZ Herald, 31/1/1878.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO WILLIAM GODWIN.
INQUEST ON THE BODY
An inquest on the body of William Godwin, the young man who was killed through injuries received by the upsetting of the Salvage Corps drag, was held at the Provincial Hospital this afternoon, before Dr. Goldsbro, and a jury, of whom John William Melton was chosen foreman.
The jury proceeded to the dead-house, and examined the body, after which the evidence was taken.
Mr Sub-Inspector Pardy appeared for the police. Dr Philson deposed that the deceased, who was 20 years of age, was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state from the consequences of being overturned in a van. Blood was oozing from the left ear. In a few days he rallied, so that he was able to walk about, but never fully recovered his full mental faculties, and could not remember anything about the van accident. On Friday last he was seized with convulsions, 7 attacks occurring before death. At the post-mortem examination it was found that the squamous portion of the left temporal bone was extensively fractured, and death resulted from inflammation of the brain from physical injury. Dr. Wine gave same similar testimony. -Auckland Star, 1/2/1878.
THE INQUEST YESTERDAY.—(CONCLUDED.)
The following evidence, in addition to that which appeared in our yesterday's issue, was taken at the inquest on the body of William Godwin, yesterday afternoon: —
Dr Wine stated that he did not notice any smell of liquor on the deceased when he attended him immediately after the accident.
John Butler deposed that he was in charge of the Salvage Corps on the morning of the 16th inst., when the fire took place. They started from Auckland about 2.20 a.m., the deceased being one of those in the break, which was drawn by two horses. A man named Gorman was driving. They left the fire about a quarter past six o'clock that morning in the same vehicle, Gorman still driving. They proceeded along Karangahape-road, Svmonds-street, Waterloo Quadrant, Princes-street, and through the Barrack Reserve. They passed the Grammar School in going into Wellesley-street East. The horses were cantering down the road, and in turning into Wellesley-street the driver reduced the speed by putting on the break. The break capsized, and they were all thrown out. He believed it was caused by the wheel catching the break, and canting it over in the turn round the corner, which was too sharp. All of the Corps were more or less injured by the fall. He saw deceased lying on his side close to where the witness fell. He appeared to be insensible. Blood was oozing from his ear. Witness raised him up, and had him removed to the Park Hotel, and called in Dr Wine to see him. The driver at the time of the accident appeared to be sober. Deceased was perfectly sober at the time.
To a juryman: The reason of their coming round Princes-street, &c, was to drop several persons who had been assisting at the fire, at their homes.
Edward Gough, painter, gave similar evidence.
Thomas Henry Jones deposed that he was standing at his door in Wellesley-street when the accident occurred. He could not say at what speed the horses were coming. He could not say that Gorman was the worse for liquor.
James Smith, the owner of the break, said the vehicle might be driven in safety around a corner at the rate of nine or ten miles an hour. It required more room to turn in than an ordinary vehicle. He would have driven himself had he thought that Gorman was unfit to do so.
Sergeant Clarke deposed that he went to Mr Smith's stable yards at about 20 minutes past 10 o'clock on the morning in question, and saw him drunk. He refused to give any information.
This was the whole of the evidence, and the jury, after a short deliberation returned a verdict of accidental death, with a rider attached to the effect that the drivers of vehicles should be instructed to use more care in passing dangerous corners. They also requested the coroner to censure the driver.
Gorman was called into the room, and addressed by the Coroner as follows: James Gorman, I am requested by the jury to say that you have narrowly escaped having to take your trial on the serious charge of manslaughter. Had any person warned or cautioned you as regarded the rate you were driving, and the accident had occurred after, you would certainly be sent to trial on that charge, but the jury has taken a reasonable view of the matter, and although they think you were guilty of recklessness and are not pleased with your subsequent intoxication, you are now cautioned that should you be again guilty of similar conduct this case will go against you, and they desire me to caution you never to be reckless again. You are now discharged. -Auckland Star, 2/2/1878.
The remains of the young man, William Godwin, cut off in the prime of life by the upsetting of a conveyance, in which he and other members of the Salvage Corps were seated on returning from the recent disastrous fire at Newton, were conveyed to their last resting place yesterday in the Church of England Cemetery. The corpse was followed by nearly six hundred persons, who were desirous of paying their last tribute of respect to the deceased. In the solemn procession we noticed representatives of the Odd Fellows, Fountain of Friendship, and the Foresters (City of Auckland Court), orders to which Mr Godwin belonged; also members of the Fire Brigade, Salvage Corps, Naval Brigade, and Juvenile Foresters. The funeral service of the Church of England was impressively read by the Rev. Dr. Kidd, and the N. G. of the Oddfellows and the C. R. of the Foresters read the services of the order, each casting a sprig of thyme on the coffin as they passed the grave. The deceased was genial-hearted and companionable, and by the exercise of brotherly virtues won many friends; he was, moreover, an artist of much promise, and has left behind him several creditable pictures. He was unmarried, and had no relations in the Colony. His sister is respectably married in California, and his aged father still resides in England. -Auckland Star, 4/2/1878.
A very handsome monument has just been ejected on the grave of William Godwin in the Church of England cemetery, and it is a worthy memorial to a worthy young man. The masonry work was by Mr Wm. Thomas, stone-mason, of Lorne-street, and the sculpture by Mr John Taylor. The whole comprises a neat headstone and wall, in cast-iron enclosure. The mounted pedestal is of white Tasmanian stone, and on the monument appears a neat inscription, surrounded by a fireman's helmet, belt, pouch, and tomahawk. The inscription runs thus: — "To the memory of William Godwin, died 29th January, 1878, aged 28 years; who died from injuries received by the upsetting of the Underwriters' Fire Patrol and Salvage Corps conveyance, on the morning of the 16th January, 1878. This stone was erected by the members of the above Corps, of which he was a member; also by the Auckland Fire Brigade, to which Corps he formerly belonged; and by his intimate friends of the Oddfellows and Foresters, of which Societies he was an esteemed member." -Auckland Star, 1/6/1878.
Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland.
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