KILLED AT THE CROSSING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2243, 1 September 1914, Page 8

KILLED AT THE CROSSING

INQUEST ON CITY RAILWAY FATALITY. An inquest was held by Mr D. G. A. Cooper, 5.M.,. yesterday into tho death of Frank Wilde, aged. 23, who was killed at the Whitmore Street-Waterloo Quay Railway crossing by an engine on Saturday last. Mr. Andrew Parlane, secretary of the Wellington Drivers' Union, represented the union, of which deceased was a member; Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh appeared for the relatives of deceased, Mr. E. A. Dawson appeared on behalf of the Railway Department, and Mr. A. J. Curtis for:deceased's employers. ■ Dr. Sydney Arthur described tho condition of the deceased's body as he saw it after, the accident. His description showed that Wilde had been dreadfully injured, all over the body. The evidence of George Henry Peacock and James Francis Hamilton, who were working in front of the Customs Building, opposite the scene of the accident, and W. H. Graham, tram conductor, showed that the engine of the train whistled for the crossing, and that the deceased and his exprcss'were caught in the middle of the road. The speed of the train was stated to have been normal. It was also stated that there was not now, as there had been previously, a: crossing-keeper on duty at that crossing—described as a bad one —bot that drivers who complied with the warning of the four "stop" notices were sufficiently'safeguarded. George Humphrey Guthrie, enginedriver, said he was in charge of the engine of the train proceeding from Lambton Station to Te Aro. Witness sounded' tho whistle on leaving the station, and sounded it again after passing over Bunny Street crossing. He sounded it a third time before passing Whitmore Street crossing. When close up to the crossing ho observed ( a- horse and cart being- driven from Waterloo Quay towards the town. He at once shut onsteam and applied the brakes. _ It was impossible to avoid colliding with the horse and cart. The engine struck the horse and threw it down, at the same time • swinging the cart parallel with the train. Deceased was thrown out ot the cart and-fell foul of the engine, and the first carriage. After witness stopped the. engine he went back to where deceased was- lying on the road, and found that one of the wheels ot tho bogev- was against his left foot. _ To"Mr. Dawson: Witness was certain that deceased, who was on his wrong side, did not stop.before coming to the A verdict .was returned that deceased had met.his death by accidentally colliding with an engine. The- fatality, said the coroner, was purely accidental,, and there was no hlame. attachable to anyone. ■