Soo Moo Woon is described as "a chinaman." It is likely that he came to Otago to mine gold, one of the many Chinese men who came to support their families and villages. Many of them never saw home or family again.
The failure of the breaks was responsible for an unfortunate car accident near Alexandra on Wednesday last. Shortly after leaving on the journey to Roxburgh the mail motor car, driven by Mr D. Me Donald, and containing four passengers, turned turtle over a bank. A Chinaman who was underneath the car, was killed outright, while Mr McDonald and the passengers were all fortunate enough to escape serious injury. -Dunstan Times 23/5/1921.
Soo Moo Woon was likely returning home from the town of Alexandra to his home on the orchard owned by Lye Bow. It would have been a short ride but he did not complete it.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
DEATH BY ACCIDENT
The inquest attending the death of Sue Sue Woon, Chinaman, a victim in the recent accident to the Roxburgh motor mail coach, which capsized about half a mile out of Alexandra on Wednesday, 18th May. was held in the Alexandra court on Wednesday, 8th June, before Mr E. C. Levvey, S M. Coroner.
The police was represented by Constable Murphy, and Mr W. A Bodkin appeared on behalf of Mr D. McDonald, driver.
Evidence of identification was first submitted. S. Cameron, fruitgrower, Alexandra. He had seen the body of deceased and identified it as that of Sue Woon, Chinaman, who he had last seen the night previous. Deceased had been employed by Lye Bow, orchardist at Butchers Gully. He knew deceased for the past six months.
Donald McDonald, mail contractor, Roxburgh and Alexandra. He used a Ford car for running the mail three days a week. On Wednesday, 18th he left Alexandra at 1.15 p.m., with four passengers— Mr Houghey, Nurse Hendry, Myrtle Weaver and the deceased Sue Woon. About half a mile from Alexandra when half way up a hill, the car stopped and started to run back immediately. I tried the breaks and found something wrong. He then ran the car into the side of the road where the car overturned right over. When the deceased was pulled out from under the car he was breathing but did not speak. Police and doctor were sent for, meantime rubbing of the body was resorted to, to try and restore consciousness. Police arrived in about 20 minutes and the doctor 10 minutes later. On examination the doctor declared the man to be dead. The body was then taken to Alexandra.
To Constable Murphy: The car was running all right in his trip from Roxburgh that morning. He had no difficulty in climbing the hill on the other side of the bridge. He applied the breaks immediately but these would not hold. He had four brakes on the car. On car being taken to the garage and examined, it was found that the clutch spring was broken. He would have a load of about 1/2 cwt, over and above the passengers.
To Mr Bodkin: The hand brake on a Ford brings the gear back to neutral. The only break of use under was the foot brake which was, because of the broken clutch spring, useless.
To Coroner: He had ran this car about years. First time he had had trouble with the car. The car was overhauled about 4 months ago. He could not account for the engine stopping on the hill and the examination of car showed no cause.
Nurse Hendry gave evidence detailing the accident along the lines already described. She could not see what part of the car was resting on the deceased. Doctor arrived about 20 minutes after the accident.
To Constable Murphy: She saw the driver applying the brakes. The day was fine and the road dry.
To Coroner: She did not hear any knocking or grating noise to indicate that the car was out of order.
Dr A. E. Gladstone: He was called to an accident on Wednesday, May 18th. On arrival he found a Chinaman lying on his back. The man was dead. He (witness) felt the pulse and examined a small streak of blood near the right ear but found that the blood was not coming from the ear. A superficial examination was made later. Found undue mobility of the spine in region of the neck showing a fracture dislocation of the vertebrae, which would cause speedy death. This was the cause of the death. There were no other marks on the body. Messenger had no detail as to the nature of the accident. Not being suitably attired he (witness) went back into the house, put on his collar, tie and shoes and left within 5 minutes. He did not return to the dining room. Had to walk part of the way until met by the fruit lorry returning fat him. Nothing could have been done for the man who was in a moribund condition.
On being granted leave to make a statement, the witness stated that a silly lie was being circulated to the effect that he had gone back and finished his luncheon before leaving for the scene of the accident. There was no foundation for such a rumour. He was not in the habit of taking notice of such canards but in this instance, the witness alleged that a person, a Justice of the Peace, had accepted the story and acted on it, as if true, without referring the matter to witness or messenger Joe Hesson. This person had approached his brother Justice, and consulted the Coroner's Act with a view of raising the matter at the inquest. When a Justice of the Peace takes steps of this kind it was about time for me to notice.
The Coroner stated that the Doctor having left the house within 5 minutes of receiving the message, had acted as promptly as any reasonable person could desire.
Constable Murphy gave evidence as to being called to the accident about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 18th May. On arrival he rendered first aid to the deceased, the doctor arriving about 10 minutes later. No marks on body except slight abrasion on right side of cheek. He instructed Henry Hesson and Alexander Butler, motor mechanics, to examine the brakes and other parts of the car.
To Mr Bodkin: Knew the driver well for five years. A thoroughly steady, reliable and careful driver, strictly temperate.
Henry Hesson, proprietor motor garage, Alexandra. He examined the car belonging to Mr McDonald at garage. Found clutch spring support was broken, consequently putting all gears and brakes useless. Flange breaking off was the original cause of the engine stopping. Car was a Ford 1918 pattern. Found brakes in good order. In his opinion the Ford car was quite a safe car, even where passengers were carried.
To Mr Bodkin: The driver did the only thing possible under the circumstances, namely to find the bank as soon as possible.
Alex. H. Butler, motor carrier, Alexandra. He had assisted in righting the car and taking same to the garage. He was present at the examination of car the following day. Found clutch spring broken, probably by general wear. This would leave the gears and brakes useless. The brakes were all right and in his opinion the brakes on a Ford car were as good as those on any other car. The hand brake on any car was of little use in an emergency. The Ford car was quite a safe car for passengers. The Bennett brake was not good on a wet road.
To Mr Bodkin: He knew Mr McDonald well, as a safe and careful driver. The car capsized owing to one wheel going into a table-drain while the other was on the high ground. The verdict of the coroner was as follows:
VERDICT.
Sue Woon came to his death, died at Alexandra on 18th May, 1921, from fracture dislocation of the cervical vertibrae, which said fracture dislocation was caused by the said deceased being caught and crushed under a motor car driven by Donald McDonald, when the said car accidentally capsized at Alexandra on the 18th May, 1921. -Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 15/6/1921.
No comments:
Post a Comment