Today as part of my genealogy do-over I have been working on Charles Hooton, my ex-husband’s 3rd great uncle, and found some articles on Trove about his death, so I have decided to share these in a Trove Tuesday post.
Accident Ends Fatally.
Charles Hooton, 77 years, of Upton-road, Windsor, was knocked down by a motor car at the corner of St. Kilda-road and Field-street, Windsor, on Friday night. He was removed to Alfred Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning.
ELDERLY MAN KILLED
Conflicting Evidence at Inquest
Coroner Does Not Believe Witness
Conflicting evidence concerning the circumstances surrounding the death on 28th November of Charles Hooton, 77 years, laborer, of Upton-road, Windsor, was given by witnesses at an inquest at the City Morgue yesterday. The Coroner (Mr. Grant, P.M.) expressed the opinion that one of the witnesses was not telling the truth.
Stanley George Whitby, fitter and turner, Ebden-street, Elsternwick, said that about 8.40 p.m. on 27th November he was driving a motor car along St. Kilda-road. He noticed a car 30 to 40 yeards in front of him travelling between 30 and 35 miles and hour. As it approached the rockery near the corner of Peel-street he saw what appeared to be some object fall from the car. The car stopped in about 40 yards, and two men ran back to the scene. The driver turned his car and the came back. Witness then observed that it was the body of a man lying on the roadway.
John Tilson, electrical contractor, Eskine-road, Caulfield, said he was driving a car along st. Kilda-road about 8.46 p.m. on 27th November. When he was near the corner of Peel-street he saw the body of a man lying on the right-hand side of St. Kilda-road. He immediately told the other men with him, and stopped the car. His companions ran back to the man, and witness drove the car back to see if he could render assistance. By that time the man had been lifted on to the rockery.
Dr. J. C. Stewart, of the Alfred Hospital, said that when Hooton was admitted he was suffering from abrasions about the head.
Constable A. F. Pascoe said about 8.45 p.m. on the night of the accident, from information received, he went to the corner of Peel-street and St. Kilda-road. He there noticed Hooton lyong on the rockery. He told Tilton it was alleged that the car he was driving was responsible for Hooton being knocked down. Tilton denied it. Witness then examined the car, and found dent in the offside mudguard. He then approached Mr. Donoghue, the owner of the car Tilton was driving, and asked him how he accounted for the dent. Donoghue replied that he would see his solicitor. Later he said the mudguard was dented on the gate at his home.
Stanley Orr, Glen Huntly-road, Caulfield, said he was a passenger in the car driven by Tilton. When Tilton remarked that he saw a man lying on the roadway he ran back to give assistance. The man was then unconscious, but when he temporarily regained consciousness witness asked him how he came to be knocked down. The man replied that a motor car had hit him.
The Coroner: Did you tell that to anyone before this? It would have been wonderful evidence for Tilton, you know.
Witness: I did not tell anyone, I did not think of it.
In returning a finding of death due to misadventure, the Coroner said he believed W. Whitby. He had no doubt that the vehicle which struck and was responsible for Hooton’s death was the one driven by Tilton. He did not wish to say anymore about the evidence of Orr, but he was perfectly certain that he was not telling the truth.
Charles had been involved in an accident with a motor cycle a few years earlier, when he had been living in Northcote.
Elderly Man Injured
MELBOURNE, December 19.
While crossing the road at the inter-section of Victoria Parade and South Street, Collingwood, this morning, Charles Hooton, aged 60, of Wilmot Street, Northcote, was knocked down by a motor cycle. He was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital suffering from a double fracture of the left leg.
The last article I am going to share today is his death notice
HOOTON. – On the 28th November (result of an accident), Charles Hooton, the beloved husband of the late Emma T., loved father of Eliza, Alice, Lily, George, May, Ruby, Ada, Harry, Elsie, step-father of Charlie (deceased), and Will, aged 77 years, late of Wandin. – Peacefully sleeping.
Lois Willis - Genealogy and Family History 