The South Australian Advertiser, Tuesday 31 May 1864
(Adelaide, South Australia)

KAPUNDA.
[Correspondent.]
May 30.
I regret to record another fatal accident as having occurred in this place. John Nankervis, who has been employed by Mr. Crase, of the North Kapunda Hotel, for some years, whilst riding to-day on a load of hay, was thrown off, owing to the horse stumbling, and broke his neck. An inquest was held before Mr. J. S. Browne, S.M., Coroner, and a respectable Jury, to enquire into his death.
Thomas Jones stated—I was with the deceased this morning. Went from here to the haystacks. Went with a dray. The distance is about half a mile from here. A little boy was with us. We loaded some hay on the horse-dray. After we had finished the loading I came off from the stack. The deceased told me to move on the horse, to put the rope on. I said I would look out. He said, move his head a little bit off, and the horse made a stumble, and the deceased fell off on the off side of the horse with some hay, falling on his head. He never spoke afterwards. I told the boy to go for Mr. Maslin after picking up the deceased. He was not able to move, and was quite insensible. There was some hay under him. I don’t know the boy’s name. Mr. Maslin shortly arrived not being more than two minutes after being sent for. He said when he came, “Tom, he is dead—fast enough.” We allowed the deceased to lay on the ground until the police came, when he was removed in a cart to where he lies now. Deceased never moved. I had no words or quarrel with him whatever. By the Foreman—I never had any quarrel with him in my lifetime. By a Juror—The horse moved about two feet when the deceased fell off. Thomas Moyle, a boy about 12 years of age, confirmed last witness’s account. James Maslin stated—I was sent for to come to the deceased. I live close by, and went at once. When I arrived I saw John Nankervis between Jones’s legs. I lifted his head up, and said that deceased was a dead man. I sent for Mr. Crase and a policeman. His pulse was fluttering a little. His eyes were partly shut. I laid him on the ground, and stretched him out. He was quite motionless. There were no trigs under the wheels. There was some blood about his mouth. I don’t think the horse could kick him after he fell. Dr. Blood stated that he had examined the body. Could find no external mark. Examined the spine of the neck, and found a dislocation of one of the upper vertebra, which caused pressure on the spine, which would cause almost instantaneous death. Have heard the evidence, and fully consider the deceased met his death from the manner described. Dislocation of the spine is generally instantaneous when it is done with force. The Jury considered, and returned a verdict that deceased met his death by accidentally falling from a dray.

The South Australian Register, Wednesday 1 June 1864
(Adelaide, South Australia)

KAPUNDA.
[From our own Correspondent.]
Kapunda, May 31.
I have to record another of those fatal accidents which have become so very numerous of late. An elderly man, named John Nankervis, who has for many years been in the employ of Mr. Crase at his farm, was lying yesterday morning on the top of a load of hay, which he was bringing in to Kapunda, waiting for the rope to be flung up to fasten it, when some of the hay at the top gave way with him, and he fell to the ground on his chin, and broke his neck, dying instantly. An inquest was held the same afternoon, and a verdict of accidental death returned.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho