Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1889-05-08 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

NEATH. THE FATAL TRAP ACCIDENT. THE INQUEST.  VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. The adjourned inquest touching the death of William Griffiths, Cacloxtan-terrace, who died from the injuries received through being knocked down on the Cadoxton-road by a trap, the particulate of which have already appeared in our columns, was resumed on Thursday evening at the Crown Inn, Cadoxton, before Mr. Howe! Cuthbertson, coroner. Joseph Hopkins, Cadoxton-terrace, deposed I was in Neath on Easter-Monday night, and met the deceased at the "Prince of Wales Inn," Neath, about 8.30 p.m. I left about nine with my wife and the decanted. When we got to the turnpike gate a young lady asked ue if she could have company to Pontardawe, and she went with us as far as the cross roads. Deceased was walking on the road in front of us. He was about ten yards in front. When the trap overtook him he was standing on the green patch in the middle of the croin roads. My wife was behind him. I could not see the trap coming till okee by me. I had only time to get off the road to the path when it peeved. I saw deceased knocked down. When be was struck his back was to the trap. They were driving very fast when deceased was knocked down. I ran after the trap and called out "Murder," hut the horse , was being beaten and driven us fast as it could go. It did not stop. There was no light in the trap. The trap pained over a portion of the green patch. Iran tut far as the Coopers' Arms. The deceased was perfectly sober. Samuel Harris, hairdresser, Parade, Neath, stated*: On ithe night tin q uestion I was on the Ctidoxton Road between the gate and the railway bridge. I saw a two-wheeled trap going in the direction of Cadoicton. The pace was very fast. I saw the glevased on the ground when I got to the spot. The speed was over the ordinary rate. No other trap passed me. David Williams, blacksmith, Ca.doxton, was the next witness. He said I was on the spot when the trap knocked down deceased. I heard the trap coming and got out of its way otherwise Ishould have been knocked down They were driving furiously. I picked deceased up. He was complaining of his head and left shoulder. There was no light on the trap. They did not stop. Amelia Davies, The Rhydding, deposed: I remember a trap passing me near the Coopers Arms. I heard someone in the trap call out "drive on" "drive on." I heard someone shout out "Murder." _  John Thomas said : I live next door to the Cooper Arms. I was standing on my doorstep. I saw a trap galloping up the hill, and heard someone in the trap say in Welsh "Let him go" and they were whipping the horse. I also hoard someone shouting "stop the trap." James Phillips, Insurance Agent, The Rhydning said I saw a trap on the night in question. I saw the man who was driving forcing and driving the horse on. The horse was going as fast as it could go. I had to run about 30 yards to get out of its way, as they were driving so fast. Dr Whittington said: I made a post mortetn examination on the 26th April. The organs were all perfectly healthy. The cause of death was exhaustion after paralysis and shock of the system The injury to the spine caused paralysis, and I am still of opinion that the wheel did not pass over him but that he was struck in the back by the shaft. The Coroner then summed up. The Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter Tgainst John Guppy, tailor; Owen Francis; homas Boddicombe; shearer;; David Griffith Jones, amaealer ; W. Rees, furnaceman ; and David Davies, haulier, all of Ystalyfera, who were committed to take their trial at the next assizes.