MR McMURRICH'S DEATH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7851, 13 July 1911, Page 10

MR McMURRICH'S DEATH

PURELY ACCIDENTALThe inquest on the body of Mr Duncan McMurrich, superintending engineer for tnc Union Steam Ship Co -- , w^ s do-vn bv a trameax and killed near the t-orner ‘of Whitmore and Fetitherston streets on July 3rd, was continued by Dr A. McArthur, coroner, at the courthouse J Stotion-Sergeant Darby reoriented the ix) lice, Mr J. O’ Shea appeared for the corporation. and Mr I*. G- Bolton for the widow and relatives o£ tho deceased. Margaret McMurrich, widow of the deceased. stated that on July 3rd she left home in company with deceased a little he r cro 8 P-m-, intending to visit the Exhibition. They travelled through town by tram'to Whitmore street, down which thev waited as far as Featherston street. While crossing, witness saw a tram comine. but thought there was ample time for both herself and deceased to cress m front of it. Her husband was in front 01 her, and she did not notice what happened. Witness hesitated and then went round the bad: of the car. intending to meet deceased on tho other side, but she cou.d not soo him. Someone said; Ho la under the car." Witress could no * hieaximr the gong of lb© sound, ibc next thing she saw wiis her busbanH btung taken from under the car. He was bleeding but not dead. , Br Henry stated that ho saw the deceased in Featherston street shortly after 8 ».m. Ko was then dead. Ee had. a frao turo of tho base of the skull, which waa nuite sufficient to account for death. Witness could not say whethe- the fracture was caused bv the Impact of the car or the impact with the ground. Anthony Robinson Broadbent, motorman, stated that on the evening of July 3rd he was in charge of No. 1 oar, v.nicn icit Lambton station at 8 - 8 P.m. for Castable street. When the car had travelled halfway across Whitmore street, witness noticed a lady and gentleman coming from tho direction of Whitmore street. Witness rang hie gong, and the people stopped on the road between tho two sets of tram rnlla Seeing them stop witness went, to •‘coast’' past them. Ho got withm ten. feet when the gentleman made an attempt to cross the rails, but stopped in the centre of the track. Witness applied the emergency brake, but the car struck the deceased, who had half turued towards it Witness saw the deceased distmotlj. The car was stopped within five yartm after striking tho deceased, “d witnesß, on getting out. found him under the front portion of the car. The lino was straight, and ono could see a good distance ahead. Witness was travelling at the rate of eleven or twelve miles an hour. . , Eobert Crawford Eeid, conductor stated that just before coming to Jondcins and Mack’s his attention was attracted by the gong sounding. After it had been rung two or throe times tho car was brought to a. sudden stop. Witness went to the back platform and saw a lady. Thinking she was the cause of the stopping witness said: "If vou got wandering about there in tne dark. lady, you will prolably got liurt. She said; “Where is he? Witness did not know what she meant, but on going to the front he heard a peculiar noise, and on stooping down found deceased. Motorman Broadbent and another motorman lifted deceased out and witness to the telephone exchange and asked an operator to ring -, for a doctor. Dr Henry arrived a, few minutes later. George Albert Miniflo. barber, a passenger, stated he was riding on the top aud when the car stopped ho looked over tho side and saw a lady at the back. He heard her say:'“Where is ho? Where is he? Prior to tho oar stopping witness did not hear the gong sound. The car was travelling at the usual rate. , - John McMorran, labourer, corroborated the evidence of tho last witness, and added that it was a very dark night. The coroner said it was oiear the pause of death was accidental. When Mr and Mrs Mollurrich tried to cross the road, Mrs McMurrich thought there was ample tune to pass in front of the tram. For spine reason or other they paused, and the husband then proceeded to pass m front of tho oncoming - tram, while Mrs McMurrich stayed where she was. “I think itp'qupe consistent with the evidence, concluded Dr McArthur, "that when Mr. McMurrich found his wife was not following him he stopped, and by that time the c .'\r wa* so close that it .could not be stopped before it struck ~hiin.- Death was .bought about by hesitation on the part of tlm deceased while crossing the line, probably tough auxiety.ior the welfare of lus whe, and no blame is to be attached to t-he motorman any way whatever.