FATAL FALL FROM ELECTRIC TRAMCAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7209, 18 August 1910, Page 1

FATAL FALL FROM ELECTRIC TRAMCAR

DEATH OE ME L. E. EEADE WELL-KNOWN RESIDENT OF FOXTON. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. An inquest touching the death of Lawrence Edward Reade, an old and much respected 'Foxton solicitor, who died at the Wellington hospital yesterday morning as the. result of falling off a tramoar on July 2bd last, was held at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Mr W. R. Haselden, cox-oner, presided, Sergeant Mathieson represented tho police, and Mr O’Shea watched tho proceedings on behalf of tho City Council. From the evidence of several witnesses it appeared that deceased was riding on a tramcar bound for Newtown. After turning into Ingestre street he made to alight whilst the car was iu motion. Tho night was wet, and as he stepped out of the car on to tho footboard ho slipped and fell heavily on to the road. He was carried into the Friendly Societies’ Dispensary for first aid treatment and subsequently removed to tho hospital. Hr Smith, medical superintendent at the' hospital, stated that the deceased was admitted at about 6 p.m. 1 on July 2nd. suffering from a small wound on tho back of the head. He was discharged on the following-day, apparently fuixy recovered. On July f-th.ho was readmitted suffering from fits, and an operar tion was performed the following day (Tuesday), when a clot of blood was removed from tho brain. There was a recurrence of fits and another operation was performed on Wednesday. After that ho made good progress towards recovery, and he left the hospital on July 29th on his own account, though ho was asked to stay a little longer. He was again admitted to the hospital on Monday last suffering from fits. An operation was performed and his head drained. He gradually sank and died at halfpast 8 o’clock yesterday morning. The immediate cause of death was syncope following the last operation. The primal cause of death was injury to the brain causing hemorrhage, which resulted in epileptic fits. Tho coroner’s verdict was that deceased died from syncope following an operation to relievo tits which were the result of injuries caused through accidentally falling from a tramcar on July 2nd last. It was stated that deceased was sixtythree years of age.

Hr Lawrence Edward Roade, barrister and solicitor, was born in India sixtythree years ago, the son of Hr Edward Anderson Reade, C. 8., Governor of on© of tho small Indian provinces, and a nephew’ of Charles Reado, tho weli-knowr English novelist. Ho received his education at Tunbridge school, and left London for Mow Zealand in 1860 by the chip Challenger. Air Reade took up his residence in Dunedin, where he was articled to Hr Gibson Kirk Turton, barrister and solicitor. In 1873 he became manager for Hr E. A. Julius, solicitor, Oainoru, with whom, he completed his term in 1575. The same year Hr Reade was admitted to tho bar. Ho resided at various times in Christchurch, Invercargill, Melbourne, ‘Wellington, Peiiding and Foxton. Hr Reade in his younger davs took a keen interest in athletics, and represented Otago and Canterbury in the cricket held. In IST9-&0 ho was Worshipful Master of tho Southern Cross Lodge, Invercargill, and also occupied office in tho Koval Arch Chapter ot Masons. He was elected Mayor of Eas*t Invercargill in I*B4, having served that borough previously for six years as councillor. The deceased married a daughter of the late Hr George Booth, Oamaru. She predeceased him by three years. The family consists of Hr E. B- L. Reade, of the Railway Department. Wellington; Hr A. B, Reade, contractor, Havelock, Marlborough; and Hr C. C. Read©, editor of the “Mew Zealand Graphic," formerly of the “New Zealand Times”- staff.