Resource

FATAL ACCIDENT IN CLAYPORT STREET.

On Tuesday evening last, an inquest was held at the Percy Arms, Alnwick, before J.J. Hardy, Esq., coroner for North Northumberland, on the body of Mary Ann Murphy, a child who lost her life owing to a lamentable accident on the preceding day. Elizabeth Murphy said: The body shown to the jury is that of Mary Ann Dryden Murphy, the daughter of Mary Ann Redpath, formerly Murphy, wife of John Redpath labourer ; and they live on the south side of Clayport Street. Deceased was a weakly child, and would have been four years old to-morrow. She was accustomed to go about the street, and was yesterday playing about the Tower Well Pant. About 5:15p.m., I was sitting in Adam Taylor's, and through the window saw a horse and phaeton coming down the hiil at full gallop ; and I saw a man driving and pulling all he could to the left; but when the horse got to the pant it wheeled to go towards Howick Street, and came into contact with the Pant, which fell to the ground. I ran down and got the deceased from a man’s arms, and she was taken home, but just breathed twice and died: and immediately after blood oozed from the nose. On Friday night I saw one of Manders’ large caravans come against the pant and it shook it a good deal. Deceased is my niece, but I was not in charge of her when the accident occurred. Patrick Thompson said: I am a gardener living in Alnwick, and yesterday about 5:15 p.m., I was standing nearly opposite Green Bat when John Hall, to whom I was talking directed my attention to a four- wheeled conveyance coming over the hill at full gallop, and the driver pulling with all his might. I shouted to several children playing on both sides of the street, but when the horse came to within about five yards of the pant, it swerved and knocked down the pant. I saw a child creeping to the wall, apparently hurt; and my attention was called to the cap of the pant, which had fallen about 5 feet, and was about half-a-ton weight. I, with assistance, lifted it, and I found the deceased beneath it on her back, She was immediately taken away. George Davison, after being duly cautioned, was sworn and said: I am a msson and live in Alnwick, Yesterday my father and I had a horse and phaeton on hire from Messrs Maule, with which we went to Rothbury. The horse went quietly until we came to Corby’s Bank, but we got it brought up before we got to the bottom. The horse was quiet all the way back until we came to the top of Clayport Bank, and my father got out at the fountain as the horse was unruly. I had the drag full on, Just as my father stepped off, the horse made a bolt and got into a full gallop. I pulled with all my might and endeavoured to keep it straight, but it made for the Green Bat in spite of me, and caught the pant and I was thrown out. | took the child out beneath the pant cap, and gave it into a woman's arms, I have been accustomed to drive, and had the drag full on; the breeching was all right ; but the horse ran away and I had no control oyer it.

Verdict—"Accidentally killed.”