Dr C.J. Vlieland

Saturday 2 March 1895, Issue 8634 - Gale Document No. Y3200758010
THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO AN EXETER MAN - Inquest, This Day. - The Inquest on the body of the employee of the St. Anne's Well Brewery who met with the fatal accident at Newton St. Cyres, was held at the Crown and Sceptre Inn this morning by Mr Coroner H. W. Gould. GABRIEL TIMMS, of Kingsbridge, identified the body as that of his father. His real name was GABRIEL TIMMS, but he was generally known as WILLIAM SIMMONS. He was a drayman, fifty years of age. Thomas William Pash, Paul-street, Exeter, drayman, in the employ of the St. Anne's Well Brewery Company, said on Thursday he went to Crediton with deceased, each being in charge of a dray, and arrived there about quarter-to-three, and left there, he should think, at half-past six. Witness's horse went on in front. Just before reaching Newton St. Cyres deceased's horse tried to pass witness, who on looking saw there was no driver. He stopped the horses, and leaving his own in charge of a man he went back, as far as he could judge, about a mile to look for deceased. On the way he met a gentleman driving, and he told witness he had seen a man sitting in the road. Witness found the deceased in the middle of the road near the railway arch sitting tailor fashion. When asked what was the matter he said "Nothing," and got up on the waggon, telling witness to drive on as he was alright. Witness tied deceased's horse behind his own waggon, as SIMMONS appeared to have fallen asleep. Deceased kept on shouting "Whoa, and {?] stopped it broke the reins, until witness remonstrated with him, and he then desisted. Arriving at the Crown and Sceptre witness had a glass of ale, deceased then being apparently asleep. At the top of the hill witness went to change the wagons so that deceased's should lead, but as witness's horse broke its bridge. Witness went to wake up deceased to tell him that he must drive his own dray, when he found that he was dead. He was a little affected when he left Crediton, either by the drink he had had or a cigar he had smoked, being unused to smoking. Deceased was a steady man as a rule. Mr H. M. Mallett, Downes Mills, Crediton, said on Thursday he was driving to Newton St. Cyres about quarter to eight. Near the railway bridge his pony shied at something in the road, which as he passed he saw was a man sitting in the road. His pony bolted for about thirty yards, and when he reined it in the last witness came up. Witness went back with him. Could not say what condition deceased was in. Arthur Bonner, baker, of St. Cyres, said about half-past nine on Thursday night he was driving home, and when near the school Pash told him he thought his mate was dead, and asked him to go for a policeman. Deceased was then on the waggon with blood on his face. Dr Vlieland said he had examined deceased and found a contused wound on the forehead extending to the bone. The inner table of the skull was fractured, and a large blood vessel was lacerated, the brain having been compressed with haemorrhage, which was, in his opinion, the cause of death. The Injury might have been the result of a fall. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. A Juryman suggested that a rider should be added that drivers of such wagons should be provided with lamps, but the Coroner said he thought the subject was one for private individuals, and no hard and fast line could be drawn.