RAILWAY FATALITIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 8 May 1909, Page 3

RAILWAY FATALITIES.

William Auchinachie, ,well - known in Palmerston North, where he has resided for the past thirty years, was run over and killed by the New Plymouth mail train at about 3.25 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. An inquest was subsequently held and a verdict of accidental death was returned. Another accident occurred later in the day down the line, resulting in the death of Mathew Coe, who keeps the Koputaroa Store. About a mile out of Shannon, at Buckley’s Crossing, the engine driver felt a bump, and feeling sure that something had happened, he examined the engine on arrival at Shannon. The brains of a man were found on the runner of the engine. Constable Esson and a porter from Shannon accordingly returned on a trolly and found the body of deceased lying on the line, the top of his head having been practically cut off. Deceased was 33 years of age, and leaves a wife and a child about two months old. THE INQUEST. An inquest was held at Shannon yesterday, before Alf. Fraser, Esq., District Coroner. Robert Wilson, brother-in-law of deceased, identified the body. J, E. Day, ticket collector on the railway, said he was on duty on Thursday, May 6tb, on the 5.10 p.m. train from Palmerston North, and had issued a ticket to deceased. Deceassd slept during part of the journey, and travelled as far as Shannon, and then left the train. Just as the train was leaving the Shannon station, deceased attempted to again board it, but was prevented by witness. Deceased was a good deal under the influence of liquor, and had two bottles in his pockets. Norman Smith, upon being sworn, said he was a railway porter stationed at Shannon. Was on duty on Thursday, May 6th, and saw deceased attempt to board the train as it was going out, and assisted Day to prevent him. Deceased was under the influence of liquor. East saw him walking along the platform. Ellen Moynihan, wife of the licensee of the Club Hotel, Shannon, said deceased came into the hotel after the arrival of the train from Palmerston, and left again with the intention of again catching the train. Came in again after the train had gone and seemed excited and put out because he had been prevented from boarding the|train. Deceased asked for liquor, but witness refused him as she considered he had had enough. Deceased had two bottles of liquor in his pockets- He asked for a bed, and witness told him she could put him up, but he did not stay. W. Hamilton, farmer, said he saw deceased on the Koputarua Road. He came out from the rushes near the railway line, and asked witness if he had time to catch the 8.30 train. Witness told him he had plenty of time. Deceased was very intoxicated. Alfred Alsop, engine driver, said that he was driver on the up train and before entering Shannon had shut off steam as usual and on looking round had seen a black object alongside the line. On arrival at Shannon had inspected the engine and had discovered evidence of an accident and informed the station master. J. R. Esson, police constable stationed at Shannon stated that in consequence of information receivedj he went down the line and had discovered the body of deceased lying near the line and brought the remains back to Shannon. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased was killed by a railway engine while lying alongside of railway line, under the influence of liquor on Thursday May 6th, and that no blame is attributable to any person.