[Editor: This article, regarding an inquest into the death of Thomas Kennedy, was published in the “Local and general news” section of The Star (Ballarat, Vic.), 8 March 1859.]
Fatal accident.
— An inquest was held at the Forest Hill Hotel, Kingston, on the 7th inst., before Dr Clendinning, the coroner, on the body of Thomas Kennedy, whose death occurred under the following circumstances.—
The deceased was riding in company with two others — Mr Thomas Taylor and Mr John Mather — from Creswick to Kingston, on the 6th inst., and about 6 p.m. the deceased and Mr Mather were galloping, and when opposite Mr Benjamin Hepburn’s lands the deceased fell from his horse, on his head. Mr Taylor was abreast of him at the time (about 15 yards distant) — Mr Mather far ahead.
Assistance was immediately offered by Mr Taylor and other men who came up, and deceased was taken up insensible. He was then conveyed to the Forest Hill Hotel, where he almost immediately died. The deceased was perfectly sober, and the witness Taylor could not say what had occasioned the accident. Dr Coates, who was called to see the body, stated that death had been caused by concussion of the brain.
A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury. The deceased was about forty-two years of age.
Source:
The Star (Ballarat, Vic.), 8 March 1859, p. 3
Editor’s notes:
Dr = an abbreviation of “Doctor” (plural: Drs)
inst. = instant; in this month; a shortened form of the Latin phrase “instante mense”, meaning “this month”; pertaining to, or occurring in, the current month
Mr = an abbreviation of “Mister”
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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