John Albert Wormald, (1921-6/10/1935). "cut off at an early age"

DEATHS

WORMALD - On October 6th, 1935, at J Peebles, John Albert, dearly beloved eldest son of Myrtle Annie and the late Albert Edward Wormald; in his 15th year. (Result of an accident.) For Funeral Notices see Page 18.  -Press, 8/10/1935.

PEEBLES FATALITY

INQUEST

An inquest into the death of John Albert -Wormald, a lad of 14 years of age, who received fatal injuries in a motor car accident at Peebles on October 6, was held-yesterday morning before Mr W. H. Frith (coroner). Mr C. Zimmermann appeared on behalf of Mr Ley. 

John Leonard Ley gave evidence of driving a Ford car along the Main road from Papakaio to Georgetown on October 6 at about 4.30 p.m., saying he had just rounded a corner at about 25 miles an hour when the car shot across the road. It did not skid. He endeavoured to straighten the car, but failed, and the right rear wheel struck the grass on the edge of the road and collapsed. The car then turned over on its side against a telegraph pole, all the occupants being thrown out. The three occupants in the rear seat hit the pole, and William Alexander and witness were thrown clear. He saw Alexander lifting the deceased off the ground, when there was no apparent sign of life. From where the car started to swerve to the telegraph pole was over 90 feet. It was going straight along, when it turned at about 40 degrees across the road. He had tried to turn the steering wheel the other way, but nothing happened. He did not apply the brakes. On previous occasions when turning the car on full lock the wheels would bounce off one lock to the other, but what happened at the accident was different from this. The surface of the road was of loose Ngapara gravel. He did not have a licence to drive, but obtained one two days later. He had driven for about five years. He had examined the car since the accident, and at the broken part of the radius rod there was a distinct flaw, and he attributed the accident to this old-standing weakness. 

William Lloyd Alexander gave corroborative evidence, saying he was sure the accident was purely accidental. He considered Ley to be a good driver. 

Medical testimony was given by Dr E. S. J. Fitzgerald, who stated death was caused by a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain. 

Janet McVie, who telephoned for the doctor, stated that she did not actually see the accident, but the car passed her on the road, and did not appear to be travelling at an excessive speed. 

Constable Marshall stated that he had accompanied Sergeant McGregor to the scene of the accident, and they found marks on the road showing that the car had been driven on its correct side. 

James Henry Falloon, motor mechanic, stated in evidence that he had found the front radius rod of the car broken and bent, and the right rear wheel collapsed. In his opinion the steering wheel had locked, and in an old Ford such as this, the steering had a habit of going wrong when in loose gravel. The possible cause of the accident was that the radius rod broke after the car had turned the corner, causing it to shoot across the road. There was a sign of crystallisation in the front radius rod. 

The coroner said that two other occupants of the car, Andrew Hall and Sydney Wormald, had not given evidence, but they had made statements to the police, which corroborated those already made by Ley and Alexander. Motor car accidents were indeed unfortunate happenings, but were much more serious when, as in this case, they caused death. This lad's life had been cut off at an early age. He was quite satisfied there was no carelessness on the part of the driver, and he was sure the occurrence was purely accidental. He returned a verdict that the deceased died from injuries accidentally received when being, conveyed in a car owned and driven by Ley, which collided with a telegraph pole on October 6. 

Mr Frith added that it was certain that the car had disabilities which were not apparent in present-day cars. He considered that the law should be more strict where the registration of cars was concerned. Cars should be thoroughly examined to see if they were fit to go on the roads. He considered this car was not in a fit condition to be driven, and such cars should be well examined before they were registered.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/11/1935.

Papakaio Cemetery.