A returned soldier, James K Mcintosh, of Timaru, aged 22 years, was found lying alongside his motor bicycle on the Pareora road on Friday afternoon, suffering from severe injuries to his head. How the man was injured is not known. The motor bicycle was not damaged, and the petrol was shut off. -Temuka Leader, 28/5/1918.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late JAMES KINGSLEY McINTOSH (and late of the 3rd Reinforcements) are respectfully informed that his funeral will leave his parents' residence, Matilda Street (off Church Street), on THURSDAY, June 6th, at 2.30 p.m. for the Timaru Cemetery, via Church Street. W. J. LISTER. -Timaru Herald, 5/6/1918.
Returned soldiers are asked to parade in full dress uniform at the Soldiers' Institute at 1.30 to-day, to attend the funeral of Trooper McIntosh. -Timaru Herald, 6/6/1918.
SOLDIER'S UNTIMELY DEATH.
ACCIDENT ON PAREORA ROAD.
An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of James Kingsley Mcintosh, returned soldier aged 22 years, who was found unconscious on the Pareora road on the afternoon of May 24, and who died at the Timaru Hospital on June 3, was held in the Timaru Courthouse yesterday before Mr V. CS. Pay, S.M., Coroner.
Dr Cuthbert, of the Timaru Hospital, said that on May 24 deceased was taken to the Hospital in an unconscious state, with symptoms of a fractured base of the skull. He partially regained consciousness on two or three occasions, and recognised his father. He remained in that condition till his death on June 3.
Dr Ussher said that he had found that the only external marks of violence were abrasions of the forehead. The meninges showed signs of septic meningitis. The under surface of the brain on the left side was much lacerated. There was a corresponding injury on the opposite side. The base of tho skull showed a very extensive fracture extending from the left to the right side of the head. A small piece of brain tissue was caught in the fracture. The heart showed marked disease of the aorta valve. He thought that death was due to septic meningitis following on a fractured skull. The injuries might have been caused through deceased falling from a motor cycle.
John McIntosh, father of deceased, said that deceased was 22 years of age and was a returned soldier. He last saw deceased conscious when he was at Pareora at about 11 o'clock on the morning of May 24. Deceased suffered from shell shock. He left for Timaru on a motor cycle. Witness next saw deceased in the Hospital. He had not known deceased to ride a motor cycle before.
James McMeakin, salesman, said on May 24 he was returning to Timaru from the south. He saw deceased lying in the middle of the road and a motor cycle lying on one of his legs. He was unconscious, and was bleeding from the nose and mouth. With the assistance of some others he placed deceased in his (witness's) car, and took him to the Timaru Hospital.
The Coroner remarked that the witness McMeakin had done quite right to pick the injured man up and take him to the hospital.
John Gibbs, nephew of deceased, said that deceased had ridden a motor cycle for three weeks before the accident. Witness secured the machine afterwards and rode it back to Pareora. It was all right as far as the mechanism was concerned. The left footboard and the front number plate were slightly bent. The petrol was cut off at the handles, but not at the tank. The air throttle was fully open. The road was full of "pot holes." Deceased's right arm used to shake and get powerless sometimes, owing to the shell shock.
Constable Fotheringham stated that he examined the road at the scene of the accident. About thirteen yards from where the oil had run out of the cycle when it lay on its side, he saw several lumps in the centre of the road. About three yards further on there were marks of something having been dragged along the road for about ten yards. From where the bumps were to the marks of the dragging, was a little to the side of the cycle had swerved on going over the lumps.
The Coroner brought in a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence that death was due to septic meningitis following on a fractured skull. -Timaru Herald, 6/6/1918.
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