SOUTHLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 December 1901, Page 4

SOUTHLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Invercargill, Deo 19.

The inquest re the Morton Mains BailWay accident was resumed to-night, when the Department sought to explain that the white head light went out at about the same point last Friday night, when the jury were on the spot, the explanation being that the lamp did not fit the frame on the latter occasion, and that being propped 1 with pieces of wood the wind got in when travelling 35 miles an hour and blew out the light. Mr MacDonald, Crown Solicitor, who was watching the case for the Department, addressed the jury at length, although he admitted that he had technically not a legal right to do so. In conclusion he said that if thsy believed that Fraser, by an error of judgment, had not taksn the proper precautions to satisfy himself that the engine was coming, they must find that the accident was caused from want of proper care on Fraser’s part. The jury at 11 15 returned a verdict that it was practically accidental death, and that the head light was burning at the time of the accident, but was obscured to some extent by smoke on the glass. If the gangers believed that the light they saw was the head light, then they did not take proper care.