RAILWAY SHUNTER KILLED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2742, 10 April 1916, Page 6

RAILWAY SHUNTER KILLED

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. | By Telegraph—Pre® Association. ! Chtistohurch, April 9. An inquest was held, to-day on the body of James Walls, a shunter, wlio was killed at Christchurch Railway Station yesterday. - J. P. Mathcson, gocxte agent, stated liis opinion thai the accident , was due to inadvertence on the part of the unfortunate man. Deceased walked in front of tlio wagons which knocked him over. He kept in the rails instead of keeping 'to the side. Deceased was a healthy and particularly tit man. Witness knew that, deceased had asked to. be relieved ot shunting duties. Witness told deceased lie had been engaged as a shunter, but go.ve him light work. The Department, however, held that as deceased. wa6 engaged as a shunter, and said ho ■ was fit for shunting work, ho should do it. Witness told deceased this decision, and deceased agreed to it. Deceased was hit by the wagons before lie turned round. His foot caught in the switch. Deceased, when witness came up said to witness, I told jou, Mr. Mathcson, this shunting would get me down." Deceased must have lost confidence in himself. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by being run over by a railway truck.