TRAM FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1381, 16 February 1905, Page 3

TRAM FATALITY.

THE INQUEST.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night. To-day tho Coroner opened an enquiry uto tho fatal collision between a bus and a tram ear on Mouday last. Sergeant Hendry requested that tho jury should visit tho soeue of tho acoidont and iuspoot tho ruins' of tho bus and also tho oar. Tho Coroner then ariangod that tho inquest should bo held on the 2nd proximo. Dr. Hardio Niol said that on Monday last, at about 6.15 p.m., ho was driving down Symonds street towards St. Paul’s Church, and when noar the Caledonian Hotel he heard a crash in tho direotion of East stroot, and looking baokwards ho saw a bus being driven along in front of a oar in a oloud of dust. When ho got up to the oar he saw the doooused lying under ] tho oar in oontaol with tho back wheels, but not in any way injured by them. She had passed under the fore part of the oar, and tho front wheels must have gone over her. Tho witness dosoribed on paper how ha found Mrs Postor’s body, and ventured to express an opinion as to how it name where he found it. Sergeant Hendry : I understood, Mr Coroner, that Dr. Hardio Niei was only goiDg to give evidonoo of tho cause of death. I have a very groat objootion to have at present any other evidonoo from him but that. It is not desirable at the prosent stage to have from Dr. Niel any evidenoe of the oiroumstanoaa surrounding | the acoidont. The Coroner: Ho cannot give thorn. Dr Hardio Noil then made an examina

[ tion of the body of Mrs Foster in the hospital mortuary. On returning to the oourt ho said the skull was fractured in two places, The fracture, ho said, appears to have been oaused by the crushing movement of the car, but I am satisfied that the

wheels of the car did not go over tho skuj

The loft arm was orushed at the elbow, evidently by the oar wheel. There are several bruises and abrasions on the left

part of the chest, but no other part of the body had wheel marks upon it. The oause of death was fracturo of the skull, an in-

jury suoh as could have been received by passing under a car. The body was very muoh mangled. A juryman asked the coroner if the jury brought in a verdict suggesting any steps that might bo taken would their verdiot be

given effect to ? He was, be said, a member of the jury -whioh inquired into the cause of the death of viotims of the King - land tram accident. Then reoommonda-

tions were made by the jury and these had ! not been given effect to. If a jury came there to hold an enquiry it was useless for them to do so if no effect was given to their vercliot and no notice taken of it. He wanted that point cleared up. The ooroner in reply said the verdict would be received, and if the jury liked to add a rider they could do so. Upon their verdict, however, other proceedings might or might not be taken. I The inquest was then adjourned.