THE FATAL TRAMWAY ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9020, 5 April 1888, Page 5

THE FATAL TRAMWAY ACCIDENT.

♦' — . CORONER'S ' INQUEST. ■' An inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Junction Hotel, Epsom, by Dr. Philson, coroner, on the body of Joseph William Bradfield, who was accidentally killed on j the tramway'; line on t Monday night ; near the Junction Hotel.' Mr. Impey was chosan foreman of the jury. . Sergeant Pratt was resent on behalf of the police authorities, Mr. Mahony, solicitor, for the.relatives of deceased, and Mr. Malcolm for the Tramway Company, of which he is manager. The jury having viewed the body of ,' deceased, the following evidence was taken : — ? Thomas Chad wick, milkboy, deposed to finding the body of deceased, between five and six o'clock on Tuesday morning, alongside the tram line, about 100 yards the Junction Hotel, on the Onehunga - side. The man was lying on his back, on the outside of the line, with face inclined to the line, and the right arm extended across the rail. Saw that he was dead, and went and reported the matter to Constable Collis. . Constable Collis deposed that he found the deceased lying as already described. The arm was nearly severed from the trunk of the body, and the body was fully clothed with the exception of a hat. Face and head were cut about, the jaws broken, and the skull fractured in various places. The injuries appeared to have been caused by some vehicle or other. The body was cold and stiff, and the clothing was covered with dust, but not torn. Could not identify the man by name, though he had seen him previously some months ago. He removed the body to the Junction Hotel. On searching the pockets found ,13s 8d in money, a memorandum showing ' that his name was Bradfield, and some other small articles. I ound his Government Savings Bank book (produced) stitched up in his clothing, with the name Joseph William Bradfield, Cob-den-street, Newton. He had some £20 odd in the bank, and had. drawn £6. Found a pool of clotted blood near head of deceased, also blood on the rails some five yards beyond where deceased was found. Reported the affair to Inspector Broham. The inspector instructed witness and Detective Tuohy to make further enquiries. Mrs. Bradfield, widow of deceased, came to the Junction Hotel, and identified the body as that of her husband. He also found Michael Dougherty, a tram-driver, and warned him to attend the inquest. Cross-examined by Mr. Mahony : The body did not appear to have been dragged at all. There were no marks of blood, but a clot at one spot five yards distant. If there had been any dragging of the body, would have seen it on the ground. Ann Bradfield deposed that she was the widow of deceased. She identified the body as that of her husband. He was a manufacturer of sodawater and gingerbeer, but had been gumdigging for six years past at the Wade. He was 48 years of age, and last saw him alive on Monday morning, when he went to the races at Ellerslie. She was living in lodgings at Cobden-street, Newton, having come up from the Wade to be confined. He did not return home that night, and witness sent her sisters in the evening to make enquiries, but they could not find him, and went to the police station, but he was not there. He had promised her to be home early, and go back to the Wade next morning. Early yesterday morning ■ she again went to the police station, and on hearing of the accident, went out to the Junction Hotel and identified the body as that of her husband. Identified the bankbook (produced) as her husband's. He told her he had drawn £6 on Wednesday to pay some debts in connection .with her confinement. Her husband was a sober, hardworking man. There were seven children living, the eldest 18 and the youngest 12 days old. Deceased came to town on Tuesday week last to see how she was getting on.

Lucy Smith deposed that she was the wife of the licensee of the Junction Hotel, Epsom, James Smith. Had seen the body of deceased that day, and recognised it as that of the man who called at the hotel on Monday night, between six o'clock and halfpast. He was in company with three other young men, but she did not know them. They called for three long beers, but deceased called for nothing. The young men wanted deceased to pay for the beer, but he refused to do so. Deceased had no drink at all. The young men appeared to be sober, but deceased was neither "drunk nor sober, though he appeared to have his senses. They were only in the bar about five minutes. Deceased seemed capable of taking care of himself. None of the party paid for the drinks. She called out as they stood outside "who was going to pay for the drinks?" The three young men said deceased "would pay, he had plenty of money," and drove away in tne break, leaving deceased standing on the road. The night was getting dark, though fine. Did not know where deceased went to, as he did not return to the hotel. The break belonged to Mr. Craig, coal merchant, but did not know the name of the driver, though she could recognise him again. First heard of deceased's death early on Tuesday morning, when the body was brought to the hotel, and she recognised it at once. George Lepthorne deposed that he was a boarder at the Junction Hotel, and a retired hotelkeeper. Had seen the body of deceased that day. Saw him on Monday night, standing in the roadway in front of the hotel, a little past six o'clock. He seemed to have had too much whisky, but was not exactly drunk. Witness tried to persuade him to go home, and he went away up the Otahuhu Road. Did not see him again alive. Knew nothing whatever regarding manner of his death. ♦ Mr. Mahony cross-examined witness, but nothing important was elicited. Michael Duffin, tram conductor, deposed thathe had seen the body of deceased, but did not know him. He left Epsom stables at a-quarter to seven on Monday night, with a goodly number of passengers, for Auckland. On approaching the Junction Hotel, heard a bump when on the tram rear platform. It was not like going over a stone, but over a soft substance. ' The driver of the car was George Edward Crousen. He- heard the 'bump, but ' felt nothing, and did not suspect anything wrong. Mentioned the matter to. three passengers on the platform. They said it did not appear like the bump of a stone. He did not stop the car to ascertain if anything had occurred, and went on to Auckland, arriving at half-past seven. Thought no more of tne matter, and witness did not hear of accident till informed by a 'bus driver next morning. One of the drivers told him that; blood had been found on one of the wheels of the car. He went and examined it. It was on the right wheel coming into Auckland, and was between brake and back wheel. On seeing Detective Tuohy, told him of the circumstance. Examined one of the other cars, and found blood on the india-rubber fender, which brushes the stones off the rails. It was quite dark at the time of hearing the bump. Could not say whether the driver could see anything on the rails. The car.< had head lights and side lights. Did noi hear any call or sound. • Cross-examined bv Mr. Mahony : Rr>m< of the passengers were ranting about the bump, and saia it was not a stone. He did not think the matter of sufficient importance to stop the car, though it was unusual to hear a bump on the rear platform. The bump occurred a short distance before reaching the Junction Hotel. / • George Edward Crousen deposed that he was a tram driver. He had no knowledge of deceased. Witness was driver of the 6.45 tram (a three-horse car) from Epsom to Auckland, on Monday night. Nothing occurred of an unusual character to his knowledge on the trip. The car was lighted, but the night was dark. The car was going about four or five miles an hour. He felt no. obstruction on the line. Kept a good look-out, according to the instructions. Could see about two Worses' length ahead. The horses might trample on a man lying down, But he thought , they would shy. ' There was no cry of any kind. First heard of the accident next morning, but did not examine the car. He ; could not account for the accident. Cross-examined by Mr. Mahony: The conductor did not mention anything about the bump until next morning. Robert Eaton deposed that he was a groom at the Tramway Company's stables, Epsom. Was not acquainted with deceased. He was driving the 7.15 tram (a three-horse one) from Epsom to Auckland, and had only a few passengers. It was lighted as usual and the night was clear. Could set* a couple of horse-lengths ahead. Nothing unusual occurred on the trip, but felt a jolt a little way up 'the line from the Junction Hotel.

As sometimes go over stones on the line thought " nothing of it. " Heard no groan or ; cry, and ; did * not hear ;of the accident till next morning. Looked at the car then, but did not see any marks of; blood. ;' Returned along the line at a quarter-past eight, bub noticed no obstruction on the line. James Homan deposed that he was a "leader" boy in the service of the Tramway Company. Had seen the body of deceased that day. ' Was riding his " leader" back to Epsom stables at a quarter-past ten on Monday night along the Onehunga road,\ when he saw the body of & man lying down the line, and between the line and the fence. His attention was drawn through , the horse shying. .He did not dismount,-but went on to the stables. Told one of the grooms he saw a man lying along the. tramline, but the man went to bed. On the horse shying; he pulled the . horse back to see. The man never spoke or moved, and he could not tell whether he was dead or alive. The man was lying alongside the line with his arm across the' rails. There were three more cars to come in. He did not call out to the man. Said so to Detective Tuohy, but was confused. He had had no conversation with anyone about his evidence. . Thomas Prenter deposed that he was a carter in the employ of Mr. Craig, coal 'merchant. Was at the racecourse on Monday, picking up passengers. Deceased got into witness's break about -past five . p.m., as he was driving: passengers to Auckland. There were twelve in the trap, but he only knew three of them. He did not know deceased., Stopped at the Junction Hotel. One of : the passengers wanted to see a friend there,: and the three others and deceased got out to have a drink. .He told them not to be long. They came out in five minutes, followed by the barmafj and landlady, who wanted to know who was going to pay for the drinks. One of the party, referred to deceased, and said he , asked them in and should pay for the drinks. They did not, pay so far as he knew, and all got in save deceased, who was talking with the landlady about the disputed drinks. Witness was willing to have taken him in, if he had chosen to come. He was drunk, but could walk, and got out of- the trap all right, but was staggering when he got in at Ellerslie. Michael O'Dougherty deposed that he was a tram driver. On Monday night he left Auckland for Epsom with the 6.30 tram (a three-horse one), passing Junction Hotel about 7.10. Nothing unusual occurred on the trip, and he reached Epsom about 7.16. Did not feel any bump or see anyone on the tram line. Heard next morning that a man had been found dead close to the line near the Junction Hotel. Witness examined five of the tramcars and found blood on the buffers, but not on the wheels. The car he drove had marks of blood on it, and he could not account for it. Had sometimes to warn people off the line ; the night was very dark. His was the last car, being twenty minutes to twelve. Near the Junction Hotel he felt a jolt as if going over a small stick.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mahony : Some of the cars had more blood on them than others. He could not explain why he did not see the man at twenty minutes to twelve when the boy saw him lying near the rails at a quarter past ten, other than that the boy was upon horseback and could see better, while he was behind three horses.

George Russell deposed that he was a groom at the Epsom stables. On Monday night he was at the stable. About eleven o'clock a leader boy, Homan, told him that he thought he had seen a man on the line with his arm broken. That was all that passed between them. He was going to bed at the time, and did so. He asked the boy if he went to see the man, and the boy said, "No." The lad did not ask him to go and see about it, and did not speak of the circumstance till some' time after he came back to the stables. Witness might have mentioned the matter to the foreman, but did not think of it. Cross-examined by Mr. Mahony: He made no inquiries from the lad, and did not think it necessary to go down the line. If the lad had shown by his manner that he was alarmed, he would have looked into it. After a brief consultation, the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death, being run over by a tramcar, but no blame was attachable to anyone,"