TRAM FACILITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 280, 22 August 1919, Page 7

TRAM FACILITY

DEATH OP GEORGE VALLER. A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest held yesterday by the Coroner, Mr. ■W. G. Riddell, S.M., into tho circumstances surrounding the death of George Yaller, who died in the Hospital ou Wednesday as a result of injuries received, through being knocked down by a tramcar in Cuba Street on the previous Monday evening. Seigeant Butler conducted the inquiry for tho police, and Mr. M'Eldowney watched proceedings on behalf of the City Corporation. Evidence was given by John James Kelly, of Boulcott Street, who said that the deceased had.been in his employ for about a week' as a porter at witness's boardinghouse. Deceased was near-sight-ed, but his heivriiw was good. Dr. N. F. Buckley, house surgeon at tho Wellington Hospital, said that Lhe deceased was ■ suffering from concussion when admitted to tho institution, and died on Wednesday last, without regaining consciousness, of intra-cranial haemorrhage. Witness could not say whether deceased had had any liquor before meeting with the accident. Motorman A. G. Blight said that ho was driving a Wallace Street car down Cuba Street at about 6 p.m. on Monday. It was dark and raining at the time. When neaT tho Imperial Hotel he saw the deceased walking across tho road. The man hesitated, and then walked on in front of the tram. Witness applied his brakes, but tho tram struck deceased. Witness was travelling at about 8 or 9 miles an hour at the time. Tho road was clear of traffic, and the deceased had a clear view of the tram. The tram was pulled up within six yards of the accident.

A brother of the deceased gave evidence to the effect lhat the deceased was a widower, -1-2 years of age, and had been ou home service for some lime. As far as witness knew, deceased was a temperato man.

Conductor G. W. Thernhill and Sydney Crawford give evidence as to tho sudden stopping of tho tram, and Police-Con-stable Stewart stated that when ho saw deceased lie had :o signs of having had liquor. He had deceased attended lo bv Dr. Mackin, and later took him to tho Hospital. In returning his verdict of accidental death, the Coroner said that it was strange that the deceased had not heard or seen the tram. It was an accident for which there was no accounting. Tho tram had been pilled up with all possible speed, and from the evidence called no blamo was attachable to the motorman.