The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-09-19 00:00:00

THs INQuarr•

was held at the Bull's Head Inn, Fordington, on
Thursday morning, betore Mr. G. Symonds, coroner,
and • jury, of whom Mr. J. E. Taylor was chosen
foreman.
Edwin liart stated that on the previous evening he
was at the Cross, about five o'clock, when he saw one
of Mr. Eddisou'e traction engines coming from the
direction of the Mill, going towards the yard. Attached
to the engine was the house in which the men lived,
and a water-cart at the end. There were lane, little
boys on the shaft of the water-cart. Just alter they
passed all three boy. fell off, the wheel of the cart
passing wines here over the neck of rile of them. The
other two were thrown farther off, and got up and tau
away. II May hadn't got up they would have been run
over as well. nag engine was going at • walking pace.
lie picked up the boy, who breathed two or three
woes, sod then he heard • gurgle in his throat. He
shook when wine water was put on his forehead.
By • JUryinau : tie did not speak at all.
Witness continued, a Mrs. Hawkins then took the
boy into the house. There were a lot of children about,
but only these three riding. The cart jerked when the
children fell off, but whether it was caused by a stone
or not be could not say.
John fucker ststed that deceased was his child. Ile
was four years old some time next month. Deceased
had been to school y .terib y. When he heard what
had happened he went down to the corner house where
the child had been taken. lie was not quite dead the.,
but did not lir, more than three minutes after he
came. Blood was coming from his monid, and left
ear.
Maria Benham, living at Fordington-crose, stated
that last en ening she was standing on the step of her
door. She saw the opens coming from the direction
of the London-road. There were a lot of boys about
there, and she saw the little boy among them. The
engine weed on towards the yard, and as it was
pas.ing she saw several little boys running and jump-
ing to get on the ,hafts of the water•cart, which was
attached to the engine; the deceased had his knee on
the abaft trying to get the other up, and then she sew
ti's little boy and two or three others fall off. She
couldn't see the wheel pass over him, but the others
ran away.
Samuel Stickle', in the employ of Mr. Henry
&Idiom' as engine driver' stated that on the previous
day they were returning from Mr. Sherrin's at Bock-
haropton, attached to the engine being a van and an
empty water barrel. When near the Cross a man
named Sibley stopped him, and he got down and then
saw the boy. Witness could not see the water-cart
behind him when driving ths enrine. He was follow-
ing another engine and van. The top end of the
shafts of the water-cut were only about • foot off the
ground. He hied driven children off before.
11r. W. B. Kendall,surgeon, stated he was sent for last
evening, about five o'clock, and found the deceased
lying on • table quite dead. The right side of the
face was bruised, and blood was coming Horn the ears
and mouth. There appeared to be no injury to the
body. only the head. The skull was fractured on the
right site, near the temple. Death must have ben
almost instantaneous.
Mr. G. Symonds briefly slimmed up the evidence,
and a verdict of " Accidental Death ^ was returned.