Fatal accident in Bedchester, June 1875
First published Blandford Express, Saturday, 5th June 1875
Last Monday evening, about eight o’clock, Mr John Smith, the well-known cattle dealer of Bedchester, was returning home from Stickland, when he fell from his gig over Farrington Bridge, from whence be was taken up insensible, and died the next day.
The horse also fell, and was so injured that it was deemed necessary to shoot the poor creature in order to save it from a lingering death.
At the inquest held on Wednesday, it was found that Smith, although going at his usual rapid rate, was asleep at the time of the accident.
He was jerked from his seat by the wheel striking against a kerb-stone of the bridge, consequently, the jury desired the coroner to represent to the Bridge Committee that the said bridge is not of suficient width.
We would not say a word against the dead, but most of our readers are well aware that the accursed drink is more frequently the cause of accidents than narrow bridges.
Poor Smith was in the habit of stopping at public-houses, and then driving furiously to make up for lost time.
The inquest – reported the same week in the Blandford & Wimborne Telegram – painted a fuller picture of the tragedy. Witness Jeremiah Tuffin told the coroner he had seen Smith driving shortly before the accident with his hands resting on his knees and leaning forwards, leading him to believe he had fallen asleep.
Another witness, Thomas Turner, said Smith had admitted earlier that evening that he was tired after driving around 30 miles that day and had even confessed to dozing while coming down Okeford Fitzpaine Hill.
The doctor who examined Smith found a six-inch fracture at the base of his skull, concluding that it was consistent with being thrown from a rapidly moving gig. Although the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, they also urged the coroner to press the Bridge Committee over Farrington Bridge’s narrow width and poor approaches, believing both had contributed to the fatal accident.
