INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 3248, 18 July 1873, Page 2

INQUEST.

Owing to the late hour at which the inquest terminated yesterday, we were obliged to omit from last night’s issue the following ; Thomas Graham, fireman : Last night I was on the five o’clock train from Dunedin to Port Chalmers. When approaching the curve, about a quarter of a mile this side of Burke’s Bre very, I saw a black object about forty yards ahead of us. This was after passing round the curve. I said there was something on the road, and then put on the brake, which I could work independently of the aid of the steam. I felt a slight vibration on passing over it, and asked Thomas if we should draw up or go on to the Brewery. Ho replied we had better go on and report it there. [The Coroner here informed witness that if he liked he need not give any further evidence, as he might implicate himself. Witness decided not to give any further evidence.] Frederick Thomas Farrow, guard ; I left in charge of the down-train at five o’clock last evening. When about fifty yards from the curve mentioned I heard the whistle, and I believe that steam was shut off at the same moment. I applied my brake, and after looking out and seeing nothing in the way, resumed my seat and put on the brake, so as to allow the engine to get up a rise before approaching Burke’s Brewery. I saw a black object some distance behind, which I thought was a sack. On arriving at the Brewery, and while letting the passengers out, Mr Thomas came to me and said it was reported that they had run over something. There were two men at the Brewery, and I said to him he had better send them back to see what it was. I did not think we had run over a man, and thought that Thomas was rather excited. I did not feel justified in detaining the train, and so it went on to Port Chalmers. 1 was not aware that any hair had been found on the cocks. On returning to the Brewery, Sergeant Neil showed me the hair. When we arrived at the Brewery we were informed that a man had been killed, and 1 then gave orders to proceed slowly till we arrived at the place. We found the body lying on a large board about 100 yards from deceased’s residence, and we put it in the brake-van. It would have been impossible, from the time the object was first discerned, to have stopped the train from passing over it; steam was shut off before it was seen. The train consisted of four carriages, one van, six open and one closed trucks. The signal to stop the train is two sharp whistles, which were given previous to rounding the curve; but from the indistinct manner in which they were given they appeared like one continuous whistle,Mter whuh 1 applied the brake. The engine-driver could not have taken more precaution than he did in shutting off the steam. The Coronor then said the only other evidence was as to the measurement, which the

jury dispensed with. The casd certainly bore a very different aspect to what it did when Mr Thomas gave his evidence. He thought it but fair to say thit Thomas, in his evidence, had apparently become rather confused. His evidence alone would have <rone very far to have implicated him, H® thought it would bo only proper that they should have evidence as to bis character. Mr Daniel Kobe, the manager, said he had very great pleasure in acquainting the jury with what he knew of Thomas. He had known him as engine-driver in the service ever since the line was opened. _He was a remarkably sober, steady, and industrious man. He had not been very long from Home, and he (Mr Rolfc) had no doubt that the occcasion of the manner in which he gave his evidence that morning was through his being confused. The Coroner said he considered the explanation was quite sufficient. The only course the jury could take was to return a verdict of accidental death. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned, and the jury .recommended “that gradient-boards be put -tip along the line; and further, that a road be formed by tbe side of the rail line to prevent the present traffic along the rails necessarily caused by the loss of the road.”