Joseph Beecroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 12 Oct 1883 - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 1
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Event, The Mercury, 16 Nov 1889
CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.-An accident of a serious nature, occurred yesterday morning about 10 o'clock in Argyle-street. A horse attached to a phaeton, in which were Mrs. Clements, of Pressland House, and Mr. A. W. Storie, who is staying there, bolted from the corrner of Melville and Argyle streets, down the latter street, and,when op- posite the Railway Hotel swerved on to the southern pathway, pitching the occupants out. Two children named, Herbert Budd and Joseph Beecroft were sitting on the sideway, and the latter child was crushed against the wall, while the wheel injured the abdomen of the former. Budd was taken at once to the hospital and examined by Dr. Scott, who could find no other marks than mere scratches, and accordingly discharged the child with advice for its treatment. Since then, however, the parents sent for Dr. Hardy, who is now attending the child. Mrs. Clements and Mr. Storie were only shaken. After the events already described, the horse rushed down Argyle street on the same side until im- mediately past the Bird-in-Hand Hotel, when the wheel of the vehicle struck the fence, bringing the animal to a stand. The horse escaped with a few scratches, but the carriage was greatly damaged.• Event, The Mercury, 18 Nov 1889
INQUEST ON THE ARGYLE
STREET CARRIAGE ACCI-
DENT.
-------------------------
An inquest on view of the body of Her bert Anthony Budd, an infant, run over by a pony carriage in Argyle street on Friday morning last, was held on Saturday by Mr F. W. Mitchell, Coroner, and the fol- lowing jury : -Messrs. John N. Propsting (foreman), Frederick Cane, James McGough, John Mason, William Robertson, Henry Bartlett, and Charles Henry Hodges.
Naomi Wilson, who resided at 77, Argyle- street, immediately opposite the scene of the accident, was in a front room, and hearing a commotion in the street, looked and saw a carriage overturned and Mrs. Clements and Mr. Storie lying on the ground. The child Budd was lying on the pathway, close to the fence of the house , occupied by its parents. Could not say who was driving the carriage. There were two occupants. Saw the wheel of the carriage go over the child's stomach, and at once went out to see how the child was, and found the mother carrying it to the hospital, whence she returned, in about 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour, saying Dr. Scott had saîd there was not much injury, beyond a few scratches or bruises. Witness said to Mrs. Budd she was surprised to hear that, as she was of opinion that some internal injury must have been caused. Mrs. Clements did not appear to ask after the child, but walked on.
Maria Clements, proprietress of Pressland House, stated she was out for a drive ac- companied by Mr. Storie, and on turning into Argyle street the pony took fright. She was driving, and did not know what occasioned the fright. Mr. Storie and she endeavoured to pull the animal up, but were unsuccessful. The pony continued at a rapid pace, and when opposite Trevor terrace the carriage struck the kerb, by which Mr. Storie was thrown out, and it afterwards swerved to the other side, and threw witness out. Some children were about a dozen yards ahead of where witness was thrown out. When she arose she looked round to see if Mr. Storie was hurt, and asked a man to give him assistance. She then asked of some women who were about if any of the children had been hurt, and was told they were. Just then she saw some one lift up the little boy. Was afterwards told that one of Mr. Beecroft's children was injured. Drove round to Beeoroft's, but did not see the deceased again until she went to Budd's house on Friday night. Saw no one in charge of deceased
at the time of the accident. She had had
the pony about six months, and had driven it many times. It was always quiet. It was usual for witness or one of her family to drive out every morn- ing with Mr. Storie She sometimes drove another pony. On that morning she noticed the harness was put on properly. Had
never before met with an accident while driving. Did not leave the scene of the accident until having made full inquiries as to the injured, and called at Mr. Beecroft's before she went home. She did not see a woman with the child, and told her to send for a doctor. Offered to send her own doctor, Dr. Hardy, and did send him.
Dr. Hardy's evidence was to the effect that at 1 o'clock on Friday afternoon he was asked to attend the child Budd, and found it more or less in a state of collapse, with constant vomiting and straining downwards. There was a bruise on the stomach said to be caused by the carriage wheel. The child was lying on its face holding the stomach in its hand. Gave directions for treatment, and visited again when he found the symptoms unchanged, excepting that the child had passed water and the vomiting was diminished. Was of opinion by the symptoms and statement given death resulted from the rupture of some abdominal organ. The marks in the child's stomach was such as would be caused by a carriage wheel passing over the body Decomposition was setting in very rapidly, and that was consistent with internal hemorrhage. Witness believed the symptoms were decidedly grave, and would develop themselves in the course of a few hours
Ellen Hill picked up deceased after the accident. The child was previously strong and healthy. When she first picked the child up she did not think it was severely injured. There were a few scratches on the face. Deceased was not able to walk after being run over, and could not stand, and also complained of pains in the stomach.
Arthur William Storie gave similar evi-
dence to that of Mrs Clements. When he recovered from the shock after being thrown out of the carriage he saw Mrs. Clements also on the ground, and he thought he heard her say something about children. Was helped home, as he was unable to go by himself. Had never heard anything against the pony. Had only been out with it once previously. Was not aware of what caused the animal to bolt. It appeared to take a sudden freak and then was beyond control.
Emma Budd stated she resided with her
husband at No 44, Argyle street. The deceased was her child, and was aged two years and two months He died about a quarter to 1 o'clock that (Saturday) morn- ing. About 10 minutes to 10 o'clock on Friday morning he went into the house for a piece of bread, and afterwards left the house with his elder brother, who would be six years old at Christmas, in whose charge
he was The next time she saw deceased was when Mrs Hill took him in the house in her arms, his mouth and nose bleeding There were bruises on the face, and also a mark on the stomach where she was informed the wheel had passed over Witness then took him at once to the hospital, and saw Dr Scott without delay He handed her a seat, and she held the child in her arms while he took hold of both
the deceased's feet and pulled them down close together. He then told her to put the child on the floor and let him stand, but he could not. The doctor then told her to take the child home, put some powder on his face, and lay him in bed. He said there were no bones broken, and no injury what- ever done to him, and also said the boy would get up next morning and run about and play. On her return home she sent for Mrs. Clements to come round and see
the child, and Mrs. Clements' daughter came about 11 o'clock, an hour after the acci- dent, and said a doctor would be sent. Dr. Hardy arrived about half past one, and said deceased was very much hurt inwardly, but he could not tell what the result would be for about-two hours. He called again at 5 o'clock, gave instructions for hot presses to be applied. Did not see Dr Hardy again until about a quarter past three o'clock that afternoon. Witness, her husband, and her mother-in-law sat up in attendance on deceased until he died. Did not request Dr Hardy's attendance after he left at 6 o'clock. She wished to thank Mrs Clements for her kindness in sending milk to the child while ill. Dr. Scott did not ask her to undress her child and did not see him un- dressed. Was not then aware the wheel had passed over the body. Deceased was dressed in petticoats.
A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.
Parents
Father: William James Beecroft 1
Mother: Kate Dean 1
Sources
1. LDS - IGI Index (familysearch.org).