Muriel Anness Bryden Taylor, (1881-27/11/1903). "looking at her watch"

To-day's Telegrams.

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph. 

DUNEDIN, NOV. 27. Muriel Taylor, a young woman, while crossing the Kaikorai tram line was knocked over by a tram and picked up insensible. She was taken to the hospital but died soon after.   -Ashburton Guardian, 27/11/1903.

FATAL TRAMWAY ACCIDENT.

A sad accident, unfortunately attended with fatal results, occurred on the Kaikorai tramline, in Stuart street, about 25 minute past 9 o'clock yesterday morning to a young lady named Muriel Taylor. Miss Taylor, who was 22 years of age, left her home in Cargill street shortly after 20 minutes past 9 to proceed to the city, where she was employed as a typist in the office of Messrs W. Scoular and Co., merchants, and while crossing Stuart street, just below its intersection with York place, she was knocked down by a tramcar that was running down the hill, and was dragged about 15 yards along the road. She was extricated from beneath the car as speedily as possible, and it was at once evident that she had been seriously injured. Drs Stenhouse and Barnett were soon in attendance, and the young lady, who was in an unconscious condition, was removed to the hospital in an ambulance waggon, but died before her arrival at the institution. The driver of the car pulled up smartly on receiving warning — the jolting of the car was the first notice he got — but it was then too late to avert the calamity. He was looking ahead as usual, but did not see Miss Taylor approaching the line. The deceased was seen by a passenger on the car — Mrs Nicol, of Roslyn — immediately before the car struck her. She was then in the act of stepping on to the line, and appeared to be entirely unconscious of any danger. A dust-cart was passing the tram at the moment of the accident, and it is thought it may have blocked Miss Taylor's view of the car and at the same time hidden her from the driver of the tram. It is also said that Miss Taylor was looking at her watch or winding it as the car was coming towards her, and Mr Browning, grocer, who lives in the neighbourhood, states that the watch was in her hand when she was taken from under the car. Two lady passengers on the car fainted.

Miss Taylor resided with her mother in Cargill street. Her father, who died some years ago, was at one time a solicitor in Milton.

An inquest will be held at the Hospital at 11 o'clock this morning before Mr O. O. Graham, coroner.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/11/1903.

Dunedin, Nov. 29. At the inquest touching the death of Miss Muriel A. B. Taylor, killed by being run over by a Kaikorai cable tram ear as she was going to work, the evidence showed that several passengers saw her walking parallel to the line, and then attempting to cross. The gripman said he did not see her, as he was watching a dust cart to see that it got out of his way. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came by her death by being run over by a cable car, and added a rider that in their opinion that had there been greater vigilance on the part of the gripman the accident would not have occurred.  -Greymouth Evening Star, 30/11/1903.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.