INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 4050, 18 February 1876, Page 2

INQUEST.

An inquest was hbld at the Hospital at noon to day,, tefore Mr W-tt, Acting-Coroner, oo the body of William Wise, who was killed by an express being precipitated over an embank ment m Canongate street yesterday. An absent juryman, Robert Br- wn, was fined 20 tor not putting man appearance. ' William Inaley publican, residing in Walker street, deposed that, he bought an express on Saturday last and put on the deceased to drive it. Yesterday morning, about a quarter past ten, witness was in the express with deceased in l Canongate street. On reaching the place where they were going to and in the act of turning round, the wheels locked the wrong way, the tyyo side wheels got off the track, and witness jumped out qf the vehicle .and .called out to the driver also to do so.. The other wheels teen .got off the track, and the express backed down . the hiil leading into Rattray street until it came to n perpendicular drop of eight or 'ten feet, when the express capsized with the horse.The d ceased fell under it near the hind pari; of the horse. When deceased was got out life appeared to be extinct. He was bleeding greatly. The police took charge of the bodv. It was owing to the steepness of the hilt that the horse backed down it. By the Jury; There is no fence along the steep. Had there been a fence it would have prevented the exurew backing down the hit l . Witness had been told that five accidents had recently occurred at the sime place Dr. Murphy was called to see the deceased at ten o’clock yesterday morning. When he arrived there he found him dead. The right ear was severed from the head, and blood was over his head and forehead; there were no other external marks of violence. < n examining him- more particularly to-day, witness found that he had received dislocation of the first two bones of the spinal cord, which would cause immedia e death.

Mr Solomon (foreman of the jury); Did you notice the scene of the accident ?

Witness : Yes. The Foreman: Was it a very dangerous place? Witness: Very dangerous indeed. Constable Shirley deposed to picking up the body a-ter the accident.. He. felt decea-ed’s heart and found it palpitating. Had the body removed to the opposite aide o'" the street, and sent for Dr Murphy, who arrived five , or ten minutes afterwards, and 'pronounced the man to be dead.

The Coroner: Are you well acquainted with the locality ?- Witness: Yes, your worship. It is a very dangerous road. If once a horse came back, one would have great difficulty in again getting it on the road. The track is about 18 feet wide. The jury found that deceased was “ accidentally Wiled,” and added the following:—“ The jury desire to draw the attention of the City ' Council to the necessity of at once erect ng strong fences at the spot in Rattray street, where William Wise was killed, and similar unprotected places throughout' the City, in order that further accidents of the same kind may be prevented, and respectfully request the Coroner to communicate this tider to his Worship the Mayor.” The Coroner: Mr Foreman, I shall attend to your desire.