STRUCK BY A TRAMCAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 225, 11 June 1918, Page 6

STRUCK BY A TRAMCAR

INJURIES LEAD TO DEATH.

An inquest touching the death, of Michael Bock, a single man, about 65 years of age, who diea at the- hospital on June 7 from injuries received through being struck by a tramcar in Lambton I Quay on June 5, was held by the coroner, Mr. W. G. Eiddell, S.M., yesterday. | Acting-Sub-Inspector Emerson conductjed tho proceedings on behalf of the police. Evidence was given by Dr. Henry that ho saw the deceased at the Central Police Station about 5 p.m. on June 5. He had a slight bruise on the back of his head, and nad the appearance of a man who had been drinking, had had a fall, and , was beginning to recover himself. Twelve i hours afterwards witness again saw the ! deceased, who was then showing signs of j cerebral irritation, and could not answer I questions in a sensible manner like he had done the previous evening. Witness advised the man's removal to tho hospi- , tal. j Dr. D. M. Paterson, house surgeon at I tho Wellingtou Hospital, who performed , an operation on the deceased, stated that tho skull was fractured. The cause of death was injury to tho brain and fracture of the base of the Bkull. | Samuel Morris, tramway niptorman, stated that on June 5 he was driving the ] car which ran into deceased. After proceeding around Stewart Dawson's corner I into Lambton Quay he saw tho deceased j I crossing tho rails. He sounded the gong ! several times, but deceased, who was I walking slowly, appeared to take no notice, and witness applied the brakes. Just as the car stopped it touched de--1 ceased, striking him on the lower part | of the body, and causing him to fall I back on to his head. Witness, along with some other people, carried deceased Ito the sido of the road. Deceased could not speak, and smelt of liquor. "Constable Tricklebanfc stated that on !he day of tho accident he saw tho deceased walking across the road in an intoxicated condition. A car was approaching deceased, and the gong' was sounded. The impact with deceased was very slight. Deceased was afterwards, removed to tho police station. Constable Williams gave evidence as to removing the deceased to the police station to await the arrival of a doctor. A verdict was returned that death was duo to injuries accidentally received, no blame being attachable to the motorman of tho tram, who, said the coroner, did his best to avoid the accident. Either deceased was deaf, and did not hear the gong sounding, or olsc his condition was responsible for his meeting with the accident.