ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE CASE AT ROYAL HOTEL. The inquest on the death of Mary O'lCanc, cook at the Royal Hotel, was held before Dr. M'Arthur at tho Wellington Hospital yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Matliieson appeared for the police, and ■Mγ.-.1. ,T. M'Grath watched the proceedings on liehalf of deceased's employers. Dr. T'yffe stated that deceased had died of peritonitis. He thought that, if the deceased had met with an accident, there would have been external evidence, but he had found none. Also there was nothing to show that the deceased had been addicted to drink.

Dr. P. A. Woodhouse, senior house surgeon afc the hospital, stated that deceased had been admitted to the institution at 11 p.m. on February 25. She stated that, 21 hours previously, when going down some concrete steps she had slipped and fallen about fifteen feet. Ho considered that she was probably suffering from some internal rupture. An operafion bad been advised, but liad been refused bv deceased.

A number of other witnesses were called—employees of the Royal Hotel. From their evidnncc it appeared that deceased returned to the hotel on Sunday night last at about 10 p.m., and went upstairs about 10.30 p.m.. having in her possession a bunch of lierhs for seasonings. This was the last seen of her by tlie hotel peoplo till she was found at about IU!0 in the morning. She stated that she had fallen down tho stairs when proceeding to placo the herbs on the kitchen window-sill.

The inquest will be continued on Saturday morning.

IN WILLIS STREET. BAD TRAM ACCIDENT. A very serious tram accident occurred in Willis Street, at 7 o'clock last evening, when a man, w.hoso naniq is at present unknown, wis severely injured. At the tiiue of the accident the car was being driven by Motorman Church. The man attempted to cross the thoroughfare, and tho motorman sounded the hell, but the man seemed to grow confused, and the car struck him. The motorman applied the emergency brake, and the car was stopped within u fev,- yards. It is said that tho man walked out from behind a down car, and suddenly found himself in. front of tho up car. The injured man was brought into Mr. Salek's pharmacy, where he was attended by Nurse Mellsop, who was passing by at the time, of the accident, and by Dr. 13oxer, who was called in. The patient is at present in the Hospital, and his condition is serious.