KILLED ON THE RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 978, 11 April 1911, Page 3

KILLED ON THE RAILWAY.

YOUNG LADY FALLS NEAR

OTAKI

A shocking fatality occurred when the Auckland-bound express was about two miles north of Otaki, on Saturday afternoon. Miss Ellen Louisa Oates, aged 26, who bad been staying with a brother in Wellington, and was going to stay with her brother, Mi William Oates, of Main Street, Palmerston N., left her mother in the carriage and went out on to the platform. She had been in bad health, aud her mother followed her out, only to see her fall between the carriages. When the guard, who was at the other end of the train, was informed of the sad occurrence, the scene had been left a considerable distance behind, as a fast run was being made. F'rom Manakau some railwaymen were sent back with a trolly, and found the body, very much mutilated, on the line. The skull was crushed, the back broken, one leg was severed, and there were shocking general injuries, though the face was intact. Death must have been instantaneous. A constable aud railwaymeu conveyed the remains to Otaki, whence they were takeu late on Saturday night by goods train to Palmerston, whither Mrs Oates, senr., had already gone. The body was taken to Christchurch (the late Miss Oates’ home) yesterday. The deceased, who was in indifferent health, made no remark whatever when leaving her mother to go on to the platform. General sympathy is felt lor the family.

The inquest was held at Palmerston yesterday, before Mr A. D. Thomson, Coroner. Evidence was given by Mrs Oates that her daughter had been suffering from a nervous breakdown, and was of a melancholy disposition. Witness had never heard her say anything about being tired ot life. She asked witness to come on to the platform, but the latter declined to do so. Deceased had the carriage door open, and either slipped or fell out; she may have been on the connecting bridge when she fell, and witness thought deceased had slid under the bars protecting the sides of the bridge. The Traffic Inspector (Mr E. A. Dawsou) said it was not possible for anyone to glide off the platform, as the carriages were protected from that sort of thing, and anyone had to rise to get off iu the way described by Mrs Oates. After a carriage had been inspected, and further evidence heard, a verdict was returned that deceased met her death by falling from the train, there being no evidence to show how the accident occurred.