TRAM SMASH.
CONDUCTOR’S EVIDENCE.
(Pkr Press Association*.) WELLINGTON, January 10. The inquiry into the recent fatal tiinni accident was resumed this niornmg. Conductor Quayle was closelv examined by Mr O’Shea, City Solicitor. Ho pub m a report which he (Quayle) presented next morning, in which ho distinctly stated that the car stopped at tho city end of the tunnel Before presenting that report ho had not been approached by anv tramway official. A heavy wind was blowing at the time of the accident. Other people were standing in tho car when ho first saw a woman beckoning to him. Ho used the bratchet at the foot of the hand brake whcji he put it on. He hurl been tnughi that it gave the brake more leverage. WTien the car turned over he was still working on tho hand brake. Subsequently lie discovered that he had been somewhat seriously injured. It was absolutely incorrect to say that ho jumped off tho car before the accident happened.
Re-examined, Quayle said that he did not see that the car stopped at Austin Street, irhich was a. compulsory stopping place, because the ear practically stopped. No one attempted to get on or off. : "
Inspector MTlveney suggested that the conductor might be accused of being responsiolc under the Crimes Act The Coroner said that the witness was not obliged to answer any question of an incriminating nature. Mr 0 Shea said that it was highly improper that the witness should be prejudiced by any answer he might give to tho miestions put to him. inspector MTlveney urged that it was for tho witness to refuse to answer any question, the answer to which might ho incriminating. His on!v suggestion was that the witness was suffering from a. defective memory. Mr O’Shea, said ho agreed ’with this. Hie. witness was perfectly truthful. The Coroner: What is the reason of the compulsory stopsWitness: I object to answer. Further examined witness said that ho started entering u p the. runniim sheet while coming down tho incline” car 'I n< ; B°>. n S all right. He was writing and looking out at tho same
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19200115.2.89
Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 19846, 15 January 1920, Page 6
Word Count
355TRAM SMASH. Star (Christchurch), Issue 19846, 15 January 1920, Page 6
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