AISGILL DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 5

AISGILL DISASTER.

LABOUR AND THE INQUIRY. ALLOWED TO ATTEND. / BUT NOT TO CROSS-EXAMINE. By Tcloirauh—Press ABsociirtion-OoDyrieht London, September 4. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Laibour M.P., will bo permitted to attend the Aisgill railway disaster inquiry if ho keeps silent. Sir. Paget, the Midland Uaihvay Superiutendnt, has intimated that it is not intended to allow cross-examination of witnesses, as at the Hawes disaster inquiry. The railwaymen concerned in tlio Aisgill disaster did not desire Sir. Thomas to represent tbem. Mr. Thomas protested against tho-men ignoring tlio union leaders. Mr. Thomas, in an. interview, said tho accident was duo to shortness of steam on both trains through tho uso of inferior coal. Tho-public, ho added, would insist on knowing why cross-ex-amination of wit-nests' would not' bo allowed in a case whetro tho loss of fourteen lives was involved. Mr. Paget protests against the attempt to prejudice the cause of tho disaster.- . ■ A Board, of Trade (inquiry is proceeding in private. Difficulties in tho, way of identification have led to confusion. A London girl named Lindsay v/as reported- to bo dead, but she did not travel by tho train. Her l father and sister were injured in the accident, tho former being in a critical condition. It is believed that Douglass, a valet, has perished. The King and Queen sent' a message of sympathy to -tlio relatives of thoso who lost their lives. It is officially stated that. Sir Arthur tho ex-New Zealander injured in the i Aisgill railway disaster is still in the' Carlisle infirmary, and that ho shows slight improvement.