A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 555, 2 April 1913, Page 5

A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

KILLED BY TRAIN. GIRL'S BODY FOUND ON RAILWAY. A gruesome discovery was madj on Monday night when the body of a young girl was found on the railway between Te Kuiti and Wilson's limeworks. The discovery was made by two of the workmen engaged at the limeworks who were returning home after attending the picture show. The train which leaves Te Kuiti for Frankton about ten o'clock had just passed, and one of the men in passing the cutting a short distance beyond the railway bridge noticed a body on the line. Mr Walsh, manager of the limeworks, was informed, and he dispatched a man immediately for the police, while he himself did what he could with the body.

Upon the arrival of Sergeant Rowles, steps were taken to have the body conveyed to the police station. Owing to the severe nature of the injuries the matter of identifying the remains was difficult, and it was not until Tuesday morning that the body was identified as that of Miss Celia McKenzie, of Kelvin House.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the body was held yesterday afternoon before Mr J. Tammadge, deputy-coroner, and a jury of four. Mr Finlay appeared on behalf of deceased's relatives, and Sergeant Rowles represented the police. Evidence as to identification was given by J. A. Johnston, surveyor, who said he had known the family for over four years. In reply to Mr Walsh, foreman of the jury, witness said he knew of no reason why deceased should contemplate a rash act. Mrs Mary McKenzie, motfter of deceased, said she had last seen her daughter about half-past six in the evening. She was then cheerful. Witness knew of no trouble or disagreement in the family. Her daughter was very independent and did practically as she liked. She frequently went for long walks. She thought deceased the last person in the world to contemplate anything rash. In reply to Mr Finlay witness said there had been a slight disagreement in the house concerning the cook. Witness had heard deceased talking and laughing witfo her cousin in their room as she passed the door about ten o'clock. That was the last she had heard of her that night. In reply to Sergeant Rowles witness said she had heard during the day that decea<ed had rung up the chemist for arsenic. Deceased's sister told her, but witness had laughed. However, at the request of her elder daughter witness had gone to the chemist and asked him not to supply deceased with poison of any sort. In reply to the foreman witness said the two girls may have had a difference, but not a serious quarrel. Evelyn Janet Law, a cousin of Miss McKenzie, said deceased and herself were in their room laughing and talking on Monday night until about 10 o'clock. Deceased was normal and seemed happier than she had been during the day. Deceased left the room and witness thought she had gone as usual to get supper. Witness waited till about a quarter to eleven and then went to bed and fell asleep. Presently she awoke, and finding deceased had not returned, got up to look for her. Thinking she heard deceased's voice in the kitchen she returned to bed. About midnight she again got up to look for her cousin and could not find her. She never saw her again.

In reply to the foreman, witness said there was a certain amount of friction between the sisters but no serious quarrel. To Mr Finlay witness said she did not think suicide was in deceased's mind when she left their room. To the Coroner: Deceased was a bright girl. At times she went for unusually long walks. Witness knew of her walking to Hanagtiki upon one occasion, and on Monday night thought deceased might have done something similar. She first heard of the fatality that morning about halfpast nine. To the foreman: Had never heard deceased at any time say anything about taking poison. Had heard of her ringing up the chemist, but regarded it as mere nonsense. Deceased used to carry on a good deal of harmless nonsense, and both she and her cousin had laughed together over the episode. R. H. G. Skipworth.caretaker of the bowling green, said he was in bed reading on Monday night when he heard a splash in the river. It sounded i like a horse walking into the ford. Immediately afterwards he heard a wird muffled scream. The sound was repeated. Witness went out and called, asking if anybody was hurt, but got no reply. He went on to the footbridge and found a cloak hanging on the bridge. He called again and i got no reply. He then went to ring up the police, but the exchange was closed. The time was ten minutes past ten. Witness said to his wife he thought someone had committed sui cide and would go and search, but his wife became hysterical and witness could not leave her The voice he heard sounded like a woman's or a boy's. Thomas James Harvey, an employee at Wilson's limeworks, said he was in Te Kuiti on Monday evening, and left for home about half-past ten. He walked over the swing bridge and down the line beyond the bowling green. He saw nothing on the line. He came back later in company with his mate and found the body. He i was certain the body was not on the ; line when he passed down. The train I from Te Kuiti passed witness two i or three hundred yards further down than where the body was found.

Patrick Lyons, an employee at Wilson's limeworks, said he passed down the line about a quarter to eleven. He saw a body on the line but had no matches and the night was dark. He told his mate what he had seen, and they went back with matches and discovered the body. Harvey went to inform the police and witness called up Mr Walsh Evidence was given by John Thomas Hunter, porter, and Frederick George Tapp, driver on the train from Te Kuiti to Frankton. Neither had noticed anything unusual during the trip. The driver said when told of the accident at Frankton he inspected the engine and found marks which indicated somebody had been run ovar.

Sergeant Rowles gave evidence as to being called to the scene of the occurrence. Deceased was dressed in ordinary clothes, which were saturated with water.

In reply to Mr Finlay witness said he had never heard of a person attempting suicide twice. It was quite feasible that if the girl had been in the water for some time she would be in a dazed state and would stumble along without even hearing the train. After Mr Finlay had addressed the court, the jury, after a "hort retirement, brought in a verdict that deceased had met her deach by being run over by the train which left Te Kuiti for Frankton at half-past ten, but there was not sufficient evidence to show how the occurrence took place.