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| The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA; 1931 - 1954) Monday 20 September 1943, page 3 Source:http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48767756 |
Burnside Fatality Inquest Finding
The adjourned inquest into the death of William Adam Bissett Scott, 62 laborer, of Waterfall Gully road, Burnside, who died in Royal Adelaide Hospital after having been found on September 2 with severe body injuries, with his bicycle beside him near his home, was concluded by the Acting City Coroner, Mr Ziesing, on Saturday.
The Coroner found that deceased came by his death from extensive injuries sustained when he was struck by a vehicle being driven my a person or persons unknown. "On the evidence before me," he added "I do not make any positive finding as to the type of vehicle which caused the death of the deceased, or the circumstances in which the impact occurred."
Mr D Waterhouse for Scott's relatives: Messrs H G Alderman KCand RH Lake for insurance interests.
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| William Adam Bisset Scott(2) Circa 1890 |
After his father died in 1892, Bill (as he was known) finished school at the age of 12 , to help his mother on the farm. (1)
He married my grandmother, Agnes Foy, at Dimboola in 1906.
He continued farming for many years, at various properties across the Wimmera. In 1925 he is listed as owning farmland at Lot 33 Manya North, near the South Australian Border. According to Electoral Rolls, he remained on the property until 1936, when he was 56 years old.
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| Source: State Library of Victoria Maps Manya, County of Weeah 1925 |
Prior to his untimely death in 1943, he worked for the Burnside Council as a ranger (3).
From family photos, we know that he also worked as an "Overseer of Road Works"
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| Bill Scott (far left) - "Overseer of Road Works" |
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| News (Adelaide, SA; 1923 - 1954) Monday 6th September 1943, page 6 |
There are many Newspaper articles on Trove about Bill Scott's accidental death and the subsequent inquest.
My Great Grandfather was returning home from the Waterfall Gully Hotel when he was "struck by a vehicle", which resulted in his untimely death on 5th September 1943.
He is not the first person in his family to die after having a few drinks!
His Grandfather, Adam Bisset Scott, collapsed and died in a pub in South Leith, Scotland, on 15th November 1872 (congestion of the lungs). (4)
His Grandmother, Catherine Glass, was also returning from the hotel, when she died from "suffocation through intoxication".
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| Source: Death Record - Scotlands People |
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| Better Times William and Agnes Scott & Family - Circa 1916 Allan, William, Donald (back) Wally (front) Agnes and Agnes |
Sources:
(1) Certificate Number 29016 issued by the Education Department Victoria on 12th August
(2) Spelling as per Birth Certificate
(3) News (Adelaide, SA; 1923 - 1954) Saturday 18th September 1943, page 3
(4) Death Recrod - Scotlands People
(2) Spelling as per Birth Certificate
(3) News (Adelaide, SA; 1923 - 1954) Saturday 18th September 1943, page 3
(4) Death Recrod - Scotlands People
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| This Post was prompted by Sepia Saturday Please click for more posts. |
Oh dear, how sad. Such a fine looking gentleman too.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Terrible that the culprit did not stop either!
DeleteAlcoholism does run in families. It has something to do with the way the body handles alcohol which can apparently be passed genetically down the line from one generation to the next. People with the affliction must stay away from alcohol altogether because it cannot be cured or controlled. Abstinence is the only answer.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately alcoholism does seem to be genetic.
DeleteThey may have been binge drinkers and not alcoholics. According to what I read recently, 2/3 of heavy drinkers are not actually alcoholics.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I did not mention the word alcoholic at all in my post. Yes the three deaths were related to alcohol but maybe that just means that I come from a very social family, who liked to have a good time?
DeleteWilliam might have been perfectly sober when he was struck by the unknown vehicle, even though the had been at the hotel. An ancestor of mine drowned in a puddle by the side of the road on his way home from the pub on a stormy night.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a subject for an interesting blog! Maybe it was a hit and run accident too?
DeleteI found this story really interesting, being so close to home. I wonder where the Waterfall Gully Hotel was. Maybe it was what is now called The Feathers, though that is more Burnside than Waterfall Gully. My son is chef at the Waterfall Gully restaurant, which is called Utopia. That is right up there close to the waterfalls. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the opportunity to visit the area yet. It is on my "to be done" list. One day soon!
DeleteWe have someone on most branches of our tree that had an affinity with alcohol. The good news for family historians is that these folk were often mentioned in the local papers while the more temperate family members didn't rate a mention.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you put that "affinity with alcohol". I also find that the country ancestors are easier to locate in the newspapers when compared to city ancestors.
DeleteNeither newspaper cutting says that William had been in the hotel. Is there other evidence to say that he had?
ReplyDeleteYes, there are several more newspaper articles and that is the story that has come down through the family too.
DeleteIt's lovely to read about people who have lived in towns and districts where my family lived too. I can picture them in context of country and community.
ReplyDeleteEven South Leith. Maybe one day we'll find a connection.
DeleteDo you know the addresses where your ancestors lived? Maybe they were neighbours :)
DeleteA very interesting if sad history. The great detail in old newspaper accounts does invite creating theories like those of detective stories.
ReplyDeleteI have another relative who died as a result of a vehicle accident in the 1920s. A witness stated that the driver of the other vehicle had been drinking but was not drunk. No breathalyser back then!
DeleteMy great-grandfather died from injuries from being hit by a streetcar. However, I've been unable to find any reports in the local newspaper.
ReplyDeleteWe are very fortunate with our country newspapers in Australia! Even trivial details were often reported!
DeleteSadly where alcohol lingers too often sadness follows. I look back on a little neighbor girl who I used to walk to school with when I was 7 and she was 5. I had no idea her mother was drunk and passed out on the couch. I just thought she slept a lot and kept the blinds closed. My mother knew otherwise and used to make sure the little girl had lunch money each day. Sad you family had to endure so much sorrow because of alcohol.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful that your mother did that! Many mothers would have judged the little girl because of her mother. Do you know what became of her?
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