The Tumut and Adelong Times 23 Jul 1929
DEATH OF MR ANDREW KELL A gloom was cast over the community on Wednesday evening, when the news circulated that Mr. Andrew Kell, the victim of the car accident at Killarney Creek, Tumut — Gilmore road, had died at 4 p.m. that day from his injuries, without regaining consciousness. When deceased was brought in to Tumut it was at once seen by Dr. Clouston that he was in a critical condition and it was expected that death would supervene within a few hours, but he lingered on for three days. The accident occurred all too sudden to enable the occupants of the car to say exactly how it happened: but all circumstances point to the bump on entering the gutter breaking the main leaf of the rear spring on the driver's side, making the car, with its heavy weight of passengers, sag that way, and bring the mudguards into contact with the hind wheel on that side, thus stopping or locking it just at the moment, and causing the car to rear and capsize to the right on to its hood, then rebound back the same way on to its wheels again, in which position it was when it came to a standstill. This seems the more probable solution to the problem as to how the accident was caused, seeing that it was nearly 30 yards after passing the gutter that the car toppled over, on what would be deemed quite level ground. The profound and general regret at the death was reflected in the very large cortege of mourners and friends who followed the remains to their last resting place in the Presbyterian portion of the New Cemetery on Thursday. Deceased was the eldest son of the late James Kell, one of the district pioneers, and was born here. He followed farming and grazing pursuits, in the footsteps of his father, who had forsaken carrying in the old days for the land. A shrewd and cautious business man, of keen husbandry knowledge, success followed has efforts and he held considerable broad acres at the time of his demise. Quiet, but hard thinking, he employed his mind for the welfare of his wife and children's future. Thirty-two years ago his marriage with Miss Emma Kebblewhite took place in the Presbyterian Church, Tumut. To the union, six sons (one deceased) and five daughters were born, the sons surviving being William James ("Bob"), Andrew John ("Jack"), Edward George, Louis Garfield and Arthur Wallace, and daughters Miss Sarah Isabel, Mrs. Harry Jones (Tomorroma), Mrs. Thomas Harris (Lacmalac), and Misses Daisy and Eva (Lacmalac). These, and a sorrowing widow, are left to mourn their irreparable loss, and, besides these there are 3 sisters (Mrs. Ben Day, Mondongo, Mrs. J. Gordon, Auburn, Mrs. Chas Clout), & two brothers, James and William (Lacmalac). Mr. Stanley Kell (Lacmalac) is a step-brother. After leaving the hospital, a short service was conducted by Rev. J. Walton in the Presbyterian Church, who also officiated at the grave. Messrs Fuller and Burt carried out the funeral and burial arrangements. The bearers were deceased's two brothers and four of the sons.
The Tumut and Adelong Times 23 Jul 1929
THE INQUEST. An inquest touching the cause of death of Andrew Kell was held by Coroner R. L. Blakeney at the Courthouse, Tumut, on Friday last. John William Beattie, dairyman, Brungle-road, deposed : On Sunday last was proceeding to Adelong in a motor car, and when about four miles from Tumut a car, which was driven by deceased, about 400 yards in front of me, was going in the same direction. Think the car would have been travelling about 30 miles per hour. Saw the car go into a dip in the roadway, and, after going for about 20 yards further, saw it capsize on its right side. It went right over, and then righted itself on to its four wheels. Went on to where it capsized, and, on arrival, saw deceased lying on the roadway, on the driver's side of the car. He appeared to be un conscious and was groaning, and I noticed on one side of his head that he had an injury to the ear and was bleeding. Know the other occupants of the car— Leslie Shields, Pat Halloran, Sam Strutt and Allen Davis. When I got to the car they were standing on the roadway. Then, assisted by others, placed deceased in my car and brought him to Tumut Hospital. On tha day the accident happened decea sed was driving in front of me from the time we left Tumut and he ap peared to be keeping the road and driving in a sensible manner. It see med to me that the accident was caused owing to deceased putting the brakes of the car on too suddenly af ter crossing the dip on the road. James Patrick Halloran, grazier, Lacmalac, deposed: Was proceeding with others to Adelong in a car driven by deceased, sitting on the back seat on the right-hand side. We left Tumut about 2 p.m. As we were crossing a dip in the road near Gilmore Railway Station the driver appeared to take it diagonally. The car then swerved and I was thrown out. Heard a crash. When I got up I looked round for the other occupants of the car ; they were walking albout on the road, and I saw deceased lying on the roadway near the car. Noticed that left ear of deceased was practically cut off and there were apparent injur ies to side of head. Deceased was then placed in Mr. Beattie's car and I ac companied him to the Tumut District Hospital. Have known deceased all my life. On the day of the accident he was sober; he was a sober man. Do not know what happened, but could not tribute the accident to carelessness on the part of the driver. Dr. T. B. Clouston deposed to attending to deceased who had been brought to the hospital on the Sunday afternoon. Deceased was deeply unconscious, and had a wound on the left side of his head, from above downwards, almost severing the left ear. He had other minor injuries. It was quite evident that he had sus tained severe head injury. Later on a lumbar puncture revealed the fact that the cerebro-spinal fluid was bloodstained, but not under pressure. This meant that the brain was torn, but not compressed. Deceased lived for a little over three days, and died on Wednesday, 17th inst., without re gaining consciousness. In my opinion death was due to a lacerated brain, caused by striking the left side of his head in the motor car accident. There was no indication of any drink on deceased. Leslie Shiels, laborer, Lacmalac, disposed : Was sitting in the front seat alongside the driver. Deceased had had no drink. There were three other occupants in the back seat. Near the Gilmore Railway Station there is a slight dip in the road. When approa ching this dip deceased appeared to try and take it crossways to avoid the bump. When he went to straighten the car up it swerved front side to side and then turned over on the left side, and all I remember was that I was thrown out of the car. Recovered myself and noticed that the car was standing on its wheels on the road side. As far as I can remember de ceased had his head and body hang ing out of the car, with his legs in the car, on the driver's side. Deceased was then placed on the roadway. Noticed that he had severe injuries to his head on the left side. Deceased ap peared unconscious and did not speak. He was placed in J. Beattie's car and taken to Tumut Hospital. Have known deceased for about six months and on Sunday last he was driving very carefully and not at an excessive speed. Cannot say how the accident was caused; it happened quite sud denly. Could not attribute it to care lessness on the driver's part. Sergt. A. H. B. Jones, in charge of the Tumut Police District, was infor med officially of the accident and of deceased being brought in to hospital unconscious and with serious injuries. He died on the afternoon of 17th inst. Accompanied by the Coroner, went to the hospital morgue and there saw the body of deceased, which I carefully examined. There was a mark of serious injury on the left side of the head, about the region of the ear, and also bodily injury extending from the hip to the shoulder on the right-hand side, which was bruised. The Coroner's finding was that de ceased came by his death from the effects of injuries accidentally re ceived on July 14, when a motor car which he was driving turned over on the Adelong road, about 4 miles from Tumut. |