William Powell, (1869-23/12/1931). "as was his custom"

MAN KILLED BY TRAM. 

DUNEDIN, December. 23. When riding a, bicycle down Cumberland Street, this afternoon, Mr William Powell, aged 63, a bricklayer, collided with a tramcar at the High Street corner and was admitted to hospital, where he died a few minutes later. He was married with an adult family.  -Ashburton Guardian, 24/12/1931.

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH

INQUEST ON CYCLIST 

The inquest on the body of William Powell, an elderly man who met with fatal injuries through being knocked down by a tramcar at the corner of High street and Cumberland street on December 23, was concluded in the courthouse yesterday afternoon, Mr H. W. Bundle sitting as coroner. 

Percy John Munn, motorman employed on the City Corporation’s tramways, said that on December 23 last he was motorman on a tram bound for the city from Howe street. As he approached the intersection he noticed a motor car coming along Cumberland street from the direction of Stuart street. The car stopped to allow him to pass, and as the tram was passing a cyclist appeared on the right-hand side of the car. The cyclist struck the right-hand corner of the tram. The cyclist was within four feet of the tram before witness saw him. He was knocked clear of the tram, and he seemed to be badly knocked about the head. There were several motor cars about both streets at the time. The tram’s brakes were in excellent order, and the tram was pulled up within half a length after the brakes were applied. A doctor appeared on the scene, and deceased was removed to the hospital. Witness did not hear the cyclist’s bell ring, and did not receive any indication that something was coming on the right-hand side of the car. Visibility was not good at the time. The tram was travelling at about eight miles an hour.

 James Kinross, a motorman who was travelling on the tram as a passenger at the time, gave evidence along similar. lines. He said that the previous witness had done everything possible to prevent an accident, and had made a good stop. 

George Moflatt McAlister, a labourer, said he was a passenger by the tramcar on the day of the accident. He was sitting on the left-hand side, of the motorman’s platform. When the tram reached the intersection he saw a motor car standing near the rails. His attention was then drawn to a cyclist who was travelling south, and who appeared to have his head lowered. The motorman immediately applied his brakes, but was too late to avoid an accident, as the cyclist struck the tramcar on the front corner of the right-hand side. The tramcar appeared to be stopped within half of its own length. The motorman sounded the gong as the tramcar approached the intersection. In the opinion of witness the motorman did everything in his power to avoid an accident. The cyclist was not travelling fast. 

Constable C. W. Kirk said he was on duty in the vicinity of Cumberland street on the afternoon of December 23. His attention was attracted by a grinding noise, and he found that it was due to the application of the tramcar brakes. He saw an elderly man being dragged along by the tramcar with a bicycle near him. A doctor appeared and ordered the man’s removal to the hospital. Traffic was then fairly busy, and as it was raining at the time the visibility was not good. He did not actually see the man strike the car. 

After reviewing the evidence, the Coroner said that Powell, as was his custom, was cycling through the city, and that he collided with the tramcar. the intersection of Lower High and Cumberland streets was a bad one. The evidence clearly showed that the tram was expeditiously pulled up, and the evidence also clearly showed that there was no negligence on the part of the motorman, who did everything in his power to avoid an accident. The verdict would be that Powell died from a compound fracture of the skull, accidentally caused through colliding with a tramcar.  -Evening Star, 16/1/1932.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.