Accident. — During the race for the Handicap Steeplechase, a sad accident occurred which we fear must end fatally. At the second leap, Subaltern struck the fence with his fore legs, and turning a complete somersault alighted on his back, falling with all his weight on his rider, John Mahoney, a lad who for the last twelvemonth has been in the employ of Mr. H. Redwood, jnr. In falling, the pommel of the saddle struck the unfortunate jockey on the head, which was completely smashed. He was still breathing when our reporter left the course, but not the slightest hopes are entertained of his recovery. -Nelson Evening Mail, 21/4/1869.
Coroner's Inquest. — An inquest was held at the Turf Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Dr. Squires, the coroner, and a jury, on the body of John Mahoney, the jockey, who met with his death on the course, on Wednesday last, when the following verdict was returned: — That the deceased died from injuries caused by a fall from a horse named Subaltern, whilst riding in the Handicap Steeplechase, on the Nelson Race Course, on Wednesday, 21st instant. -Nelson Evening Mail, 23/4/1869.
THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RACE COURSE.
To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir. — Having heard several rumours since the death of John Mahoney, from which it is made to appear that I would not supply those attending upon him with what they required, and that I ordered his body to be taken down to the grand stand after the inquest, — l wish to deny all of these statements. Yours, &c, Thomas Meadows, -Nelson Evening Mail, 24/4/1869.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE RACES.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
An inquest was held on April 22, at the Turf Hotel Stoke, on the body of John Mahoney, who was killed while riding in a steeple-chase on the racecourse on the previous day.
A Jury was sworn, and Mr. W. Rout was chosen foreman. After viewing the body, which exhibited a large fracture of the skull, and a deep cut on the side of the head, the following witnesses were called:—
Edward Cutts, sworn: I am a jockey in the employ of Mr. Henry Redwood, Waimea West. I know John Mahoney, a jockey also in the employ of Mr. Redwood. On Wednesday last he was riding, in the Handicap Steeplechase, a horse culled Subaltern, the property, of Mr. R. McRae. I was on the Grand Stand, and saw deceased riding the horse at full gallop; the horse tried to refuse, and its knees caught the fence, and caused it to turn a somersault over the fence, and it fell upon deceased. I went over and saw deceased, who was brought to the Turf Hotel, and I staid with him till he died, about, a quarter to nine in the evening. I believe his death was caused by the fall. He had ridden the horse Bones previously, but Mr. Redwood told him not to ride Bones if the horse was stiff, because he had fallen twice the day before. He did not ride Bones, and was engaged to ride Subaltern. The fence was a three-rail one, 4 feet in height.
The question of taking medical evidence was then raised, but it was considered unnecessary by Dr. Squires, the Coroner, who had himself made a post mortem examination of the body, and testified to the nature of the injuries received by deceased.
R. E. McRae, sworn: I know deceased. He was engaged for me by Robert Bright, jockey to Mr. H. Stafford, to ride my horse Subaltern. I saw the accident from the stand. The horse tried to baulk, and deceased spurred him when he was too close to the fence to rise properly, and the horse turned a somersault over the fence and fell on him. I went to him, and found him about 20 yards from the spot, where he had been moved out of the way of the other horses. He was perfectly senseless, and continued so till he died. The height of the rail which deceased went over was 3ft. 11in. Deceased had never ridden the horse before, to my knowledge. The horse was a steeple-chaser in Auckland.
Walter Taylor, sworn: I am a jockey in Mr. Richardson's employ. I was riding in the Handicap Steeplechase with deceased on Wednesday. His horse attempted to baulk, and he rushed him at it; the horse had not room to rise, and so caught the fence and fell over.
Cross-examined by Jurors: The fence was too strong, but not so high as those generally used; the fences at Wakefield were higher, but rotten. In Melbourne, a stone wall is used, 5ft. lin. high; and at Bendigo the fences are about 4ft. 6in. high. Mahoney was a good rider, and was sober and careful.
The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that John Mahoney was accidentally killed by the falling of his horse while riding in a steeple-chase on Nelson racecourse.
One of the Jurors suggested the propriety of adding a rider to the verdict, condemnatory of steeplechases; but on the Coroner stating that very little practical good would result from such a proceeding, the Jury thought it useless to make the protest. -Colonist, 11/5/1869.
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