PILLION RIDER WITH BICYCLE

At the inquest at Lewes on Thursday on the body of Ernest Walter George Small, aged 20, of Ranscombe Cottage, Lewes [actually then in the parish of South Malling Without and now in the parish of Glynde – web editor], who was killed by being knocked down by a motor cycle driven by a young man named Cyril Winter, of the Barley Mow, Selmeston, on the night of January 12th, the jury returned a verdict of 'Death by misadventure', and Winter was censured for carrying a pillion rider with a push bicycle on his back. The Coroner was Dr E F Hoare.

Mr A V Porter represented the driver of the motor cycle, and Mr H M Blaker appeared for the relatives, while Superintendent A Waghorn watched the inquiry on behalf of the police.

LACK OF RECOLLECTION

Evidence of identification was given by Charles John Small, of 1 Ranscombe Cottages, Lewes. The deceased was his son, and nearly 21 years of age. He was in perfectly good health and left home at eight o'clock in the evening of Friday, January 12th, with his young lady, Miss Hilda Smith, whom he was going to take home to Southover. Witness expected him home about ten o'clock, and just before midnight he was informed of the accident.

Dr J W McK Nicholl stated that he arrived at the scene of the accident just before eleven o'clock and found the deceased lying in the road. He was dead. The cause of death was a fracture of the skull. He thought the fracture was caused by a severe impact with the hard road. George Leslie Sayers and Cyril Winter were also under his care. Sayers had a fracture of the base of the skull and Winter was suffering very badly from concussion. He thought they were now well enough to give evidence.

The Coroner – Is it a fact they might not have much recollection about this?

Witness – They had no recollection of it in the hospital, so I should not think they had any now.

By Mr Porter – The lack of recollection was consistent with their injuries.

HIT ON THE BACK

James Edward Small, of 1 Ranscombe Cottages, a brother of the deceased, said that at about 10.40 pm he was walking with his brother, Mr and Mrs Preston and Mr Arthur Bell, down Ranscombe Hill towards Glynde. They were on their left hand side of the road. A motor car was overtaking them when witness was suddenly hit on the back, but what hit him he did not know.

Answering the foreman of the jury, witness said they were not straggling across the road. The night was dark, and witness did not notice any beam of light such as might have come from the headlight of a motor cycle. The motor car that was overtaking them was going in the same direction as the motor cycle.

Answering Mr Porter, witness said deceased was not quite in the middle of the road at the time of the accident.

THROWN ACROSS ROAD

Harry Preston, of 4 Ranscombe Cottages, said that Bell, James Small and himself were walking along the road not quite abreast of each other, Small being a little to the rear. Behind them were deceased and witness's wife. Witness was right in on the near side,close against the verge. The deceased was no more two yards out into the road, and was wheeling a bicycle which had a reflector. About 100 yards from the fingerpost a motor car went past them, and another car was overtaking them. Witness did not hear a horn sounded. He heard a bump, and witness's wife shouted out.

The next thing he saw was deceased being thrown across the road. A few seconds later he saw a motor bicycle lying some ten yards farther down the road. The motor car stopped within three or four inches of the deceased's head. Witness saw that deceased was very badly injured, and he stayed with him until he died.

Replying to Mr Porter, witness said he did not actually see the motor bicycle strike the deceased, and answering a question of Superintendent Waghorn, he said he was certain it was not the car that struck deceased.

Hilda Lilian Preston, wife of the last witness, stated that she was walking in the rear with deceased, who was on her right. Something hit her on the side of the head and threw her onto the bank. She saw one or two figures lying on the bank, and another in the road. She did not see deceased hit; she simply heard someone say 'Oh!'

By the jury – Deceased was pushing his bicycle with his right hand. She was wearing a light overcoat.

Arthur Bell, Ranscombe Farm, said he was one of the party walking down the road, being in the middle of the front three, Harry Preston and James Small being the others. Mrs Preston and deceased were behind. Something came behind and struck him on the side of the right leg. He next saw the two men who had been on the motor bicycle lying on the bank, about ten yards farther down the road. He saw deceased lying on the ground on the right hand side of the road. Witness did not hear any sound of anything coming behind.

PILLION RIDER CARRYING PUSH BICYCLE

Theodore Arthur Lumb, Asham House, Rodmell [Asham House, now buried under the Asham landfill site, was actually in Beddingham parish – web editor], stated that he was driving down Ranscombe Hill when he saw a motor cycle about 50 yards in front. It had a pillion rider, who had a push bicycle over his shoulder. Witness was going about 30 miles an hour, and the motor cycle about the same. Witness saw a woman's light coat in the road, but he did not see anything of the others of the party. As the motor cycle came up to the woman she seemed to spin round as if she had been struck a glancing blow. Witness applied his brakes and pulled over to the offside. He saw a figure lying on the right hand side of the road, and stopped about a foot away.

Replying to the jury, witness said it was a very dark night, and he did not see the other people as they had dark clothes.

NOT INCONVENIENCED BY CYCLE

Arthur Holborne, 9 South Street, Lewes, stated that he was driving his car from Firle to Lewes, when he saw the headlight of an approaching vehicle. When he was going to round the bend he heard a crash, and then saw a motor cycle lying on its near side and the driver and pillion rider lying unconscious about five or six yards away. Small was lying near the centre of the road, nearer Lewes.

George Leslie Sayers, of 1 Council Cottages, Selmeston, gave evidence that at 9.40 pm he was going home along South Street and met Cyril Winter. They went into the Snowdrop Inn and had one glass of wine. They left at ten o'clock and talked until 10.20, when he asked Winter if there was any chance of a ride home. He said there was if he could carry his bicycle. Witness put the bicycle on his right shoulder, and got on the pillion seat. The bicycle did not inconvenience either of them. The last thing he remembered was going round the double corner at Ranscombe Hill, and he knew nothing more until he woke up in hospital.

Replying to the jury, witness said the bicycle did not interfere with the steering, and they went round the double corner all right.

In reply to Superintendent Waghorn witness said Winter was sober and the lights were all right. This was not the first time Winter had had him on his machine with the bicycle.

Cyril Winter of the Barley Mow, Selmeston, who aid he wished to give evidence, stated that Sayers and he left the Snowdrop Inn at ten o'clock. He agreed to give Sayers a lift if he could carry his bicycle. Sayers put it on his shoulder, the front wheel being alongside witness's hip. He had previously given him a similar lift. He had been riding about two and a half years. He remembered getting to the top of Ranscombe Hill, but nothing more until he woke up in hospital.

Replying to the Coroner, witness said he was not inconvenienced by the bicycle being pressed alongside his hip.

In reply to Superintendent Waghorn, witness said he now appreciated that it was extremely dangerous to give another person with a bicycle a ride.

A DANGEROUS PACTICE

The Coroner remarked that if the jury thought that a motor cyclist taking another person with a bicycle on his back showed a reckless disregard for the lives of other people on the road then their verdict should be manslaughter.

The jury returned a verdict of 'Death from misadventure', and said there was no evidence to show any particular negligence, but they felt that Winter should be censured for carrying a pillion rider with a pedal bicycle on his back.

The Coroner (addressing Winter) – In my opinion the jury have been very lenient, and you are very fortunate not to stand in a far worse position. You have heard what the jury have said about this matter. I am sure you realise now that this is a dangerous practice. You have done it before, but I hope you will not do it again.