THE INQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 6

THE INQUEST.

PASSENGERS' EVIDENCE. • The inquest touching the death of.Tram Conductor Ambrose M'Kay was continued at the Courthouse yesterday morning, Dr. M'Arthur,' S.M.,- presiding. ■ Mr. O'Shqa, City Solicitor, was present, and Mr. Blair,. acting under instructions from;the Wellington Tramways Union, appeared for deceased's relatives. Sergeant Mathewson, watched the proceedings, on behalf of- the police. '...'.. ...'.' ... Deceased was : a conductor on car 42 on Friday : 'evening last, arid' whilst collecting fares he slipped and fell to the I'oadway in. Manners Street, receiving injuries which terminated fatally. . . Arthur James Norris, of Messrs. Levin Bud Co., stated that he had .boarded the car at the Bank of New Zealand corner, Lfimbtoii: Quay ■at 4.50 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Witness had a scat in the open .-part of' the car, which was crowded. The conductor took his fare and passed <<n,: and presently lie (witness) heard someone exclaim, "Oh!" and he glanced to his left and. caught, a glimpse of the conductor's left hand making an attempt to catch at a walking stick held by an old. man in the same compartment. Realising that tho conductor had fallen, witness jumped up and palled, the bell"cord two or three times. He then got out of.tlio, car (before it had stopped) and found, the conductor on the ground surrounded by about a couple of ■dozen persons. The deceased was Weeding from the face, and his cash was scattered round. Sergeant Matlicwson remarked that it [had been stated that someone attempted *to board the car and in doing so >'had iaccidentaly knocked against the con-. Wnctpr. . Witness replied that he did not sec any'thing of that nature. Arthur B. Wilton, gardener, stated in evidence that he had boarded the car at rthe Bank of Now. Zealand corner. The jcondnctor-worked.through from the inside portion of the car and then stepped ;on to the foot-boanl, and someone held Hip his fare, which deceased took and then imoved to the compartment which witness ;was in. After collecting the fares in this 'compartment he moved to the third compartment, holding on by his left hand. Hβ then, attempted to grasp the brass hand rod with, the, right hand, but rnisspd it. Just nt that moment tho cnv lurched and tho deceased swerved round, still holding by his left hand, and then fell face forward to the road. Tho next witness called was Constablo .Frederick Hammond who stated that he was on duty in Manners Street on tho evening of the accident, and was close by when the accident took place. The deceased was on his hands and knees and ns ho went towards him he saw Mr. Flock-, ton and his'son turning deceased over on to his back. His .head was supported .until Dr. Pollen arrived, and he wa.* then taken into Mr. M'Kenzie's sho-» and subsequently removed to tho hospital. To Sergeant Mathewson: There was no unnecessary delay in removing him to eheltcr. Witness thc-ii went on to say tlyit ho looked nt the time as "tho decensed was jbeijiß removed to the ambulance, it beiiigfive minutes past five. Eight minutes had.elapsed from the time, of the mishap until the time when 'deceased was removed to the ambulance. Deceased was .treated according to the miles laid down .■by St. John Ambulance Association. Them wero no vehicles in the vicinity at the tiiri'O of tho accident, i To Mr. O'Shea: A little fine rain was lolling at tho tinio. The inquest was adjourned until 10.30 t> clock on Monday next. Mr. Blair agreed to forward to Mr. O'Shea information as to,,acc!dents,. etc.. attributed to the combination cars and to other cars.