PAPAKURA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 301, 14 August 1917, Page 4

PAPAKURA

SOLDIER'S TRAGIC DEATH THE MANUREWA FATALITY The circumstances leading up to the cowcatcher of tho Auckland to lvotorua express hearing tho ghastly burden of tho mutilated body of a soldier as the tram entered the Manurewa station last Wednesday morning were enquired into by the District Coroner Mr Cecil Roadley) at the adjourned inquest held at the Court house, Papakura, on Saturday, the body having, at the preliminary hearing, been identified as that of l'to. Joseph Cart wright, a member of D Coy, :'!>th Reiuforce*ents,

Inspector Trueman watched tho proceedings on behalf of tho Railway Department. The deceased, who had been on extended final leave, had been staying with Mr C. A, Palmor and on Wednesday morning he left Mr Palmer's residence, which was situated about a mile nortli of Manurewa station, to go to Auckland and f r the purpose of taking a short "cut" to the station ho took to the railway at Brown's road crossing and proceeded to v, alk along the track.

James Ferguson Nelson, of Auckland, tho driver of tho Rotorua express, deposed that ho had been keeping the usual look-out, but saw nothing of the occurrence, nor was he aware of what had happened until after the tablet porter on Manurewa station signalled to him to stop, His look-out would have been temporal ily distracted about half-way down the slope in the line towards Manurewa station, when ho placed the tablet in position on the engine for transfer at the station. Further, heavy rain was falling and there was a strong head wind blowing, which, with tho steam of the engino blowing in his face, tended to obscure his view. On reaching tho points about 10 yards away from the .station he noticed ballast Hying up as if some part of the front of tho engino had become loose and was dragging on tho ground but tho noise then ceasod. Towards tho end of the station platform the ballast re-com-menced to fly up and he was in the act of shutting of! steam to pull the train up to ascertain the reason as he saw the tablet porter on the station give him the signal to stop. When the train was pulled up he found the body of the decease'! on tho cow-catcher.

By Inspector Trueman : He passed over the Manurewa section daily and it was against the rules for anyone to walk along the railway and on no occasion had lie obsorved anyone ching so other than railway men.

Arthur Payne, fireman of the train, gave evidence iu corroboration, lie also kept a look-out but had no knowledge that anyone had been struck by tho train.

William Johnson, porter at Manurewa station, stated that on Wednesday as the express for Rotorua was passing through Manurewa station ho saw some object on the cow catcher of the engine, which as the train got nearer him ho observed to be a human body. lie immediately gavo tho signal to ttop the train and it was promptly pulled up, lie had not previously seen anyone walking along tho line.

Constable Kelly spoke as to having been called to Manurewa station on Wednesday morning and to having examined tho deceased's body. The head, ho said, was partially smashed and the left leg was almost severed.

Inspector Trueman, in answer to tho Coroner, stated that ono of the railway by-laws prohibited persons from walking along the lino.

The Coronor, ia returning a verdict of accidental death with no blanio attachable to anyone, remarked that it was a peculiarly sad case as the deceased was on his linal day of leave. He evidently did not in the stormy weather hear tho approach of the train and was consequently struck down whilst walking along the lino. Tho deceased was buried with military honours at the Papakura ccmeteiy on Friday, tho funeral being one of tho largest over seen in the district. Six returned soldiers acted as pall bearers and a tiring party was supplied from tho Auckland Garrison. Tho chief mourners were Mr Nelson Cartwright (father) and Mr John Cartwright (brother). Tho Bev Jones was tho olliciating Minister. The cortego left tho residence of Mr E. M. Gillespie. The undertaking arrangements were carried out by Mr James Mclvor, of Otahului. Mi \\ ; • iji uilici) .mil Mr I 'lim Cuiuu-J.l !!>••..ii,,.-,) tit—ire 1" tender Hi.nil.- I-: the many :i:e "I -ymI'.it'iV :...in i ••niiee'!i ,, ii witli the i<| i V ■l' . 1 .-ei'li I'.II -w i i.ylit an.l l!'e\ I I; ': e M'. I■ ! \ ti-Ulik Ml .tllil Mr-. l\'! ,\|. ( I'.:; ik ra !•-! I lie kiiu!l\ mm!. H'.' :n t'. '!'. (A.M.I