Presberg, Joseph 1901 May 31st
An inquest was held at the Infirmary on Monday evening before Mr Trethowan (deputy coroner) upon the death of Mr Joseph Presberg, who was found in the road near Stapleford. Mr G A Woodroffe was foreman of the jury.
Solomon Presberg deposed that the deceased was his brother. Witness resided at New Wandsworth, and assisted his brother in the theatrical and commercial advertising business, Theatrical and Commercial Advertising Contractor, 32 St John’s Hill, Clapham Junction, London. His brother’s address was 9 Severns Road, Clapham. He was a single man, and was 27 years of age in February. On May 9th, he left London to spend a holiday with some friends at Stapleford.
James Smith, woodman, of Stoford, deposed that he was at work in his garden when he heard a crash and saw a quantity of dust come flying over the edge. He immediately ran out into the road and there saw a young man lying on his face and a bicycle some little way behind him. He at once turned the poor fellow over and raised his head, but found he was unconcsious. He sent off to Wilton for a doctor and the police, both of whom soon arrived.
By the jury: What was the road like where you found him? Perfectly level.
The Coroner: Was he facing towards Salisbury or away from it? Deceased’s head was facing the Swan Inn, which was 300 yards away, so that would be away from Salisbury. His bicycle was facing the same direction.
The Coroner: Was there anything in the road to account for the accident? Nothing that I could see.
A juryman: Were there any loose stones lying about? No.
Police Constable Frederick Hunt, stationed at Wilton, deposed that when on duty at the “Four Corners,” Wilton, a female cyclist rode up and said there had been an accident at Stoford. Witness immediately got on his own machine and went there. He found deceased lying by the side of the road with a crowd around him. About five minutes afterwards Dr Straton arrived. In the meantime witness rendered what assistance he could. He noticed injuries on the deceased’s head and nose, and saw a quantity of blood on the ground which was accounted for by the deceased having vomited twice. Acting on instructions from Dr Straton, witness and Smith brought the deceased into the Salisbury Infirmary in Mr Coomb’s vehicle, arriving at the institution at 10.15. Deceased’s machine was alright except that the front brake was slightly bent. The machine was fitted with automatic brakes back and front. His impression was that deceased must have put on the front brake rather too hard and thus got shot over the handle bar
The Coroner: But why should he want to put on the brake on level road? I can’t say, sir. There is no hill or sharp turning at the point. He might possibly have wanted to stop.
Dr Richmond, house surgeon, deposed that he saw deceased about five minutes after his arrival at the Infirmary. On examination he found a contused lacerated wound over the right temple reaching to the bone. His condition was such that an immediate operation was necessary. At the operation they discovered a fracture of the skull. Trephining was done but it did not afford much relief. Deceased never recovered consciousness and died that morning at 10.15. The primary cause of death was fracture of the skull, with hemorhage pressing on the brain as the second cause.
The Coroner (to deceased’s brother): Was your brother in good health? Yes, he was very robust and strong.
Some of the jury wished Smith to be re-called, and when he came in he was asked whether any vehicles or other cycles passed at the time of the accident. He replied that there was nothing anywhere near, neither were there any pedestrians in the road.
The Coroner said that it was strange that the accident should have occurred on level road unless deceased must have been taken suddenly unwell. It was a very sad occurrence, but he did not think that they could come to any other conclusion than that the death was an accidental one.
Mr Presberg: My brother had a freewheel to his machine to which he was not altogether accustomed.
Mr Longman (one of the jury): That might account for his being thrown.
The Coroner: So I think. There is no blame attached to anyone.
The jury returned a verdict a “Accidental death,” and expressed their sympathy with the brother and his family.
Mr Presberg feelingly acknowledged the resolution, after which the inquiry terminated.
Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1801-1920 