INQUEST.
An inquest touching the death of Henry D. Plante, who was killed through an accident on the Roslyn Tramway on Wednesday evening last, was held in the hospital buildings yesterday, before Mr Carew and a jury, Mr J. E. Hayden being chosen foreman.
John Chisman, a storeman residing at Roslyn, said the deceased lived with him. He was born in Middlesex, and was 16 years of age last January. Deceased's father died about 10 years ago, and witness adopted him since then.
William Sutherland, a driver on the Roslyn Tramway, deposed: I reside at Roslyn. I was driver on a tram that left the engine shed at seven minutes to 6 on Wednesday evening. About 100yds from the engine shed I saw the deceased in the cutting. He was walking up the hill on the line. He was just outside the rail on the left hand side going. The road is narrow at the place, there being 3ft between the car and the edge of the embankment. When I first noticed him he was about 20yds or 30yds distant from me. It was blowing hard at the time, and there was dust flying. The deceased was holding his head partly down. I rang the bell when he was 10yds or 12yds distant, and he looked up. He then stepped to his left and was just clear of the car, allowing enough room for it pass. The car was then about 2yds from him. He then seemed to make a false step, or the wind blew him over — I couldn't say which —and stumbled right in front of the car. Before he had time to recover himself the front of the car struck him. I put on the brake just before the car struck him, he fell down, and the car slipped about 20ft down the line, dragging him with it. As soon as the car stopped I jumped out and looked underneath the car. He was lying with his head against one of the wheels, and one leg was hanging down the hill, the other one being doubled up, with the boot slightly jambed against the bottom of the car. The front wheel on the right hand side coming down, which was against his head, seemed to have gone over his right arm. I felt and found that he was jambed, and that I couldn't get him out. I called on a number of gentlemen who were coming up in the other car, and they came and gave me assistance to get him out. We got him out, put him on the car and took him down to the Shamrock Hotel. There was no one on the car except myself. I was going at the usual speed; I think it is about seven miles an hour. The wind was blowing from the S. W. down the cutting in deceased's face. I didn't hear him speak. I don't think he groaned even.
A Juror: Don't you think you should have an assistant with you?
Witness: No; I don't think there is the slightest necessity: the conductor only goes as far as the Salutation Hotel, where he meets the other car. One conductor thus does for two cars.
A Juror: Is that a public roadway? Witness: Yes.
Another Juror: Is it a public street or a private one?
Witness: A public one. It was declared a street when the tramway was opened.
A Juror remarked that it was dangerous to walk up the cutting, and that something ought to be done to prevent people going there.
Witness: There is plenty of room if they will only stand while the car passes. Sometimes people try to see how close they can stand to the car without touching it.
The Coroner: Has the car ever touched people before there?
Witness: Yes, on several occasions the car has just grazed people there. Children sometimes try to see how close they can stand, and look along the line to see if they can just miss the car.
The Coroner: Would the line be safer if the cutting were made wider?
Witness: I don't see that it would be any safer, for people will walk on the line. One reason is that there is timber there, and they would always walk on it when it was dirty at the side.
Robert Howison gave evidence corroborative of the foregoing statement. He saw the car strike deceased and knock him down. Deceased tried to get up. He got on to his hands and knees and came towards witness. The car then hit him, and he rolled over again. The cardriver seemed to be paying proper attention.
Louis Kemnitz, an engraver, residing at Roslyn, who assisted to remove the body from under the car, also gave evidence.
Dr Fleming deposed that he was present when the deceased was brought to the hospital. He was then alive. Dr Colquhoun was also present, and Dr Macdonald came afterwards. There were a good many injuries to the body, but the principal one which caused death was a fracture of the base of the skull.
William Sutherland (recalled) said the line was very steep where the accident occurred, the grade being 1 in 5. The brake acted by forcing wooden blocks on to the rails, the wire rope to which the gripper is connected having been previously released. There was another brake — a wedge brake — for use in case of accident. It was a wedge that fitted into the slot in which the gripper ran. He did not use that brake, because by the time he could put it in the car was stopped. It took about two seconds to make that brake act. He could not by applying that brake have stopped the car any sooner.
To the Jury: I have been driving for five years.
The Coroner, in summing up, said it appeared from the evidence that the driver had done all he could to obviate the accident.
The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Accidental death," adding that all reasonable precautions had been used. -Otago Daily Times, 21/9/1888.
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