CORONER'S INQUESTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 13

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

DEATH OF MR, JOSEPH PETRIE. Tho adjourned inquest touching tho circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Joseph Petrie, of Greymouth, was concluded at tho Morgue, beforo Dr. W. A. M'Arthiir, District Coroner, yesterday aftornoon. The ovidcnco adduced throw no furthor light on tho question as to the particular tramear deceased travelled by on the evening of tho accidcnt (April 6). Mr. O'Shea appeared for tho Corporation,' and Sub-Inspector O'Donovan for tho police. Mr. Cable, of the Tramways Department, also attended. Elizabeth Bevan, wife of Philip Bovan, 2 Brougham Drivo, gave ovidcnco that about tho beginning of April (she was not certain of the exact date) she boarded a combination car at Pirio Street, en route to Newtown. Between the Tramway Hotel and the Nowtown Fire Brigade Station, a gentleman rang tho bell. Tho motorman slowed down, but did not stop. The car went on again, and, by the time deceased reached tho door, was travelling quickly. Deceased stood at the door for about two seconds, as if waiting for tho car to stop, and then jumped. Wit;ness looked out, and saw the man fall forward, close to the car, on his face. The car wont on for about twenty or thirty yards, and then pulled up at the stopping place opposite, the Fire Brigade Station. Witness looked back, and saw tho conductor run back towards tho spot where tho man fell. The passengers who were sitting between witness and deceased before the accident remarked afterwards that "it was sheer murder—as tho man had rung tho bell." The conductor, who was standing near, said that "there was no.'stopping-place where the bell had been rung." In tho opinion of. witness, the car was going at full speed when the man jumped. She could not remembor the conductor. Frances Sarah Lutz and Andrew Daly also gavo ovidence. Agnes Johnston Wiseman, principal'of a private hospital in Brougham Street, and a duly qualified nurse, said that deceased was brought to her hospital on tho morning of April 7. Deceased, though sensible to a great extent,. was in rather a dazed condi r tion. Deceased subsequently informed witness that tho accident had happened tho previous evening.. Deceased had recounted toher. that he slipped Or foll-f roin the car,- but witness could not remember whether tho car iras stated, to her to have been in motion. Deceased did say that lie had rung the boll. • This was all the eyidcnco. Mr. O'Shea stated, in artswer to tho Coroner, that all tho. motormen and conductors who were oil palacc or combination cars travelling past tho scene of tho accident towards Newtown between 7.27 and 8.7 p.m. on April 6 had been examined, without result. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned the following verdict:— ■ • "That the deceased,- Joseph Petrio, ■ camo to his death by means of an accident received by stepping from a tramtcar wliilo in motion on tho evening of April-6." -