Calvert Sands, (1869-20/7/1906). "somewhat intemperate habits"

Dunedin Tram Fatality.

(Per United Press Association).

DUNEDIN, July 22.

The body of the man killed on the Roslyn tramway line by being partly run over while he was lying on the line was identified as Calvert Sands, cloth finisher, single, about 37, of somewhat intemperate habits. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of accidentally killed, no blame attachable to anyone. Deceased had travelled in an earlier car, and was under the influence of liquor, but he was quiet and apparently in charge of another man. After leaving the car he must have followed the line down the steep descent into Kaikorai Valley, and either fell or laid down on the line.  -Wanganui Herald, 23/7/1906.

CASUALTIES.

An unfortunate man, who has not yet been identified, met his death on the Roslyn Tramway Company's line shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday. Just as the last car from the city had got over the brow of the hill to make the descent into the Kaikorai Valley, the gripman noticed what appeared to be a man lying on the line in front of the car. He at once applied the brake, but could not pull up the car in time to prevent the front portion of the dummy going over the man. By means of a jack the car was at once raised, and the man pulled out. An examination showed that the man had been seriously mangled, and Dr Newlands was at once summoned, information given to the police, and the ambulance sent for. Dr Newlands was quickly on the scene, but found that life was extinct, and the body was removed in the ambulance waggon to the City Morgue. The victim of the accident had either fallen down or laid down on the line while making his way down to the Kaikorai Valley. There was nothing about the clothes by which identification could be established. Some money was found in the pockets, and this was taken possession of by the police. The body was subsequently identified as that of Calvert Sands, who had been in the employ of Mr Arthur Ellis, Kaikorai, as a cloth-finisher. Sands was about 37 years of age, unmarried, and of intemperate habits. Sands was of a rather cheerful disposition, and there was nothing in his general demeanour to cause one to believe that he would be disposed to take his own life. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict to the effect — "That the said Calvert Sands died at Roslyn on the 20th day of July, 1906, the cause of death being accidentally run over by a tramcar when under the influence of liquor, and that there is no blame attachable to anyone."  -Otago Witness, 25/7/1906.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.