Department Blamed For Seddon Smash
BLENHEIM, July 9. Tlie cause of the Seddon railway disaster on February 25 when six passengers lostr their lives, was due to the inefficient admlnistration of the Railways Department, according to the verdict of the j.ury in the Supreme Court trying the driver Of the train, Joseph William Gurr, on charges of manslaughter, The trial, whieh commenced on Tuesday ended at 9.30 o'elock tomght after 30 witnesses had been ealled on behalf of the Cro-wn, in, clu'ding several departmental technical experts. The jury retired at 4.45 p.m. this afternoon and returned at- 9 p.m. to inform Mr. Justiee Stanton that they tliought they would reacli an agreement withi in half an hOuf. His Honotir granted an extension and the jury returned at 9.30 p.m. with a verdict of not guilty and pUtting In the rider mentioned. When the Grand: Jury returned . a . trae BiB on Tuesday it 'niade . a rider to the Bench that, in the inter restsr of public safety, instruments to determine speed should be^ *iiistalled on railway engines^
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Bibliographic details
Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1948, Page 5
Word Count
176Department Blamed For Seddon Smash Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1948, Page 5
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