INQUEST.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2607, 26 June 1871, Page 3

INQUEST.

An inquiry was held at the Hospital today by Dr Hocken ami a special jury as to the death of George Clark, who was knocked down by a cab in Trincea street, on Saturday evening while crossing the carriageway, near th(|Octagon. Mr W. D. Stewart was present on behalf of the cabman, James Smith. Mr D. Joseph was the first witness called, and stated that ha was in Princes street a few minutes after seven on Saturday evening, standing near the Octagon, close to the Chinese shop, when he saw deceased walking across the street, and at the same time two cars were coming down at a rather brisk pace a id pretty near abreast. The cabmen tried to nqll qp siiapp t bufc oqqhl npt sqccepd, and the hors).; pf one went oyer hipp, his hea<l laying close to the horse’s hoofs. A constable qame up and had hup placed in the car and sent to the hospital. It was dark at the time and he did not think the oabmen could see well. The cabs were not going at more than a brisk trot, but they were evidently trying who should get round the corner first. He heard the cabmen shout out when about two yards off deceased. The deceased appeared to be sober, but be smelt bis breath when he groaned, and it was evident he had bad some drink. Robert Burnside said he wascomim' rovpul the Cjctauoii to Brpmi sq-eot ivboiit 'seven o'clock, and saw two‘ cabs coming down hearly opposite the Metropolitan, at the usual rate at which cabs drive. He thought a person might have crossed over with perfect safety. He saw the cabs pull up, and on crossing saw the deceased lying behind the Alexander Murray said he was standing nearly opposite 'Hogg 1 *pd Hutton’s, in princes street, on (Saturday evening,' when he saw the two cabs opining down the street, the rearcst one being ahead at the time. He hoard something like It G r Y wjiep ll 0 got Joppaifc thp MeirPP'hjtHn, and flic two cabs immediately pulled up. Up did pot think the cabs were racing or going at a speed which- rendered it unsafe for passengers to eross. • On crossing he saw a mm lying on his back near the off wheel of the cab nearest Ann Clark said deceased was her husband. He was a brickmaker, abo.it 42 years of age, and a native of Northampton. He left his borne at Caversbam between one or two in

) the afternoon, aud was then quite well. She I had six children. ’ Sergt. Michael O’ K e fe. stated a little i past seven on Saturday evening, be saw a i crowd standing at the junction of Princes street and the Octaeon. and was to'd a man » was knocked down, which he saw was de- : ceased. He spoke to him, but got no answer, i and believing him to be hurt, had him at once conveyed to the Hospital. Smith, the i cabman acknowledged it was his horse that knocked the man down, but be called out and pulled up as soon as he could. He had seen O’Connell, the other cabman, who said Smith had been trying to pass him, and that he had given him plenty of room to do so, and also slated he had considered it dangerous going at the pace (hey were, and so pnlh cl up and allowed Smith to pasr. He did not think deceased had been drinking. Dr Yates, resident medical officer, stated the deceased was brought to the Hospital about half-past seven on Saturday night. He saw as soon as he came in that he was in a dying state. He uas not able either to speak or swallow. He had made a post mortem examination, and found two of his ribs broken, and an extensive rupture of the liver, Michael O’Donnell, cab-driver, said he left the rank with the intention of going home to tea. Going past the Criterion he was on his own side, when he saw Smith coming up behind him. He had passengers, and came up to him at the corner near the Octagon. They were not racing, nor did he see the accident. James Smith, cab-driver, slated when near the corner of the Octagon he was ahead of O’ Donnell, when he saw the man who was knocked down. Ho called out o him, and pulled up as soon as he possibly could ; but the accident had occurred. The Coroner having summed up, the jury, after a short onsu Ration, returned a verdict of “ Aci-idcntal death the Foreman at the same rime expressed an opinion on behalf of himself and brother jurors that it was highly improper for cabs to attempt to pass one another at the corner of streets.