The Late Fatal Accident at Makino.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 275, 27 May 1897, Page 2

The Late Fatal Accident at Makino.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest was held in the Halcotnbe Hotel yesterday afternoon op the remains of the late George Strawbridge, who was killed at the Makino railway- station on Monday evening, May 24th, by the '6.l2 train from Feilding. The enquiry was conducted before Mr G.M. Snelson, coroner, and the following jury, viz.; Messrs Jas. Purkiss (foreman), A. Williamson, W. W. Corps, W. Bell, A. C. Burohnm, M. Tooher. Constable Tuohy ' conducted the enquiry. E. T. Strawbridge deposed : Was a settler and road contractor residing at HaN cotube; the deceased, Geo. Strawbridge, was witness' eon and was three years of age. F. T, Bullock deposed : Was r settler, at present residing with W. Reid, of Makino ; remembered May 24th, on that < day lira Strnwbrulge and five children arrived at Makino by the 10.40 a.m train ; they left Mr Reid's to return home by the 6.30 train ; witness," Mr Reid's son and young Diamond accompanied Mrs Strawbridge to the station to assist with tha children ; Mr Reid's house was about six clmins from the station on the eastern side of the line ; the train was in but had not stopped when they arrived at the crossing; there was no platform, on the eastern side of the line, but wa3 on the western side ; just as the train stopped put one child on the carriage platform ; handed the other three on ; this was from tlio opposite side of the line to the platform, identified the body of deceased as that of George Strawbridge ; he was the last witness lifted on the train ; left him on the platform of the carriage ; was in the act of assisting Mrs Strawbridge, who had a child in her arms, on the train when the train started ; she had one foot on the step when the train started; she was prevented 'from getting on by the train starting; at this time deceased was standing on the platform ; when the train gave a jerk in starting the child fell between the rails ; when the child fell off the carriage let go bis holdof Mrs Strawbridge, who fell back into Mr E. Diamond's arms, witness making a grab for the child ; missed the child at the first effort, and on a second effort caught the child by its cape; the child was lying face down between the rails ; moved the child about a foot ; the train struck witness on the left shoulder and he fell back, forcing witness to lose his hold of the child; before the train started, called out " Stop, stop, there are persons getting on ; " called out a dozen times or more, in a loud voice; from what he had been told his voice was heard 300 yards away; was the only one who called out to stop the train; the train stopped after going about five yards past the body ; to the best of his knowledge two carriages and the guard's van passed over the child ; the tram was stopped on account of witness calling out that someone was hurt ; when tho train passed over the child the body was lying face downwards with an arm over the rail; lifted the body up, one gasp being made by it i ; put the body into the guard's van and it was taken home ; • from • the time he arrived at the station to the time the train departed was about' 30- seconds; attributed the accident to not suffieient'timo being given for Mrs Strawbridge to get on ; could not say if the guard saw them or not;; E. Diamond and H. Reid were present at the time assisting witness with the children. . To the jury: Did not signal the train that persons desired to get in ; had repeatedly got on the train from the wrong side at Makino; A. Brown got ofl the train on the right or platform side ; there was someone on the carriage platform when the children were put on, but witness did not ask him to signal the guard ; the person on the carriage platform did not offer any assistance : he was standing with bis back against the rail; this person could easily have prevented the child from falling off. To A. H. Mellor, of the Railway Department: Mrs Strawbridge arrived at the train as witness placed the last child on ; was wiihin 10 yards of the line when the engine passed ; was sure he culled out before the accident ; heard the train coming before they left Mr Reid's. H. Reid and E. Diamond corroborated the evidence given by P. T. Bullock. Albert Brown* deposed: Remembered the evening of the 24th inst., returned to Makino by the train on that evening; it was about 6.30 ; should say the train wa9 stationary for about half a minute ; heard a person on the opposite side of the train to platform call out "stop" and tell other persons to hurry up ; - did not see the accident for when he saw the guard flash his signal for the train to start he went and told him there were some passengers trying to get on the train on the opposite side :. Mr Palmer was the guard ; when witness spoke to him, the guard again signalled the driver to stop the train ; heard the people calling out, but did not know at the time what had happeuod. To the jury : The guard osnld not see Mr. Bullock and the children from where he was on the platform ; the guard immediately stopped the train when told by witnos-i. To Mr Mellor : No one but witness got off the train ; walked the length of two carriages after he got ofT before the guard signalled the driver to start. ... In his oharge to tho jury the coroner stated thnt the act of getting on the train on the " wrong "■■ sido was contrary to tho regulations and people did so at their O'.vn risk. The* Railway authorities might be to blame in not providing ;sufnV cieut carriages, but it did not : appear so in this'. case.': . :■ ■ The jury returned a verdict that the ■ deceased was accidentally killed. Tho jury added; a " ridor '' to the verdict: "That: tho jury are of opiuion thatr a longer time: should be allowed for -the \ train to stay at side or flag stations. 1 ! --.■-■