RAVENSBOURNE RAILWAY FATALITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 13

RAVENSBOURNE RAILWAY FATALITY.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Robson. M years of age. who was killed on the railway near Raven&bourno on Monday was held on the 4th before Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury of six, of whom Mr J. J. Dunne was elected foreman.— Mt P. S. K. Macassey appeared on bebalf of the Railway DepartMr F. G. Cumming (agent of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society) identified the body as that of Joseph Robson, who had appeared at the Police Court the previous morning on a charge of vagrancy. He was convicted and discharged into witness's care Deceased pleaded hard to go to Oamaru, where all his effects were, and witness decided to send him there, and procured a second class ticket for him. Witness also communicated with the Salvat'on Army authorities at Oamaru with a view to their finding work for 'him. Witness saw Robson off by the 126 tram. He showed signs of drinking, and was a little silly from the effects. In witness's opinion deceased was not insane. Station-sergeant King said he had had a report from a constable, stating that Robson had asked to be locked up at the Police Station. Ha had had a conversation with deceased in his cell on February 2, and asked him why he came to the pohce. Robson said he had either to ooine to the police or go over the wharf Witness questioned him as to drinking, and deceased said he had not been drinking heavily, but was subie-t to epileptic fits Witness had known Robson in Oamaru, and knew this was true, and so advised Robson to return to Oamaru, where people knew him. Robson was alway despondent after these fits, and was extremely despondent on Monday morning Witness did not thmk Robson contemplated suicide.

James Young, railway clerk at Chriatchurch, °aid he was a passenger on the 1.26 p.m. express on Monday from Dunedin. About two miles from the Dunechn sitttion he noticed a man -come out to the platform of a second class carriage, look about him, and then stoop suddenly He failed to oome up. and witness, thinking this peculiar, investigated, and found that Robson had gone from the platform Witness asked two passengers if they had seen Robson. and one said no, .but he had felt the train bump "Witness took no more notice until reaching Port Chalmers where the carriage wheels were examined, and found to be spattered with blood The matter was then reported to the authorities.

The Jury returned a verdict that decea=eo met his death by accidentally falling from o train near Ravensbourne whilst suffering from an epileptic fit.