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Ernest George Hackney

Age: 30

Sex: male

Date: 24 Dec 1934

Place: London Road, Portsmouth

Ernest George Hackney was knocked off his bicycle by a car that drove off.

He was a machinist and had lived on Six B Road in Cosham.

He had left home at 7.30pm on 22 December 1934 to cycle into Portsmouth to do some Christmas shopping.

Another cyclist said that he was cycling on the London Road near to where the incident took place at 11.10pm 22 December 1934 when he saw a motor-car pass him at about 60mph. He said that at the time it was on the crest of the road but that after it had passed him it swerved towards the kerb and then back out again. he said that as it swerved to its near side he saw some sparks and thought that the car had touched the kerb. He also said that he heard a bang like the beat of a drum and said that the car then continued along the London Road without stopping.

He said that a little further along the road he found Ernest Hackney lying on his face in the road. He was unconscious and was taken to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital where he died without regaining consciousness on 24 December 1934.

When the police arrived that found Ernest Hackney's hat and bag about 38 feet away from his body and his bicycle, which was completely wrecked, about 100 feet away.

The medical evidence stated that Ernest Hackney had four severe lacerations on his scalp varying from two to four inches long and a compound fracture to his right leg. The injuries were described as severe and his cause of death was given as contusion of the brain and shock due to severe injuries.

When the Coroner summed up he said that he only hoped that the driver of the car would, even then, take the only manly and English course and come forward and give a statement to the police authorities.

An open verdict was returned.


*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.

see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

see Portsmouth Evening News - Wednesday 20 February 1935

see Portsmouth Evening News - Tuesday 19 February 1935