The Tramway Accident.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4745, 22 March 1884, Page 2

The Tramway Accident.

(!>££ P#EB3 ASSOCIATION)

J)pss#Xß, This day. The inquest oh the body of Mr Wajtefield was commenced this morning. Mr Stout watched the proceedings, oil behalf of the Tramway Company. Mr Edward $TakeJ|eld stated that he had a letter whicii * deceased frpd written just as b,e was leaving Wellington, in wbjeh he sjtajtod that he was in a low state of health, and had been ordered a complete change, for whjeb be was going to Melbourne, and

thence to Adelaide. He had been in a weak aQd nervous state for some time, and while in that condition was very deaf, and quite likely to lose his nerve; he was 40 years old. Dr Maunsell, who assisted at the operation of amputating the de^ ceased's legs, said that both thighs were terribly crushed, almost as high as the nip joint; he was then perfectly conscious. Asked him how the accident occurred, and he replied that he was run over by the steam tram. Asked why he .did not get out of the way, and he replied that it was impossible, as there was a cab-in front of him. He did not blame anybody. He had also a wound on his head; he seemed to hear very acutely, witness remarked that, on hearing that he was rather deaf.

Alfred. Charles Kimball, wooLclasser,. who was a passenger by the steam tram, \ stated that he was standing on the near ; platform, of the car when the accident happened; he helped to remove the deceased from under the engine, and went, with him in an express to the Hospital. 'On the way down deceased became conscious for a few seconds, and said his, name was Wakefield, and ,that he was: a passenger by the Waihora, from; Wellington. The engine was going! at a slow rate, and speed had been gradually slackened Defore the accident happened. Lewis Martin, another passenger, noticed the engine slowing r and ; heard the driver whistling to an express in front of the tram; a man fell down a few feejLjn front of the engine which! passed over him. . From the Criterion Hotel the engine went very slowly. Deceased fell without the engine touching him, be must either have lost his presence of mind or had taken a fit. * Several witnesses gave evidence that the engine was going at a very 3low speed when the accident occurred. The jury found that death was accidental, resulting from the deceased's nervous temperament causing him to fall in front of the engine. They added a rider approving of the action of the City Council with respect to the removal of steam motors. The secretary of the Tramway Company mentioned that all motors would be removed within ten days, and horses substituted.