KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 8

KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAM.

FATALITY IN QUEEN STREET. INQUEST CONTINUED. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., into the death of Charles Ingersoll Dennes, a married man, aged 'M, who died after being knocked down by a tram-car in Queen Street on the afternoon of November 13. Mr. A. H. Johnstone represented the Tramways Department, and Mr. Ward appeared for the relatives of deceased.

William Henry Teskey, a tramway motorman, stated that at about 3 p.m. on November 13 ho was driving a tram down Queen Street, and when near His Majesty's Theatre he saw deceased running across the street from the west side. When he was about three yards ahesd of the car witness sounded the gong, shouted to the man, and applied the emergency brake. Deceased had his head down and took no notice, going straight on. He was struck by the headlight of the car, and the impact throw him forward on to the rails. When tbe car stopped he was against the lifeguard. The car did not go over him. The tram was pulled up in less than seven yards. Had deceased been taking reasonable precautions he should have seen the car.

To the Coroner: I have been driving continuously for seven years. Tho car. was going at about 12 miles per hour. Dr. A. J. Mason stated that when deceased was admitted to the hospital he was slightly inebriated, was conscious, and was severely shocked. He had few external injuries. Ribs were fractured and his left collarbone was broken. His condition remained unaltered until about 7.30 a.m. on tho next day. when he collapsed suddenly and died. By direction of the Coroner, a post mortem examination was made and it was found that lie had a ruptured left lung,' and his vertibrae was broken. The cause of death was shock and heart failure, following on his injuries. (Proceeding.)