SHOCKING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3003, 25 February 1926, Page 3

SHOCKING FATALITY.

TRAIN STRIKES CONSTABLE

WHILE SEARCHING FOR PRISONER IN TUNNEL

Auckland, Feb. 23. A shocking fatality occurred in the Parnell railway tunnel shortly before half-past 11 this morning, when Constable Adam George Begg, of the city police force, was struck by a passing train. He was killed while on duty, being one of a police party who were searching for Thomas Smith, a man awaiting trial on a criminal charge, who escaped earlier in the morning. Smith and another man, James Moyne, were being taken under police escort to Rotorua, where they were to appear on a charge of having stolen a quantity of benzine from the Terraces Hotel at Taupo. As the express was nearing the Parnell tunnel Smith used an opportunity to escape from a carriage window, and as the train was then ascending a grade he was able to jump clear without apparent injury. The alarm was immediately given and a strong search party at once organised from the Auckland station.

Constable Begg, who had been on -night duty, was asleep at the barracks at this time, but with other night duty constables received instructions to lake part in the search,. The party entered the tunnel, thinking that Smith might be hiding-there in the darkness. While the police were busy making their search near the middle of the tunnel they saw a train approaching from the city end. They jumped across on to the opposite set of rails, so as to be clear of the oncoming train, but just at that moment a train from Newmarket rounded the bend at the entrance and entered the tunnel on the down grade at high speed.

The searchers in the tunnel were caught in a trap. One man threw himself on the ground at the side of the rails, and the others tried to flatten themselves against the wall of the tunnel. All were successful in their sudden effort except Constable Begg, and he was apparently struck by the step of a carriage or by some of the under gear. After the trains had passed it was found that Constable Begg was seriously injured. He had sustained a broken leg, broken arm, and injuries to the head. As soon as possible he was taken in an ambulance to the hospital, but he died at one o’clock.

At the inquest on the death of Constable Begg, held in Auckland yesterday,, the Coroner (Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.), returned a verdict of accidental death while in the execution of duty.