Dunbar McQueen, (1852-20/6/1891). "not the worse for liquor"

Fatal Accident. 

A man named Dunbar McQueen, employed as clerk at the Levels station, met with a fatal accident at the Washdyke last Saturday night. He arrived at Washdyke hotel, in company with another, from Timaru after 11 o’clock and called up the barman to give him a bottle of whiskey. As he was remounting his horse the animal went away before be was properly seated, and Mr McQueen fell. He was picked up unconscious, and when Dr Lovegrove arrived he found life extinct.  -Temuka Leader, 23/6/1891.

INQUEST.

An inquest touching the death of Dunbar McQueen woe held yesterday afternoon at the Doncaster Hotel, Washdyke, before W. O. Beswick, Esq, acting coroner, and the following jury: — Mr Charles Bourn (foreman), and Messrs J. Mansfield, J. Stevenson, B. Tremsin, J. Gardner, and O. Brader. 

Sergeant-Major Mason called 

James King, livery stable keeper at Timaru, who said that the deceased and James Dunnett, a shepherd on the Levels station, cane to his stable about 10.20 on Saturday night and left for home, McQueen's horse going array from the stable in a walk. McQueen was not the worse for liquor, and got on his horse all right. 

James Dunnett, shepherd on the Levels, said that he left King's stable with the deceased, who was clerk on the estate, about 10.30 on Saturday night, and arrived at the Doncaster Hotel about 11 o'clock. The house being shut deceased got off his horse, went round by the side fence, and woke up the inmates. A young man named Bebbington came to the door, and McQueen went in. He came out and tendered witness a drink from a bottle of whiskey, went into the hotel again and on coming out remounted his horse, starting off at a canter. He had not ridden more than 100 yards when witness heard the horse stop, ran up, and found McQueen lying on the road in an unconscious state. He assisted Bebbington to take McQueen back to the hotel. McQueen was not the worse for liquor. 

Harry Bebbington partly corroborated the evidence of last witness, and added that McQueen purchased a bottle of whisky and then rode off. He had not gone many yards when witness saw the horse swerve near the ditch at the side of the road, and McQueen fall from the saddle. On going up he found McQueen lying face downwards on the road, quite insensible, and he assisted Punnett to take the deceased to the Hotel. Deceased had no drink at the hotel. 

Dr Lovegrove said that he was called to see the deceased about midnight on Saturday, but on arrival found life extinct. He could not say what was the actual cause of death, but had no doubt after hearing the evidence that it was caused by the injury to deceased's head, due to being thrown from his horse. No constable being present, he made an inventory of the articles found on the deceased, a list of which he read over. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.  -Timaru Herald, 23/6/1891.

Timaru Cemetery.