INQUESTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 3

INQUESTS

THE RECENT RAILWAY FATALITY. An inquest was held by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday afternoon into the cause of death of David Scott, who died in the Otaki Hospital on Monday from injuries received as the result of falling off the Main Trunk train the same day. Mr.- J. S. Evans was present on behalf of deoeased's relatives, Mr. E. A. Dawson for the' Railway Department, and Senior-Sergeant Mullany for the police. Henry Mainland; builder, residing at Fairlie Terrace, said he travelled on the same train with deceased on the Monday. Witness last saw deceased on tho platform adjoining the dining-car, just after the train left Manakau. ..lust before that witness said to deceased in the carriage, "Are you waiting for a seat. Mr. Scott?" Deceased replied, "Ob, no; I am in a bit of a mess," and as the train was making some noise, witness understood deceased to say that he was troubled, as the young lady passenger who should have been with him, had missed the train at Levin. Deceased added that he meant to get out at the next stop, and walk back some miles.. Witness added that the gates of the platform on which deceased was last standing were closed. Michael Murphy, engine-driver on the train travelling north to Palmerston North, on Monday, said that when rearing Otaki, and past Waikanae, he saw deceasod's body lying olear of tne s'eepers and the line. ' The train was stopped, and deceased, who was still aiive, taken to Otaki.

There was other formal evidence at the conclusion of which Mr. Evans, on behalf of the. relatives, said that tneie was. not the slightest ,'suggestion that tne accident was the result of any negligence on the part of the Railway authorities. who had done everything to assist deceased. .

The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased's death was due to injuries received through accidentally falling off the Main Trunk train.

KAHU DROWNING AFFAIR. A Coronial inquiry was,opened by Mr. D G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday into "the deaths of tne three seamen off the Kahu,' Frank Lyell Leers, Donald Mathieson, 1 and Patrick O'Brien, who were drowned at Te Av/aite on November 28 last through the upsetting of. a launch. Evidence was given by people who were present when the fatalitv occurred. Several ■witnesses were called, who testified to the seaworthiness of the launch, and that its engines were in good order.. On the suggestion of Mr. H. Buddie, who appeared for Mrs. F. Lees (widow of one of the deceased), the /inquiry- was adjourned to 11 a.m. on Monday, l when the captain and engineer of the Knmi are to bo called to give evidence. ; Tlie Coroner remarked that he was satisfied that the engines of the launch were in good condition. Mr. T. S. weston appeared for the Shipowners Association at the hearing.