James Arthur McQueen, 1924-30/10/1943. "the saddle girth broke"

FATAL FALL FROM HORSE

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, this day. While James Arthur McQueen (19) was riding a horse along a street in the city yesterday afternoon the girth of the saddle broke and he was thrown heavily to the ground, sustaining injuries to which he succumbed this morning.  -Auckland Star, 30/10/1943.

DEATHS. 

McQUEEN. — On October 5 30, 1943, at Dunedin (result of accident), James Arthur, dearly beloved son of Mrs M. A. French, 4 Longwood Avenue, Mornington, and the late William McQueen, of Ravensbourne; aged 19 years. Deeply mourned. The Funeral will leave 4 Longwood Avenue on Monday, November 1, at 2 p.m. (service at 1.50 p.m.), for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. — R. McLean and Son, funeral director.  -Evening Star, 30/10/1943.

FATAL FALL FROM HORSE

DEFECTIVE SADDLE GIRTH 

An inquest into the death of James Arthur McQueen, aged 19, living at No. 4 Longwood avenue, Mornington, who died in Hospital on October 30 after a fall from a horse in Kenmure road on the previous day, was concluded yesterday before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner. Sergeant Kemp conducted the inquiry. 

Dr Ian G. Hutchison, house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, said that the deceased died on the morning of October 30 as the result of lacerations of the brain and haemorrhage caused by a fractured skull.

Leslie Noel Templeton and John Stephen Harris, who witnessed the accident, said they saw the deceased riding a horse in Kenmure road on October 29. The horse was proceeding at a slow gallop, but when the deceased attempted to pull it up the saddle girth broke and the end struck the horse, which bolted. The deceased fell to the ground and was unconscious when they reached him. 

Constable Hamilton said he had examined the girth, which was in a bad condition, only one of the straps being usable. This strap had broken. The deceased had bought the horse and saddle only a few weeks before the accident. 

The coroner said that the evidence spoke for itself, and he returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/11/1943.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.