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.
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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know why he mentioned that. Q;- Did he come down in the jitney? A;- Yes; the jitney hadn't gone. Mr Ladner;- Are you quite positive Mr Hutchison said he had four drinks of beer> What condition was he in? A;- He didn't seem the worse of liquor from experience. Coroner;- Did you observe the lights on the bridge? A;- Yes; I happened to see it when I went out form the house. Q;- There's no question about the lights? A;- No; there's no question about the lights. Mr Cowan;- About what time? A;- I didn't make any note. I got in the boat as soon as I could I should judge around seven o'clock.
- 9 Thomas Shortreed, Edmunds, B.C. carpenter, being duly sworn, saith:
Well, we crossed on the six o'clock ferry that leaves Ladner, and as soon as we got on the jitneys we landed at the Woodwards Landing. I think we made one or two stops on the way. I don't remember. I didn't pay much attention. I was sitting in the back, in the bask seat of the jitney, in the middle seat, a man on each side of me. The first I noticed of anything being wrong I heard someone cry out. I don't know whether they were in the jitney or coming on the bridge, and immediately we struck the gates and went over into the river.
Coroner;- Have the jury any questions to ask? Juror;- The gate was shut? A;- I didn't see the gate at all. From where I sat in the jitney I would not be in a position to see it because the man was sitting in the center of the seat right in front of me or close to me, without I was trying to look back. Q;- Could you locate the red light on the bridge from where you were sitting? A;- Perhaps if I had been trying I could. Q;- You didn't see them> A;- I happened to be looking out at the rightside through the window,