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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 17 April 1907, Page 1

THE RAILWAY FATALITY. An inquest concerning the circumstances of .the death of Honaro Lluawho, killod by being run over by tho railway train, near To Ivaraka, was hold at tho Hospital yesterday morning, before tho Coroner (Mr. AV. A. Burton, S.M.) and tho following jury: Messrs. AV. J. Barlow (foreman) AV. AValkor, H. Sandlant, G. Johnstone, A. Gunn, and F. McLean. Defective Maddorn conducted tlio enquiry for tho police, and called— Dr. Cukor, who deposed that on Sunday last, at 12.40 a.in., ho was called to soo deceased in a cab near the railway station. As tho injuries were of a nature, witness directed that tho patient bo conveyed to tho Hospital immediately, and ho arrived tlioro at live minutes past one o’clock. AVitncss attended tho injuries, and when Dr. Morrison arrived, they amputated the left arm, and treated the sufforcr’s back, tho spine being badly injured and the muscles terribly torn about. There was also a deep scalp wound, about two inches in length ; tho patient had also sulferod severely from shock. The patient was put to bed, and he succumbed at about half-past nine a.m. Death was caused by tho shock to his nervous system. Tho doctors came promptly when as'ked.

Dr.. Morrison, medical superintendent of the Hospital, said that deceased was admitted to the institution shortly after one o’clock on Sunday morning. Witness attended deceased 10 minutes after his admission to the hospital. His left arm was nearly torn off, and there was an abrasion of the skin from the shoulders to the loin, terminating in a wound in which one could insert a fist. An examination of that wound showed the spine to bo fractured. The sealp was also injured. Doctor Coker and witness amputated the arm, and the other wounds were cleansed and dressed. The patient was put to bed, and expired about nine o’clock. Nervous shock was the cause of death. By the Foreman: Noticed no sign of liquor about deceased.

-Constable .Doyle, of Te Kanaka, stated that he knew deceased for live years, and last saw him at the letter delivery counter at the railway station, when he informed witness that he was coming to Gisborne to see Mr W. D. Lysnar. The effects of liquor were visible on deceased, but he was not drunk, was was capable of looking after himself. Deceased would be about 50 yoars of age; he was of a roving disposition, but latterly had been residing at Mangatu. Walter Ernest Chittenden, the guard on the train at the time of the accident, deposed that deceased was on the train when it was about a milo from Te Karaka, where it left at a-quarter to six. Witness demanded the ticket, but deceased said he had none, and that he wanted to go on to ring up Mr. Lysnar. Witness told him ho would be put out at Waipaoa if he did not produce a ticket, but received no reply, and when that station was reached witness made his word good. Deceased was drunk. As ho was put out ho fell, and the guard hold him till the van came up, when witness jumped on the train. Before leaving Gisborne to return to Te Karaka witness told the stationmaster and the engine-driver what ho had done, and asked the latter to keep a good look-out near Waipao<i>station. This was done, and a search was made there. Witness looked in the shed, but no one was seen, and the train proceeded cautiously for about a mile and then resumed, but still at a slow pace. When To Karaka was reached the driver approached, saying that he must have run over something, ns there were drops of blood on the engine. At 10.45 the train left on the down trip, and witness instructed the driver to stop if he felt anything. When the tunnel was reached they stopped, and the guard ran ahead with his light. When about 10 or 15 yards from the tunnel he saw deceased lying partly on his back about two feet from the rails. The driver was called, and witness procured bandages from the van, attended to his arm, and examined him for further injuries. There was a wound in the back, and ho was qut on a cushion in the van and all haste was made for town. The police and a doctor were sent for.

By Detective Maddern: Deceased was conscious all the time, and Was crying out for his sister and groaning. Deceased was too drunk to look after himself. He was found about two and a-half miles from AVaipaoa station. During that distance four cattle stops needed crossing. By a juror: Deceased was picked up at the To Karaka end of the tunnel. The train reached Gisborne at 11.40 p.m., 10 minutes before it was'due. William Wakefield, acting enginedriver, deposed that, bp noticed no hump going up on the train; he merely remarked that they seemed to pass over some gravel, a common occurrence, at the north end of the tunnel. The engine was examined at Te Karaka, and while oiling he found some blood on tlnv cowcatcher and crosshead. ' Ho reported this to the guard and the .stationmaster, and was told by the former to stop on the down trip if anything were noticed. Near the tunnel the*- train was stopped, and the guard went ahead and found deceased close to the rails, about 24 feet from the tunnel entrance.

By the Foreman: Tlio guard informed witness that a map was inif off at Waipaoa. On thp way up" lie told the fireman to keep a look-qut. The train was only running at four miles an Jipur pear Waipaoa, and went through tlio tunnel yery slowly, 'keeping a good lookout all the way. The only plane at which witness did not got a clear view was in tlio tunnel, as the steam struck tlio roof and came down between the driver and the light. From there onward tlio view was unobstructed, and he could have seen had there been any object on the line. Aporo Paerata said lie last saw deceased alive about five o’clock on Saturday evening at Te Ivaraka; be was not drunk* but be bad bad some liquor. Deceased got off the Wliatatutu coach, and he and witness adjourned to the hotel and had a medium shandy each, being served bv t'.u barman, Clement. Deceased then got on the coach to go to the railway station, and witness saw no more of him.

Tho jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death on the Gis-borne-Karaka railway by being caught by the engine, no blame being attachable to any of the officials, who seem to have used every care and' diligence, Heath yyas caused by shock to the nervous system,

THEFT OF A BOA. At the Police Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. Barton, S.M.. Lena Morris, a native woman, was charged with stealing a feather boa valued at .-Cl 10s, the property of Mrs. H. Hill. Mr. IV. * L. Bees appeared for the accused. Zella Hill, a married woman, deposed that she attended a hall on