TRAM ACCIDENT FATAL RESULT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 81, 7 April 1913, Page 7

TRAM ACCIDENT FATAL RESULT

INQUEST ON ALEX. STITT, An inquest was held to-day, before Dr. A. M'Arthui, R.M., on the body of Alexander Stitt, who died in the Wellington Hospital on Saturday, as a result of injuries, which ho received when alighting from A tram car on Wednesday evening. Stakon-Sefgt. Mullaney represented the police, Mr. J. O'Shea the City Corporation, and Mr. Stitt, junior, watched the proceedings on behalf of the relatives t>f the deceased. Wililam Joseph Sleath, police con/stable, gave evidence that while on duty opposite the wharf gates at 8.15 p.m. on 2nd April, he saw a tramcar pass. Shortly afterwards he heard a cry and saw a man being dragged along' under the car. The injured man after being medically attended to was removed to th« hospital. Dr. woodhouss, senior medical officer at Wellington Hospital, stated that when Mr. Stitt Was admitted his right leg was broken above the ankle, and he had suffered several bruises. The leg was set, I but gangrene set in in the fodt, and an amputation became necessary. An anaesthetic was administered, but shortly after its commencement Mr, Stitt's heart began to fail and the operation had to be abandoned. The parent was put to bed. He died shortly afterwards from cardiac failure. Deceased's heart had '< been bad all along. To Sergt. Mullaney: Judging from appearances he did. not think the wheel of the car had passed over deceased's broken leg. Geof. B. Almond said that, on the evening of the 2nd he was conducting on car No. 76, running from Constible-street to the General Post Office. On approaching the Post Office stopping-place deceased jumped off while the oar was in motion and fell under it. Witness signalled the emergency stop. The motorman at once applied the brakes, otherwise the wheels would have gone pver his two legs. Witness heard My. SUM says that he thought his leg was broken. He did not hear Mr. Stitt say that he thought the car was stopped at the time he alighted. The car was pulling up at the time deceased alighted. To Mr. Stitt, junior : There was nq time to warn deceased not to get off the, car before it had actually stopped. Mr. Stitt s Dp yon consider ?t is necessary to have some appliance to prevent a man rolling under a car in such circumstances 1 Dr. M 'Arthur .• Witness # cannot say that. It ia not his business to express an opinion on such a matter. fi. IJ. Hack, mOtorman of car Mb. 75, corroborated the conductor's statement. He thought deceased's leg was broken by contact with the wheel box. The inquest was adjourned till to-mor-row in order to secure the attendance of * witness who saw the accident.