FALL FROM A TRAM.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 4

FALL FROM A TRAM.

YOCNG WOMAN'S DEATH

TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES CHARGED

WITH PERJLHY

On Sunday evening, April 6th. a young woman named Evelyn Edith Coombes died in the hospital from injuries received through failing from or stepping off a moving tramcar at Papanui tho same evening. An inquest was held on tho following day, when Eugene Allen, the conductor, and William Horgjui,- tho motorman on the tramcar on which the deceased was travelling, gave evidence in regard to the place of the accident, and the place where the car stopped.

As a sequel to tnis ; Allen and Horgau were cuarged ouloru Messrs fWallace aud it. Crowtuer, J.i'.s, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, with commiuiflg perjury in lUe testimony Ihyy gave ou oath at the inquest — i Horgan "by falsely swearing xnat he stopped the car when Ue was two poles distant from the stopping place." And Allen "by falsely tnat ( when the said Evelyn Coombes; fell the car was three poles distant from the stopping place." Chief-Ihitcctivo Bishop appeared for the prosecution, and Mr S. L». Raymond, with him Mr Antuony, for tne defendants. Herbert Coombes, a brother ot mc deceased, gave formal evidence. Sergeant Bird said that he had been present at the inquest which was held before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, b.M. Both the accused gave evidence, after bein o SW Thomas A. B. Bailey said that, a* Coroner, he held an inquest on April 7th at the Hospital on the body ot Evelyn Edith Coombes. Kugeno ALen, car conductor, to whom the oath was administered by Sergeant Bird, and William Horgan, motorman, similarly sworn, gave evidence. Witness produced and gave in the depositions taken by him of the evidence- at the inquest." The evidence had been read over to the- accused, and signed by them. ji John McOwen Gow, a etorcfteeper, residing on the North road, Papanui, about twenty-five yards from the- south aide of the Sawyers' Arms road said that on Sunday, April 6th, at 6.30 p.m., ho was standing outside the front door of his house- on the path leading to the road. Before reaching the gate, he saw the tramcar pass, going northwards out of town. Hβ saw tho deceased sitting in the rear of the tramshe was thr only passenger. The car would be going ten or fifteen miles an hour. Ho did not notice it stop at the Usual stopping place,, about thirty yards from his gate. He noticed the tram returning shortly afterwards—it could not have hnd time to go to the terminus and back. Witness did nob sco any passengers on the car when it was returning. Jnmes Hcnshaw, a bbourer. residing at Sawyers' Arms road. Papanui, raid that on Sunday, April 6th, at 6.0) p.m., he wns going along tho Sawyers Arms road on to the _ North road, Papanui. He noticed a tram pass coming from Christchurcb; there was some person on the back oi the car. Hβ could not say_whether it was a man or a woman. He heard two sharp rings of the bell when the rar was passing the Sawyers' Arms road, and the car stopped at the second polo marked on the plan produced. Hβ saw someone get off and walk round the back of the car, and the car came bnok some distance. There wa s something black lying on the road,. and ho hurried across. The motorman ard the conductor picked up a young lady, and placed her in the cab of tho car. The tram then went back to Christchurch. The car was travelling 'a little more tlicn half speed past tho spot where the deceased fell off. To Mr Raymond: Witness was achain and a half ut> Sawyers' Arms road when ho saw the car stop for the first time. When he saw it stop a second time, he was on tho corner. Ho was alongside the car when deceased was in. Chie*-Detective Bishop: You are clear that the car did not stop at the usual stopping place at the Sawyers' Arms road when ( it; was going outwards? Witness: Yes. I am.

Henry John Douglas Barnard, a schoolboy, residing in Papanui, said that on April 6th. at 6.30 p.m., he waa on his way tO'church. "While pass-, "ing Mr Gow's shop, bo noticed a car 'pass, going north from Christchurch. He noticed a young lady sitting in tho back part of the car. The car pnssed tho stopping place at Sawyrrs' Arms ro«d. and it stopped at the p >le marked on tho plan. He hoard two sharp rings of the bell before it stopped. Ho ran up to the car. and he saw the motorman and the conductor lifting a young lady into tho car. Hβ was quito sure tho car did not stop at the usual place.

Joshua Edgar GuildfoTd. a labourer, residing in North road, Papanui, opposite Sawyers' Arms road, said that at 6«W p.m., on April 6th, he was walking towards the Sawyers' Arms road, and ho saw the car coming from Christchurch. The car did not stop at the Sawyers' Arms road stopping place, and went on to past the gocondpole, as marked on the olan. It tbe'n returned some distance to the cross marked on the plan, and after stop pine; there, immediately wont off in the direction of Christchurch. Harold A. d'C. Brown, traffic manager in the employ of the Tramway Boird. said that Horgan and Allen were in charge of the car that had ■ oeen mentioned in connection with the accident. The letter produced was to the best of his knowledge and belief in Conductor Allen's writing. (The ■ Bonch refused to allow this letter to ;be published.) J PHective Eado said that he photographed the scene of the accident, and produced a copy. The trnra poles in this locality were thirty-three yards apart, and the two Tfamvay stops, up and down, were- also t'lirty-thrco yards apart, and were dir ct!y opposite *.he Sawyers' Arms road. There were no lamps in this locality for several chains up or down. The distance from the Sawyers' Arras crossing to the spot where the body was alleped to have been lying was 23 feet. The witness Hensliaw' pointed out tho marks. This concluded the case for tho prosecution.

Both accused reserved their defence, a ° d ; Pleading not guilty, wero committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail bping allowed each in two sureties or £25.