FATAL FALL.

Otaki Mail, 21 April 1922, Page 4

FATAL FALL.

FROM TRAIN NEAR TOKOMARU. Death concluded the Easter holiday of a young man named Harry Forces Prain in a tragically sudden manner. Deceased, who was visiting his blether in Shannon, was a returned sol- • dier, 28 years of age, and employed in the Pensions Department, Wellington. On Monday he was in Palmerston North with his brother at the Horowlienua .v. Manavvatu cricket match, and left at ti p.in. on tlie return journey. The train was crowded, so deceased and liis brother and I another companion stood on the piattorm of one of the carriages. Alter leaving Tokomaru station deceased | entered the carriage and returned • | with a pair of cricketing boots and a ; pair of trousers and handed them to ! one of his companions to be returned

to the owner in Shannon from whom they had been borrowed, deceased's intention being to go right on to Wellington by the same train. The cue to whom he handed the clothing bent 'to fold it up, and the other was locking in another direction when a sound as of a body falling on the shingle at the side of the line was heard, it was then found that Mr Prain had disappeared. The train was stopped and a search made, resulting in the unfortunate young man being found lying under the bridge where the ie.ilway line crosses the road near Tokomaru. He had fallen first on the side of the line, but had been thrown by the impetus given, to his fall over the embankment. Deceased was quite dead, and the body was taken charge of by Constable McGregor, who happened to be on the train, and conveyed to Shannon.

The only surmise that could be offered by his two companions is that tfie platform gates were left open by passengers alighting at Tokomaru, and that deceased, after coming out wiln the cricketing material, went unthinkingly to lean on the hitherto closed gale and tell from the train. At an inquest held at Shannon yesterday before Mr A. Fraser, of Foxton, District. Coroner, a verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to anyone.

At an inquest held at Shannon before Mr A. Fraser, of Foxthat has overtaken him, and lie has received many messages expressing the deep regret that is felt in Shannon at. the occurrence.