FATAL COLLISION.
[Per Press Association.] TIMARU, November 24
Hector Cox, local manager for Messrs Cook, McDonald and Co., who was riding a motor-cycle, and J. W. Grant, a Mackenzie runholder, in a car, met in a head-on collision in the dust raised by another car on the road to Pleasant Point this afternoon. Mr Cox’s skull and arm were fractured, and he died in the hospital to-night. Mr Grant’s injuries are not properly known here.
Mr Cox came from Palmerston North. He was very popular in business and on the cricket field. He leaves a wife and six young children. -Lyttelton Times, 25/11/1915.
FATALITY TO FORMER PALMERSTONIAN.
MR HECTOR COX KILLED IN MOTOR COLLISION.
(Per Press Association.) TIMARU, Nov. 24.
Hector Cox, local manager of Booth Macdonald and Co., riding a motor cycle, and J. W. Grant, a Mackenzie run owner, in a car, met in a head on collision in dust raised by another car on the road to Pleasant Point this afternoon. Cox's skull and arm were fractured, and he died in the hospital to-night. Grant s injuries are not properly known here. The late Mr Cox came from Palmerston North and was very popular in business and the cricket field. He leaves a wife and six young children.
The late Mr Cox was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. L. Cox, formerly of Palmerston, and now of Blenheim. He spent his boyhood here, going to College street school, and later taking up a position in town. He had many friends in Palmerston and took a great interest in sport, especially cricket. The late Mr Cox was a member of one of the South African contingents. Of later years he had been living in the South Island. The deepest sympathy of their friends will be extended to the bereaved wife, parents and family in the sad circumstances. -Manawatu Standard, 25/11/1915.
At the funeral of the late Mr Hector Cox on Sunday, Bugler J. Wilds, S.C.M.R., sounded the "Last Post." He was assisted by a South School cadet. -Timaru Herald, 30/11/1915.
THE MOTOR FATALITY.
INQUEST ON H. W. P. COX.
FURTHER EVIDENCE.
OPEN VERDICT RETURNED.
The adjourned inquest on the late H. W. P. Cox who was killed on November 24, as the result of a collision between his motor cycle and a car was concluded on Saturday before Mr G. Day, district coroner.
The inquiry was conducted by Senior-Sergeant King. Mr W. T. Campbell appeared for the dependents of the deceased. Mr F. L. Rolleston, in the interests of Mr J. W. Grant, and Mr J. H. Inglis on behalf of Booth, McDonald and Co. The statements of four more witnesses were taken, and an open verdict returned. Mr J. W. Grant did not give evidence.
Dr. P. Ewen, of the Timaru Hospital, deposed that on November 24 deceased was brought to the Timaru hospital after he had been attended by Dr Urich. He was admitted to the hospital about 3.40 p.m., in an unconscious condition, and suffering from a. compound fracture of the right thigh, and numerous deep lacerations about the face, scalp, and body. Witness could not detect any fracture in the skull, as deceased was bleeding profusely, though possibly the base of the skull might have been fractured. He gradually sank and died at 9.30 p.m. the same evening. Death was the result of the injuries received, and the shock subsequent upon them.
John Hog, shopman for R. A. Rodgers, Timaru, said that on the date in question he was on the Pleasant Point road near the racecourse about 2.45 p.m. He saw the capsized car on the road lying on the left side of the road going towards Pleasant Point. Witness saw deceased lying on the side track a few feet from the car. He was lying on the Point, side of the ear. There were then present Messrs Wilson, Stevenson, Maze and Mr Grant, the driver of the car. Witness examined the road for wheel marks, and found the tracks of the motor cycle on the proper side, on the worn part of the metal road. The tracks of the motor car were on the righthand side (the wrong side) of the worn part of the metal road coming into town. He considered that the motor cycle struck the car between the bonnet and the right front wheel. By the skidding shown on the tracks of the car, the brakes had evidently been applied to the car when the cycle struck it. The skidding showed for 30 feet or maybe less. After the motor cycle struck the car it seemed to have been dragged back, and when the motor car came away from the cycle it swung away to the fence, and overturned. There was a speedometer on the car, and it registered 40 miles per hour at some part of the journey. Both wheel tracks of the car were very plain, but the wheel tracks of the cycle were not so distinct. After Constable Murphy arrived witness told him about the speedometer.
To Mr Rolleston: Witness had not heard that the speedometer was not in working order. It did not follow that the speed shown on the meter had been kept up the whole way. The speed indicated might possibly have been the speed registered on another journey. The motor cycle was 8 or 10 feet from the car. He followed the car tracks for about a chain, and could see them beyond that distance. The skidding marks of the right wheel of the car began not more than a foot from the edge of the worn metal part of the road. After the first skid the car wont towards the centre of the road. As far as witness could see there were no marks of the motor cycle having been dragged along outside the skidding marks of the right wheel of tire car. The cycle was lying on the side track not on the metal part of the road.
Constable Murphy, of Waimataitai stated that on November 24 he went to the racecourse about 4.30 p.m., and saw the wrecked car on the south side of the Point road. The bonnet of the car was pointing north-west, and in was about. 4ft from the hedge. The cycle was 33ft from the car in the direction of Pleasant Point, and 10ft, from the hedge on the south side. On the south side of the road there was a grass track 7ft. wide, a clay track 11 1/2 ft wide, a strip of grass 2ft wide, then there was the worn metal road 12ft. wide, and loose shingle 18ft wide, then a hard gravel track 3ft wide, and a grass track 8ft to the fence on the other side, the whole width of the road being 62 ft. About 54ft from where the motor cycle was lying, and towards Pleasant Point, witness found some glass on the edge of the worn metal road on the south side, and this glass corresponded with that in the cycle lamp. The distance from the fence on the south side to where the glass was found was 22ft. Owing to the lapse of time and traffic on the road witness was unable to trace any wheel marks of the car and cycle. Deceased had been removed before witness arrived. The left back tyre of the car was punctured.
To Mr Rolleston: When witness arrived Messrs Wilson, Stevenson, Hogg and Bockaert's men were there.
To Senior Sergeant King: The motor ear was badly damaged on the off side, and the bonnet was badly smashed. The front part of the motor cycle was completely wrecked. Witness could not say whether the axle of the car was broken.
Mr Rolleston said that Mr Grant was not in a fit state to undergo a rigorous examination, and claimed privilege on his behalf.
The Coroner said that if Mr Grant were called as a witness he (the Coroner) would warn him that he need not answer any questions. On the evidence already given he was satisfied further proceedings in the matter would ensue, and he would refrain from commenting on the evidence, or expressing any opinion touching on the facts stated. The evidence before him was sufficient for him to return a verdict.
The Coroner returned the following verdict — "That Hector William Percival Cox, on November 24, 1915, whilst riding a motor cycle on the Pleasant Point road near the Timaru racecourse came violently into collision with a motor car driven by James William Grant by reason whereof Cox sustained grievous and severe injuries to his head and right thigh, and from which injuries he died on November 24, 1915." -Timaru Herald, 6/12/1915.
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