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Islington Gazette 06 Mar 1891
Page 3 Column 5
FATAL COLLISION IN SEVEN SISTERS'-ROAD.
At the Islington Coroner's Court, on Wednesday, Dr. Danford THOMAS held an inquest on the body of Edward James TOOLEY, age 41, a cab-driver, who was killed under the following circumstances:-
Mr. AVERY, solicitor, watched the case on behalf of the North London Steam Car Company.
Sarah Ann TOOLEY, the widow, residing at 37, Mayton-street, said her husband enjoyed good health. He left home at 2.50 on Sunday afternoon, and at 5.30 the same evening she heard he was in the Great Northern Hospital. She went there, and found him in a dying state. He was insensible, and was much injured about the head. She was informed that he was thrown from his cab, which collided with a stream tram-car in Seven Sisters'-road. He died soon after her arrival at the hospital.
William BURTON, of 25, Osbaldeston-road, Stoke Newington, deposed that he was walking along Seven Sisters'-road, between Amhurst-park and the “Manor-house,” shortly after four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when he noticed a steam-car coming towards him. Deceased was driving a cab in the opposite direction, and as he approached the tram-car, his horse shied and, turning half round, backed the cab in front of the engine. The engine struck the cab, turning it over, and deceased was thrown off his seat on to the ground. He fell on to the back of his head, and witness immediately went to his assistance. He was insensible, and a doctor who was called, after dressing his wounds, ordered him to be taken to the Great Northern Hospital.
By the Coroner – He believed the noise made by the engine of the car caused the horse to shy. Both the car and cab were going at a slow page. The cab was on the left side of the car. There was not much smoke coming from the engine at the time. Witness further added that he was frequently in the Seven Sisters'-road, and a horse shying at a steam-tram was a common occurrence.
Joseph MALLETT, a plumber's labourer, of 30, Poole's-park, said he was riding on the car in question on Sunday afternoon. After they had passed the “Manor-house” he noticed the deceased, whom he knew, driving a cab towards the car. Just before he got to the engine his horse became restless, faced the side-walk, and backed the cab in front of the car. The engine ran into the cab, knocked it over, and deceased was flung from his seat into the roadway. There was a wheezing kind of noise coming from the engine at the time. The car was going at a slow pace, and when he first saw the deceased coming along he thought he would pass the car all right. He was of opinion that the driver of the tram-car ought to have pulled up. That was not the first accident that had been caused by the steam-trams.
Police-constable 172 N gave evidence to the effect that he was called to the deceased, and found him lying in the roadway in a insensible condition. A doctor was called, and at his direction he conveyed the deceased in the ambulance to the Great Northern Hospital.
Alfred MANNING, engine-driver, in the employ of the North London Steam Tramway Company, said he was the driver of the car in question. Shortly after he left the “Manor-house,” he noticed the deceased coming towards him. When he got close to the car, the horse turned round towards the pavement, and before witness could stop the engine, it ran into the cab and knocked it over. Witness stopped the engine as soon as he could, and after giving his name and address to the police-constable, proceeded on his journey.
The Coroner – Have you any special regulations respecting horses? - No.
You use your discretion? - Yes.
Do you find that the steam tram causes much fright amongst horses? - No; but I always stop if I see a horse shying. On this occasion I did not notice anything which necessitated me to stop.
How old are you? - Twenty-three.
How long have you been a driver? - Three years, and have never had an accident before.
William BARNES, of 5, Belmont-villas, Stamford-hill, also witnesses the accident. He did not think that any blame could be attached to the driver of the steam tram-car. Deceased's horse did not shy until it got quite close to the engine of the car. The car was not going at more than four miles an hour at the time, and the driver stopped immediately after the collision.
Dr. Percy TEMPLETON, one of the resident medical officers at the Great Northern Hospital, said deceased was brought to the hospital in a police ambulance, at 5.20 on Sunday evening.
He was unconscious, and bleeding from a severe wound on the scalp. The skull was badly fractured, but there were no other injuries. He died soon after his admission.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”