INQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 19

INQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL.

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE. The old mm James Carson, who was ad. milieu to the Hospital last .Saturday, suffering from an injury to his hip, which he nad sustained by a’ fall io Willis street, died at the institution on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon the District Coroner (Mr H. W. Robinson) held an inquiry into tho oircumatauces of the accident. Mr Allan Anderson was chosen foreman of the jury. James Cooper, a labourer, stated that while ho was standing outside the Albert Hotel between 5 and 6 p.iri. on Saturday he saw the deceased get off a tramcar p.t the

corner and fall down almost immediately after. He seemed as if he had lost his balance. A man named Arnold, who was with witness, assisted the deceased into the Albert Hotel. The deoeased uiu not seem to be in any pain, but he complained of his hip. Subsequently he was taken to the Hospital. Witness did not see how deceased got hurt. Was not sure whether the tram had quite stopped when deceased alighted, or whether it had only slowed as it went round the comer. Dr Ewart, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, stated that he examined the deceased when he was brought to the Hospital, and had found that he had sustained a fracture of the left tb'gb. He had also received a great shock to his system, from which he never rallied. Death wai caused by the shock, whioh was‘due to the fracture of the thigh. The deceased had told witness that he had fallen in getting off the tram. He said he was quite sober at the time. He did not say whether the tram was in motion at the time he fell off. William Wright c , tram eonduotor, deposed that the deceased had asked witness to stop the oar at the Albert Hotel. Witness did so, and assisted him to get off. Tbe deceased leaned heavily on witness as he was getting off. After getting both feet on the ground he moved away one step, and then fell. Would not say that the deceased was drunk. Deceased had always to be helped off the ear.

Frederick Arnold, labourer, who wit. uessed the accident, stated that the tram was uot stopped, but was going steadily. Wit. ness assisted the deceased into the Albert Hotel. Saw the tram conductor at the back of the car, but did not see him assist the deceased to get down. To the jury : Could not hay whether the tram had stopped. Thomas Keegan, inspector ou the tramway, stated that he was driving the car containing the deceased on Saturday oveuing. Was aware of the deceased’s infirmity, and always stopped to let him get down. Had noticed that he always stood for a litt e while after alighting before he moved away. Did not know Carson had fallen down for about an hour and a half after the occurrence. Had stopped the car at the corner, but did not see the deceased get down. The oar stopped at the corner about two minutes. Constable Murphy deposed that he saw the deceased at tha Albert Hotel shortly after the accident, and he (deceased) informed him that he had got oil the tram at the corner, and when he tried to walk off he fell down, He did not say he had fallen off the oar. He said he was suffering from an injured hip before. To the jury : There was not, so far as witness could gather, an impression that the accident had been caused by any irregularity. James Henry CarsoD, son of the deceased, Btated that he had visited bis father at the Hospital on Sunday. In referring to the accident the deceased had told witness that in getting off the tram he had got one foot on the ground, and was trying to steady himself wheu the tram moved off, and he fell on the broad of his baoK. He (deceased) said that they did not give him time to get clear of the car." He did not say that he had the other foot on the car, but he did state that be had his hand on the car.

At this stage the inquest was adjourned for a week.