Inquest Report

Updated 4 Mar 2002 by Brenda Jeffery

- The widow said she had just removed from Tooting to 2.Benbow-street, Deptford. On Saturday morning her husband left Tooting on a bicycle, and in the evening she received a telegram to the effect that he had met with an accident and had been taken to the Miller General Hospital in Greenwich-road. He died the following morning without telling her how the accident happened.

- George Thomas White, of 89, Astbury-road.Peckham, conductor of an electric tramcar, stated that on Saturday afternoon he saw a three horse brake going along the Old Kent-road. It was fully occupied by men, and the horses were being driven at the rate of about six miles an hour. He also saw Bleeze, who endeavoured to pass the vehicle on the offside, but his bicycle skidded and he was pitched onto his right shoulder. He remained under the brake but the wheels did not go over him. When he was extracted witness observed that his right ear was nearly torn away. Considering the fact that the driver of the brake had three horses to handle he pulled up in a most wonderful manner, and could not have avoided the accident, which was entirely due to the side slip of the bicycle.

James Booth, of 776, Old Kent-road said he was driving a party to a cricket match. He did not see anything of the cyclist until he saw something go under the vehicle, and pulled up as quickly as possible.

- Police-Constable Robinson. 428R. said that Bleeze was conveyed to the Miller Hospital in a motor-car, and Dr. George Perry, House Surgeon at that institution, deposed that on admission he was suffering from fractures of the jaw and left arm, and the right ear was torn away. There was also a fracture of the skull and severe bruising round both shoulders.

Death was due to shock following the injuries- the jury returned a verdict of "ACCIDENTAL DEATH." and exonerated the driver from blame.