TRAMWAY FATALITY.

Evening Star, Issue 12871, 21 July 1906, Page 6

TRAMWAY FATALITY.

Ag the last tram on the Roslyn line had began to make its descent to the Kaikorai Valley last evening, the gripman saw a man lying on the rails immediately in front of uie car. He speedily applied the brakes, but cbnld not prevent the front of his car going over the man. There was no one else on the tram at the time, and Gripman Jones bad to run down to the engine shed and obtain assistance in releasing the man. This was soon done, but the unfortunate individual was unconscious, and died shortly after being released. Dr Newlands was telephoned for, but found that life was extinct. The gripman states, that the deceased came up from town by the 10.30 p.m. car, and appeared to be under the influence of liquor. He got off at the top of Ross street, and must have gone, along the tram line towards Kaikorai Valley to the spot where the accident occurred. This morning the body was identified as that of Calvert Sands, employed by Mr Arthur Ellis, of Kaikorai. THE INQUEST. The Coroner (Air C. C. Graham) held an inquest on' deceased at the Alorgue this afternoon. Mi Isaac Richard Carter was choe-en. as foreman. Mr C. J. Payne was present representing the tramway company. Arthur Ellis, flock manufacturer, Kaikorai, identified the body as that of an employee. Deceased was a cloth finisher by trade, and had been in the employ of witness’s firm for about fifteen months. He was a single man, about thirty-seven years of age, and inclined to be intemperate. Witness last saw deceased alive yesterday morning. At half-past eight in the morning dec»-sed complained of a pain in his chest, and said he would go home, and this he did. Witness did not think he was’ under the influence of drink then, but- he had been given to understand the diseased haH been drinking the night before. Deceased. was rather of a cheerful disposition, and there was nothing in his general demeanor to cause one to believe lie would be disposed to take his own life. Roland John Dredge, conductor for the Roslyn Tramway Company, was in charge of thojram which left Dunedin last night at 10.50 o'clock. Tie noticed deceased on the car, and on witness asking him for his fare he look no notice. Someone eke paid his faro, and witnos stbe nnptioed that deceased was drunk. Witness did not sec him leave the car.

The Coroner: What are your instructions regarding putting drunken people off the car?

The witness was not aware of any particular instructions to meet those casts. It was generally left to the conductor’s discretion. In this case he seemed to be in company of a mate, who appeared capable of taking cane of deceased until the end ot his journey. He ■was stupidly drunk, and was not making himself offensive to the other passengers. (Left sitting.)