WELLINGTON TRAMCAR FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 8 May 1907, Page 2

WELLINGTON TRAMCAR FATALITY.

THE INQUEST

Per Press Association. May 7. The inquest touching tho deal h of the victim of tju> Brooklyn tramway fatality was continued to-day. The City Solicitor intimated tliai tests beiu«j conducted by the Public Works Department won- not yet completed.

Stuart Kichardson, city electrical engineer, described thtf movements of the e.«r which met with the accident. lie was not prepared to give opinions about the caumc of (he car running away at present. Ife wished to thoroughly examine the car, and hear the principal wilucjjfirs.

Krnest .James, trallie superin* I'iiiti'iit. said he considered a car of the tvj-c in question safer for taking curr-.s than a smaller car. He had formed no Ihrori about the cause of the accident, lie did not thiuU the signal lights bid any bearing on the accident. Ilea, the motonnan, might have been on duty for "in- bi;tirs, with two spells. The speed limit, nn ih» Hrooklyn lin;> was 7'/, mile,an hour. If the motovmuu was late he wis asked for an explanation, but not lined. Ilea was running u jn■ ri,ll ear which had lo lit ill with tins ordinary cars. Reliable men were picked for the special service, lie believed Ilea was a cool, steady, man.

Richard Elliott, a passenger by the car. said he saw the motiirinan pulling on the hand brake, but did not know about the other brakes. Witness knew some, time before the accident that the car vas beyond control. He believed that from the commencement of the journey the lnotornian handled the brakes properly.

Later. Arthur Smith, another passenger, said he believed Elliott's evidence was correct. He could not say whether there had been any skidding. He had nothing to suggest as to the cause of the accident. The motornian was doing all he could, and drove very carefully. Louis Frederick Weber said that lie was in charge of the car which met Ilea's about fifty yards on the city side of Seagar's loop. Rea backed up to the loop. Witness' passed, and did not see Ilea again. He had never known either the magnetic or the hand brake to fail. He had no prejudice against a palace car like No. 55, and lie knew of no general prejudice against them. At this stage the enquiry was adjourned provisionally till 2.15 on Fridny. . '