TRAM CONDUCTOR'S DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 6

TRAM CONDUCTOR'S DEATH.

THE MANNERS STREET ACCIDENT EVIDENCE AT IXQUEST. On Saturday afternoon an inquest yea* opened at the hospital on the body ol Tram Conductor Ambrose 31'Kay, Dr M'Arthur, S.M.. presiding. Mr. O'Shea City .Solicitor, was present and Mr. Ulaii appeared for thy deceased's relatives and on behalf of tho Tramway Union. Dr. I.'. K. JVoodhousL', senior house surgeon, stated that deceased was admitted to the institution at; 5.15 p.m. on I'riday last. He was unconscious, and had an abrasion across the forehead, a small abrasion on the right collar-bone, and another slight one on th« right shoulder. He was bleeding from the mouth, nose, and right ear, and showed symptoms ol tractiire of tho base of the skull. He became steadily worse, and died at 9.3 C 0 clock on tho snmo evening, without regaining; consciousness. Death was due to concussion of tho brain and haemorrhage, ipllpwing on a fracture of the base of the skull. Malcolm Howard, motorman of car J"— a Aewlown car-said that his car left the Lambton Station with tho deceased conductor on board at" 4.41 p.m. He last saw deceased when the car was turning into Manners Street from Willis Street. Iho ear travelled along Manners Street at between tour and five miles an.hour. Iho road was clear and a heavy misty rain was falling at. the time. The step of the car—a combination one—was wet. and it was about two minutes to five p m when tho car reached the scene of the accident. Just prior to reaching the Upora House door someone rang tho bell three times, and ho took no notice, for it often occurs that motormen get a succession of rings just prior to reaching a stopping place. About a second later the three bells were followed bv soven bells Ho immediately brought tho car to a standstill, and someone called out that the -conductor had fallen off. The car pulled up about three lengths awav from the scene of the accident. Ho saw tho conductor lying on the road. A constable arrived on the scene and attended tho man and Howard told the pointsman to ring up for the ambulance. He endeavored to ascertain whether anyone actually saw deceased fall, but no one seemed to know anything. Deceased had been in tho service for about a month, and was twenty-seven years old yesterday. He was a young active and capable married man, and resided in Aro Street. To Jlr. O'Shea: There was no irre<nilar running; he was driving the car slowly to give deceased an opportunity to collect the fares. To J[r. Blair: Tho deceased was Mug on tho road in the rain for about" six or seven-minutes, and was then, upon the iiistanco of the doctor,. removed to the chemists shop. The ear was frill'of passengers and some .were' standing '' ' -John;HaJl.Flockten, secondhand dealer, Manners Street, stated that .he saw- the conductor:immediately previous to -his sb-ikimj'.the blocks.. He was doubled up and bent much forward, striking the blocks with his face. The road was rather clear. The deceased must have been stooping at the time of the fall. Ho", assisted' to ■ have him removed to the : chemist's. Deceased won d take no harm where' he was as he had no fewer than threo' coats on. To Mr. O'Shea: There was no just reason for the complaints which have been made regarding delay in deceased's removal to the chemist's shop. The inquest was adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day at the Courthouse ..for the purpose of taking further evidence.