'THE DEATH FROM FURIOUS DRIVING.
Yesterday evening, the coroner (Mr J. T. Hoyle), held an inquest at the house of Mr N. W. Tinkler, the Royal Adelaide Hotel, New Bridge Street, Newcastle, on the body of Andrew Morton, 77 years of age, who had come by his death in consequence of injuries sustained by him, by being run over by a horse and cart driven by a young man named Mark Burton, on the forenoon of the 27th ult. Burton, it will be remembered, was brought up the Manors Police Court, on Tuesday last, at the instance of W. Blanshard, Esq., the County Court judge, for furiously driving, in connection with this same case, and fined 10s. and costs. Since that time Mr Morton gradually grew worse and expired on Saturday last. The facts of the case will be gathered from the following evidence:
Stephen Dixon Morton, flour dealer, of 100, Newgate Street, was the first witness called, and said: The deceased body now shown to the jury is that of my father. He was 77 years of age, and lived in Argyle Terrace. On February 27, about six minutes to ten o'clock in the forenoon, he came into my shop and enquired what time at once, and on being told he went out again immediately, and in about three minutes afterwards Mr Welsh, the beadle of St Andrew's, came into the shop and told me that my father had been run over. I went out and met some men in the act of carrying him into my shop. The young man Burton, I believe, was one of them. I at once sent for Dr. Carr, of Eldon Square, who attended the deceased immediately. Mr Blanshard, the County Court judge, followed them into my shop. About an hour after the occurrence the deceased was taken to his daughter's house in Argyle Terrace, where the body now lies. The deceased was quite sober when he came into my shop. He crossed over S Kings head towards the Kings Head, at the corner Blacket Street to go up on the other side Percy Street to meet the Dinnington carrier. I understood he had been knocked down by a horse and cart driven by Burton.
The coroner (at this stage of the proceedings) asked the young man Burton, who was present, if he wished to ask any questions of the witness. He had heard from the evidence of Mr Morton that he was concerned in the occurrence which led to the death of the deceased. He was to understand that he was not on his trial there; he might ask any question, or, if he was willing to be sworn on oath, he might make any statement, but if he did it would be taken down in evidence and used against him as necessary. Did not occur to him that there was any question that ought to be asked in his behalf, or he would have asked it. That was an enquiry only; there was no one accused. Was there any question he wished to ask.
Burton replied in the negative.
Wm. Blanshard, Esq., of Jesmond Dene Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, County Court Judge of Newcastle and Northumberland, was next sworn and said: on February 27, about a few minutes before 10 o'clock, I was proceeding, accompanied by my son, down Percy Street, on my way to hold my County Court in Westgate Street. I was on the right hand side of the street coming down, and had got as far as Mrs. Weddell's register office, when my attention was drawn to a light cart rapidly driven out of Gallowgate and across Percy Street towards Blackett Street. The driver, in my opinion, was proceeding at a moat rapid and I should say a most reckless rate, so much so that he nearly ran into a light cart that was coming up Newgate Street into Percy Street, and he only escaped this by the other horse throwing up his head, so that Burton's cart passed clear. His attention was entirely engrossed by having nearly run into this vehicle, and he held up his hand to the driver of the other cart, but he proceeded recklessly onward at the same rate towards Blackett Street. My attention for a moment was directed to the other horse to see whether it was hurt or not, and the next thing I saw was the old man lying on his back on the crossing, with his face bloody, as if he had been thrown down by the cart. My impression was, that the deceased had been knocked down by the shaft of the cart, and that his face had been struck by the wheel afterwards. I did not see him knocked down; my son saw more than I did. The driver, who turned out to be the young man Burton, pulled up ass soon at he could. He did not get very far—not above twenty yards from the crossing perhaps. The cart was not laden, and he was the only person in it. I observed that particularly, because I went up to the cart to see the name upon it. Some persons went and lifted up the deceased, and were carrying him into his son’s shop. Barton then followed, no doubt showing a deal of concern, and I and my son followed after him. When I got into the shop of Mr. Morton, jnr., I saw that they were all very anxious and excited about the occurrence. Before I expected the deceased would die in consequence of the injuries he had received, I made complaint to the authorities about the furious driving. I told Burton at the time that I thought he had been driving at a most unjustifiable rate, and he denied it.
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