STEPPING OFF TRAMCARS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 2

STEPPING OFF TRAMCARS.

THE JERVOIS QUAY FATALITY. INQUEST CONCLUDED. Tho adjourned inquest into tho circumstances surrounding tho death of John Wakolin, a sawmill owner from Taihape, who died at tho hospital 011 Thursday morning as tho result of a fall whilst getting off a tramcar in Jervois Quay on Wednesday evening, was continued at the S.M. Court on Satu> day morning before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., coroner. Mr. J. O'Shea, city solicitor, was present 011 behalf of the City Council, and Sergeant Stewart represented the police. Arthur Percival Masters, commercial traveller, stated that ho was on tho same tramcar as tho deceased on tho evening of February 24, going from tho Thomdon Station to Newtown, via Jervois Quay. Witness knew deceased by sight, and sat in the same compartment as him. Just before reaching tha Post Office, about 100 yards from the stop-, ping place, deceased got his bag and pre-' pared to get off. Ho got out of tho door with his face opposite to the direction in which the car was moving and stepped oft tho car, apparently under tho impression that it had stopped. Witness heard deceased fall. Tho car went on for from 76 to 100 yards, and witness then got out and rail back to Wakelin, who was in.the middl< of a small crowd of people. Wakelin spok« a couple of nerds, and appeared to bo conscious and was eventually put into a tram going towards Thomdon. To the coroner: ''Wakelin did not ring the bell." James Magec, porter at tho Occidental Hotel, stated that 110 was walking along Jervois Quay at about 7.30 on Wednesday evening. When about 100 yards to tho northern side of tho Office lio saw deceased lying 011 the road alongside the tramline, and went to his assistance. Titers was a wound at tho back of the man's head, and lie appeared to' bo unconscious. , To Air. O'Shea: Deceased was lying on his back with his head to the south and his feet to the north. Thos. Wm. Forster, manufacturer, stated that he.was in tho car with deceased and saw him falling from tho car. Witness ran along the footboard to tell the motormaJi about tho accident, and the car was stopped, Thos. W. Gibson, motormau," stated that, 110 was driving the car, and when within a few yards of the, Post'OffiCo. stopping-station lie received one ring to stop, two'heavy rings following immediately just as ho was about to stop. A pa'sscnger then told witness that someonehad : fallen off'tho car. Sydney C. Willis, tram conductor, doposed that ho was on tho top of tho car when tho accident occurred and linow nothing of it until 110 came downstairs, when ho went to tho injured man's assistance. . Evidence was also given by Robt. Applegarth, draughtsman, Alatthew'Cable, tramwav engineer, and Constablo M'Pherson. A verdict was returned that death wa3 due to concussion of tho brain causcd hy a fall 011 the wood blocks through stepping wards out of a car. No blame was attachable to anyone.

DEATH OF AN INFANT.

THE KARORI CASE. An inquest was opened at the morgue on Saturday morning by Dr. A M'Artliur, S.M., coroner, on tlie body of a newly-born female child, which was found in a trunk at Karori on Friday afternoon. , • Chief Dotectivo Broberg was present on behalf of the police. tii.lnn Tho only witness taken was Dr. Hislop, who statccl that ho was called to a privata residence at Karori on Friday afternoon to sco a voung woman who was employe! at tho houso in question. Witness iound tlia woman ill in bod. She adimtted that sho had been recently confined, and when jsked where the child was pointed to a til trunk near tho bed. WitneM owned the lid of tlw trunk, and found tho dead body .of a tomale child lying amongst some cethos ihe body was still warm. At tins stago quirv was adjourned until tho woman is wcU enough to give cvidcncet.and to enable • post-mortem examination to be inaao.