John Marshall et al
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
No 2
10
A; - I found the chain just in front of the gates.
Q; - You mean in front, you mean nearer the draw? A; - Yes.
Q; - How much, what distance from the gates?
A; - About three feet from the draw. About three feet from the draw and about seventeen feet six inches from the gate; the gate is twenty feet six inches from the draw.
Q; - Did you find the lock? A; - I didn't find the lock. I looked for it.
Q; - How long have you been bridge tender? A; - Six years on 8th October.
Q; - How long have these gates been there?
A; - They were there when I went there.
Q; - Have you always been in the practice of locking these gates? A; - Yes. Since I have been there. When I went there, there were no locks or chains.
Q; - When did you get these locks and chains?
A; - I guess I hadn't been there two or three weeks, sir.
Q; - And have you locked these gates always ever since when opening the swing? A; - Yes, sir.
Q; - Have you ever left them unlocked? A; - Well, I might; I don't think so; perhaps I may have in the day time but never at night. when I saw anybody.
Q; - You say you warned Mr Smith on different occasions for crossing the bridge at high speed? A; - Yes, sir.
Q; - Can you give the jury any idea of how many times you warned him?
A; - Well, perhaps two or three times.
Q; - You have threatened him did you? A; - Well, I did say, if you people drive fast over this bridge we will have to get after you. You know they take it too fast.
Q; - What means had you of telling how fast that machine was going? A; - It was going at what I call a very high speed. He was in a hurry up the bridge; then in another second, he was in the river.
Q; - Do you know the distance from the bridge to the draw?
A; - Well I should think about three hundred yards.
BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 10 File 4 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions / inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.